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I have been reading The Japanese Sword Column and thought it may be of niche interest to other Soylentils. It is written by Paul Martin, a noted British expert of Japanese swords. From the introduction:
Along with cherry blossoms and Mount Fuji, the Japanese sword has become one of the enduring symbols of Japan. It has experienced centuries of warfare, evolved through Mongol invasions, survived the introduction of the musket, the end of the samurai era, modernization, and confiscation and destruction by the Allied forces following World War II. They are an anachronism in modern society, yet they continue to be made. They are an integral part of Japanese culture.
Today, I feel very fortunate that we have access to Japanese swords and can observe the artistry of blades that were previously only accessible by Japan's ancient military and social elites.
I particularly enjoyed the July 25th article, The Changes in the Shape of the Japanese Sword. The articles are short, update infrequently and have plenty of pictures of museum-quality swords. A good fit for those with a casual interest in the subject.
(Score: 2) by coolgopher on Tuesday October 10 2017, @03:09AM (21 children)
Actually, depending on precisely what guns you're talking about, a sword is worse than a gun. A gun may have a genuine use in hunting for food. A sword on the other hand only has human warfare as its use.
In modern society there shouldn't be a need for either to be carried by the common person on a day-to-day basis, but people being dicks makes it seem like a reasonable idea at time.
(Score: 5, Funny) by takyon on Tuesday October 10 2017, @03:14AM
I killed some deer with an ebony sword in Skyrim.
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 2) by jelizondo on Tuesday October 10 2017, @03:19AM (7 children)
Sorry to disagree, swords have a ceremonial value, i.e. the coronation of a Queen of King [wikipedia.org]. I do own a sword for ceremonial purposes and I have given as a gift a katana, not with the intent to kill a human being, but because my friend collects such things.
Now guns, ¿in what ceremony is someone presented with a gun, other than military ones?
(Score: 5, Insightful) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday October 10 2017, @03:20AM (3 children)
You think the King/Queen things aren't military?
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by jelizondo on Tuesday October 10 2017, @03:30AM (2 children)
Really, I forgot about Queen Elizabeth serving in the armed forces...
(Score: 3, Informative) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday October 10 2017, @04:24AM
Mechanic for the Brit army, wasn't she?
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 3, Informative) by Runaway1956 on Tuesday October 10 2017, @01:57PM
You are being sarcastic, and may not appreciate a few facts thrown at you. But, here ya go, just the same - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Military_service_by_British_royalty [wikipedia.org]
There is a tradition that the male members of England's royalty will serve. Some have actually served, others have sheltered behind ceremonial titles and functions. But, we can equate the Queen to our Commander in Chief. She has ceremonial functions to serve, and she is senior to all the admirals and generals.
(Score: 2) by coolgopher on Tuesday October 10 2017, @04:58AM (1 child)
And just what do you think a sword symbolizes in such ceremony? It sure isn't kittens and daisies.
You're off on a tangent here though - we're discussing the actual, primary use of these weapons. Anything can be symbolized and ceremonialized. There's no difference between giving a collector a gift of a sword or a gun, if that's what they're collecting. Guns are used for celebratory reasons too (e.g. weddings). Doesn't change what they're designed to do.
(Score: 2) by darkfeline on Wednesday October 11 2017, @04:03AM
It symbolizes the cross, obviously.
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(Score: 2) by t-3 on Tuesday October 10 2017, @05:10AM
Guns are fired off on the Fourth of July and New Years, at military funerals, presented during ceremonies for heads of state etc. Weapons have always had a place in ceremony, because our modern societies are still tightly linked in memory to the feudal past, and strength=violence to the animal brain.
(Score: 2, Disagree) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday October 10 2017, @03:19AM (11 children)
Right, because when seconds count the police are only minutes away. This civilized society everyone's so proud of is no safer than any other throughout history. The strong still prey on the weak. I'm disinclined to remove equality of deadliness from them even were there not other extremely good reasons to have an armed populace.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 10 2017, @04:14AM
Do you have a reference for that?
The first link I came across directly refutes that claim.
https://www.vrc.crim.cam.ac.uk/vrcresearch/paperdownload/manuel-eisner-historical-trends-in-violence.pdf [cam.ac.uk]
(Score: 2) by coolgopher on Tuesday October 10 2017, @04:48AM (1 child)
Note that I wrote "shouldn't be", as opposed to "is". People are still assholes.
To quote Dark Helmet - "I'm surrounded by assholes!"
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday October 10 2017, @04:56AM
Indeed [soylentnews.org].
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Tuesday October 10 2017, @12:42PM (7 children)
You seem to be stuck in a nature documentary. Most armed criminals are weak and need a weapon to level the playing field with the truly strong. Why do you think guns are so prevalent among them?
(Score: 3, Insightful) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday October 10 2017, @01:34PM (4 children)
Because they're extremely efficient and because your prey, and the competing predators, are also fairly likely to have them. Throwing away a more efficient means of violence isn't anything but foolish for either predator or prey.
I know many a mother tried to teach us that violence never solves anything. They lied though. It has been proven so many times throughout history that it can solve things quickly and efficiently that the statement itself can only come from those who place wishful thinking above observable fact.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Tuesday October 10 2017, @03:59PM (2 children)
My argument was against your wording: "The strong still prey on the weak." My argument is the criminal is weak because they steal the hard work of others. They are opportunists. They aren't fearsome warriors whose combative skills outmatch their prey/victim. No. You usually have some scrawny little shit with a gun or knife going around looking for drug money. Their strength comes from the weapon.
(Score: 2) by The Mighty Buzzard on Tuesday October 10 2017, @04:20PM (1 child)
Fair enough. I can appreciate a good bit of pedantry.
My rights don't end where your fear begins.
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Tuesday October 10 2017, @06:19PM
The wording bothered me as it portrays armed criminals as fearsome warriors when it's almost always the exact opposite. It takes work to become a strong person which runs counter to the criminals opportunistic nature.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 10 2017, @05:24PM
Or, said another way and in the spirit of TFR
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 10 2017, @02:05PM (1 child)
You are an idiot. Even without a weapon, most violent criminals are stronger and faster than their victims. A weapon just makes it easier,
(Score: 2) by LoRdTAW on Tuesday October 10 2017, @02:14PM
LOL! Citation needed.