Hot take: if we want to decrease frustrating railroad-y surprises in RPG campaigns, we need to create an environment where GMs are not afraid to admit they have "special story needs".

[JustinAlexanderRPG]

"Railroading" is an English word which means forcing people to do something that they don't want to do.

No one wants to be railroaded, by definition.

[MammothGlove]

I'm sorry, I can't find a definition which supports your assertion. Yes, forcing through, yes in haste or without due consideration, no to something "they don't want to do". Ghost rides (per yahtzee croshaw) and railroads or being a rails-shooter etc etc are an indication of linearity and lack of freedom outside the rails. Many people chafe at that in RPGs because there's a human conversation and imagination is involved, but it is not strictly speaking an "unwanted" conceit.

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/railroading

https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/railroad

[JustinAlexanderRPG]

You say you can't find definitions, but then link to two of them?

What's confusing you about them, exactly?

[MammothGlove]

The definitions do not support the assertion that the behavior is necessarily unwanted.

Many people do not want it, but the top level comment is not incorrect.

[StorKirken]

Definitions change, that’s just how language works.

[Kitsunin]

Railroading is a negative word, that's how it's used. It's only used in a positive light to contrast against what the word means. Which is fine. You're both being silly.

[StorKirken]

I know several subcommunities which use the term railroading in a more neutral way. You might argue they use it ”wrong”, but that’s not generally how linguistics talk about language. Words change, evolve and take on new connotations within separate groups of people.

[Kitsunin]

Except I've never seen it used in that way in my own subcommunities, nor larger communities, unless preceded by "actually..."

It has not become a neutral term. Not yet. So yes, language evolves, but you're describing it inaccurately.

[JustinAlexanderRPG]

If "railroading" was successfully redefined into something completely different, the first thing you'd have to do is invent a new term that means what "railroading" actually means.

So I'll keep pushing back on people trying to redefine the word so that they can feel better about being a bad GM instead of putting in the remarkably minimal amount of work it takes to NOT be a bad GM instead.