The Historical Record and Its Impact on WritingThread

[DavidGil]

@lovinglydull

I was with you till here.

In certain contexts and certain places, dissenting opinion is thrown out kicking and screaming. But more often than not, I have seen the “political correctness gone mad” thing being kicked around as a cover for people’s bad behavior. You say or do something horrible, like chanting “the Jews will not replace us” in an open setting, it isn’t censorship or political correctness for you to catch flak for it. I say this as someone who has been inadverdently called a sexist apologist on This Very Forum for supporting the right of an author to write what they want, mostly because I don’t want what happened to Vendetta to happen to other authors.

Not a problem. When I mentioned political correctness, it is simply the culture of getting offended at everything and if you don’t share the same viewpoint, then you’re a . . . fill in the rest

Like here, for instance, you were with me till a certain point. I haven’t attacked you, and you haven’t attacked me.

So essentially, I think we have the same thoughts. If you say something offensive, then you deserve any flak you get. Part of the problem as well is that language is losing its meaning. Words are used wrongly, and it feels like many are out of touch with reality. You certainly were not sexist for saying what you did, based on what you said.

@lovinglydull

Statues of historical adversaries who promoted inhuman practices. You don’t see very many statues of Emperor Showa in Hawaii or China, do you?

No idea regarding this, honestly. I was talking in reference to a clip of a UK show where a person of color was suggesting that a statue be pulled down and replaced with another. At least I think that’s the case. Honestly, I cannot remember, and yes, I do deserve flak for that.

@lovinglydull

I dislike the term “Viking” as a catch-all for the Norse and North Germanic raiding cultures.

I can understand that. When I typically use the word, I generally think of the Norwegians or Danes.

@Cataphrak

Here’s a thought: how many allied special forces units were there in World War Two (not counting shock units like the VDV or the US Marines)? All of them, put together: Chindits, SAS, SOE, OSS, Rangers, Airborne. 80 000? Maybe 100 000? Out of a combined force of tens of millions. How many first person shooters and action stories put you in their shoes? What proportion of a late medieval army was made up of members of the military aristocracy? How many stories of medieval warfare star overbred louts in shining, anachronistic plate armour? How many fictional stories set in the Napoleonic Wars are based on a handful of regiments in Wellington’s small army on the Peninsula, or on the quarterdecks of that specific portion of the Royal Navy not committed to the blockade of France or the American coast?

Recently bought Guns of Infinity and I’m going to read through it soon, though I have a feeling my character will do poorly due to the fact I received a warning about my import’s stats being low. Still, looking forward to it.

Regarding how many units, I again have no idea. Seems to be a reoccuring theme/answer that, right? But you’re right.

I think with regard to World War 2 and women, that was largely due to the factors at play in the conflict as a whole? The Soviet Union being desperate and women wanting to defend their country. Basically, circumstances dictated what happened. I’m well-aware of people being under threat of being shot, if not shot, as well if they ran.

The death toll and destruction from the conflict was really . . . yeah. A lot of desperation all around.