Where does "stenography" come from?

[Quey]

This isn't to discuss the merits of anything. I just want to know how the usage of the word "stenography" came to mean talking about something you're not involved in, i.e., kibitzing or gossiping. As far as I'm aware, the only definition of stenography is shorthand written transcription of speech. Anyone know how this came about?

[paprika]

I don't know steno used to be called peanut gallery and it was a much better name

[Apsis]

Usually "shitposts" are no more than a sentence. So it was probably a joke based on that.

[Helios127]

Brotemius renamed it IIRC

[JokerNotBatman]

Well, the stenographer in a court of law (at least in Ireland, no idea about murrica/rest of yurop) is basically another word for the court typist afaik. Thus, the steno name could be based on the fact that it's meant to be an ongoing discussion and account of the "trial", or ban appeal/request.

[Quey]

Peanut gallery makes a lot more sense. I can kinda see the courtroom connection, but it still doesn't make sense why stenography was chosen. If anything, the gallery is a better parallel to what goes on there (hence peanut gallery). The stenographer is really an incidental observer and recorder, and really isn't thought of in the sense of judging either side, commenting about the case, or voicing opinions. Real stenographers I've met in the US aren't allowed to talk about the trial while it's going on, ESPECIALLY with jurors. So I thought it was interesting. If Brotemis did name it, I'd like to hear from him.

[Stickymayhem]

Steganography means to hide a message within another message. I think that might have been the intention?

So it could have been a rather clever name for a time when everyone was passive aggressively suggesting that certain admins should be removed with pretty much everything that happened, although not so often super obviously to avoid being deleted and called a troll. Many posts had a subtext of hatred towards the admins despite being completely unrelated to them.

Spoiler:

Let me have my wild theories.

[Neerti]

Erro named the board on the oldforums stenography. Before it was called the peanut gallery.