part of roleplaying games is using written speech & symbolics properly.
it's best to not call someone a dog then 'go hunting gnolls' in a way or another.
gnolls are 'dogs on two legs' in this game, orcs are 'pigs on two legs', kuo-toa are 'fish-folk', etc ...
not everyone is expert in this at first, but this can be learned, practiced, perhaps more literary & artful friends can undo damage someone unskilled did cause to other players, etc ... (et cetera ...).
characters are not players, but every interaction afffects mind, later speech, then body, etc ... of players as well.
staying in character helps, but everything counts.
griefing is making someone suffer by improper conduct, for example with improper speech that belittle others.
see also, if You wish: Fishmen.
