Random Banter #239 - Now 50% more tangible!

[Keltest]

Hm. I vaguely remember someone saying something to the effect of "[d]omesticated species are almost universally made more vulnerable to pests and more reliant on their captors by the process of domestication (whether intentionally or unintentionally) and that's bad."

You could say the same thing about a lot of symbiotic relationships. Take away one half of the pair and the other one suffers massively.

[Peelee]

Hm. I vaguely remember someone saying something to the effect of "[d]omesticated species are almost universally made more vulnerable to pests and more reliant on their captors by the process of domestication (whether intentionally or unintentionally) and that's bad."

Notwithstanding the coincidence there, corn isn't really domesticated so much as it is so incredibly modified by humanity that it cannot exist without our continued, direct intervention.

[tomandtish]

there is oddly no fireworks happening in my neighborhood. odd, usually I hear them by now, did my neighbors change or did they not decide to them?

oh well, guess playing a bunch of Fallout New Vegas counts as celebrating the 4th of July.

This obviously depends on where you are, but there are a lot of places with burn bans in effect (so no fireworks). And in my area at least law enforcement was taking the fireworks seriously enough that they actually left a voice message on all cell phones stating that there would be zero tolerance this year, and included a dedicated line for calling to report fireworks. At least three separate groups in my neighborhood got busted. One got arrested because they broke it a second time.

[Metastachydium]

You could say the same thing about a lot of symbiotic relationships. Take away one half of the pair and the other one suffers massively.

Disagreed. I'm not so sure asymmetrical symbiotic relationships where one organism has largely complete control over the reproduction of the other is quite as common as you suggest it is, and that's not even getting into the key detail of this particular state of affairs being deliberately engineered by the species in control.

Notwithstanding the coincidence there, corn isn't really domesticated so much as it is so incredibly modified by humanity that it cannot exist without our continued, direct intervention.

Not quite. It's not even a species of its own. Technically, it's little more than a variant of Zea mays parviglumis.

[BisectedBrioche]

Interesting linguistic trivia: There are multiple references to "corn" in the Doomsday book, because at the time it was the word for "whatever grain is being grown for food hereabouts".

Maize came to be known as corn because it was called "American corn" or somesuch, which eventually got abbreviated to corn and displaced the older meaning.

[Rater202]

I still think we should exchange swords instead of rings at weddings.

Nothing says "I love you" like giving your beloved a big badass implement of pointy death forged specifically for them.

[BisectedBrioche]

I agree, despite not wanting to get married.

But then again, I'd also dearly like skintight leather armour to be everyday fashion, so I'm kinda biased.

[Fyraltari]

I still think we should exchange swords instead of rings at weddings.

Nothing says "I love you" like giving your beloved a big badass implement of pointy death forged specifically for them.

I dunno, I think the symbolic chain works better as a representation of the, well..., bound between two people.

It is a bit sad, though, that the best man is no longer the best warrior among your retainers though.

[Anonymouswizard]

I still think we should exchange swords instead of rings at weddings.

Nothing says "I love you" like giving your beloved a big badass implement of pointy death forged specifically for them.

Eh. Swords are impractical and can't be carried around everywhere like a piece of jewelry can

Although I'd be totally down for a wedding knife as well.

[Form]

I still think we should exchange swords instead of rings at weddings.

Nothing says "I love you" like giving your beloved a big badass implement of pointy death forged specifically for them.

No, nothing says "I love you" more than inviting the political enemies of both your Houses to the wedding and having them all killed as your Houses' theme songs play. Now there's a bonding experience.

[Peelee]

I still think we should exchange swords instead of rings at weddings.

Nothing says "I love you" like giving your beloved a big badass implement of pointy death forged specifically for them.

Be the change you want to see in the world.

[Rater202]

Be the change you want to see in the world.

hat would require me to get married.

And I'm like... 90% sure I'm aro. Like I appreciate romance as an aesthetic and like seeing people happy together but don't really think I'm interested? The whole thing sounds exhausting.

[Anonymouswizard]

hat would require me to get married.

I don't see what's so hard about that. Find a human you like, impale them with your sword, done and dusted.

The aromantic thing might be a complication, but nobody said that marriages had to include romance, or love.


Like it can't be more awkward than having the 'I know we haven't lived together but part of me already wants to propose to you' conversation with your partner. Like I can't be the only one to have had that conversation, right?

[Keltest]

I don't see what's so hard about that. Find a human you like, impale them with your sword, done and dusted.

The aromantic thing might be a complication, but nobody said that marriages had to include romance, or love.


Like it can't be more awkward than having the 'I know we haven't lived together but part of me already wants to propose to you' conversation with your partner. Like I can't be the only one to have had that conversation, right?

I can assure you that you are not.

[Fyraltari]

The whole thing sounds exhausting.

I assure you, it is.

Edit: Well, not the happy part, at least not on the timescales I'm familiar with. But the rest is.

[LaZodiac]

Disagreed. I'm not so sure asymmetrical symbiotic relationships where one organism has largely complete control over the reproduction of the other is quite as common as you suggest it is, and that's not even getting into the key detail of this particular state of affairs being deliberately engineered by the species in control.

Not quite. It's not even a species of its own. Technically, it's little more than a variant of Zea mays parviglumis.

Well, given 99% of all plants are incapable of any real communication, it's an unprecedented scenario in any case.

I still think we should exchange swords instead of rings at weddings.

Nothing says "I love you" like giving your beloved a big badass implement of pointy death forged specifically for them.

You're entirely right and that's something I'll keep in mind. Not that rings aren't also super cool.

I dunno, I think the symbolic chain works better as a representation of the, well..., bound between two people.

It is a bit sad, though, that the best man is no longer the best warrior among your retainers though.

This is also true.

I know if I ever get married to the loves of my life, I'll be doing that.

[Anonymouswizard]

This is also true.

I know if I ever get married to the loves of my life, I'll be doing that.

I'm jealous of those allowed to legally marry all their partners.

We're still going to try to convince a vicar to do a ceremony, but it can't all be legal.

...

It's been three days and I already miss my partners.

[LaZodiac]

I'm jealous of those allowed to legally marry all their partners.

We're still going to try to convince a vicar to do a ceremony, but it can't all be legal.

...

It's been three days and I already miss my partners.

Oh it's not legal up in Canada I'm just saying if the opportunity ever arose to burn a **** ton of money on a cool party, swords'll be involved.

[Metastachydium]

But then again, I'd also dearly like skintight leather armour to be everyday fashion, so I'm kinda biased.

Sounds impractical and I'm more into laminar armours anyway.

Eh. Swords are impractical and can't be carried around everywhere like a piece of jewelry can

Well, they could be back in the day.

No, nothing says "I love you" more than inviting the political enemies of both your Houses to the wedding and having them all killed as your Houses' theme songs play. Now there's a bonding experience.

…
My House needs a theme song.

I don't see what's so hard about that. Find a human you like, impale them with your sword, done and dusted.

I don't follow. How do you impale them with your sword if you don't get your sword until after you married them?

Well, given 99% of all plants are incapable of any real communication, it's an unprecedented scenario in any case.

[Throws tantrum.]

This is also true.

I know if I ever get married to the loves of my life, I'll be doing that.

Enlist the help of the best warrior from among your retainers? Sounds like a solid plan.

[Mystic Muse]

Not gonna lie, a sword seems like a way cooler proposal/wedding gift than a ring.

[Peelee]

My House needs a theme song.

If it's in the middle of the street, then boy do I have some news for you.

[Mystic Muse]

If it's in the middle of the street, then boy do I have some news for you.

...And now that's stuck in my head.

I wish a great inconvenience on you. Like a stubbed claw or disappointing coffee.

[Anonymouswizard]

Oh it's not legal up in Canada I'm just saying if the opportunity ever arose to burn a **** ton of money on a cool party, swords'll be involved.

Canada is as mean as the UK.


I'm torn between canes and the easier to carry bracelets for my massive oparty.

I don't follow. How do you impale them with your sword if you don't get your sword until after you married them?

I need to make my sex jokes more obvious.

[Rater202]

The aromantic thing might be a complication, but nobody said that marriages had to include romance, or love.

I have no monies, am not much of a looker, posess no social status, and periodically fantasize about being 1: a childlike fae creature 2: A dragon, 3: a vampire/lich type thing, 4: a tree, 5: a living planet, 6: a humanoid mass of iniature stars, and 7: a shapeless ethereal eldritch being.

I doubt that I could attract a mate for non-romantic reasons.

[Anonymouswizard]

I have no monies, am not much of a looker, posess no social status, and periodically fantasize about being 1: a childlike fae creature 2: A dragon, 3: a vampire/lich type thing, 4: a tree, 5: a living planet, 6: a humanoid mass of iniature stars, and 7: a shapeless ethereal eldritch being.

I doubt that I could attract a mate for non-romantic reasons.

Everybody wants to marry a dragon. Just ask Peelee.

[Rater202]

Everybody wants to marry a dragon. Just ask Peelee.

Yeah, but who wants the weirdo who wants to be one but has no way of going about it?

[Peelee]

...And now that's stuck in my head.

I can only assume you are thrilled with this prospect.

I wish a great inconvenience on you. Like a stubbed claw or disappointing coffee.

Having to drink coffee would indeed be disappointing, if it were to happen. But if it makes you feel better, tonight is a HIIT night, so you are getting your wish.

Everybody wants to marry a dragon. Just ask Peelee.

Ahh, the noble dragon. Men want him, women want to be him, everyone else get to choose for themselves.

[DataNinja]

Ahh, the noble dragon. Men want him, women want to be him, everyone else get to choose for themselves.

It's true!
(But, okay, that made me laugh more than it should.)

[HalfTangible]

I have no monies, am not much of a looker, posess no social status, and periodically fantasize about being 1: a childlike fae creature 2: A dragon, 3: a vampire/lich type thing, 4: a tree, 5: a living planet, 6: a humanoid mass of iniature stars, and 7: a shapeless ethereal eldritch being.

I doubt that I could attract a mate for non-romantic reasons.

Dress well, bathe regularly and interact with others on a daily basis. Everything else is a matter of attitude and time.

[halfeye]

Dress well, bathe regularly and interact with others on a daily basis. Everything else is a matter of attitude and time.

I has a bath once a year whether I needs it or not.

Was said in a Doris Day western film, by an old fella, I've no idea what the title of the film was or any of the characters names.