Fraternal Greetings and my first real longsword

[Sean Gallagher]

Not to be a buzz killer. But genetic predispositions to man-made things, just aren't possible. Longsword isn't a chromosome or genetic building block.

however, you could have natural balance, or hand eye

-S

[danielcarcich]

Thanks Mike, when struck the sword rings with two discernable notes at a 6th interval, I don't know if that means anything.

Major or minor 6th? Forgive my nerdy music student curiosity...

[Roy Robinson Stewart]

Not to be a buzz killer. But genetic predispositions to man-made things, just aren't possible.


-S

I disagree on that score

[Roy Robinson Stewart]

Thanks Mike, when struck the sword rings with two discernable notes at a 6th interval, I don't know if that means anything.

Major or minor 6th? Forgive my nerdy music student curiosity...

Hi Daniel,

The Atrim 1520 Longsword rings with a Major 6th interval .

.

[Sean Gallagher]

How intriguing.

[Sean Gallagher]

-S[/quote]

I disagree on that score[/quote]

It's not a disagree sort of thing, "longsword" isn't a building block in our DNA. It's literally impossible. That'd be like having a genetic affinity for a rolling pin. It's just not how it works. Hand-eye, balance, strength, sure, but there's no "Longsword" gene. It's a man-made creation. There's no longsword genetic code.

For arguments sake, you could argue that the longsword was created FOR/ by a people with similar genetics to you, and was created for people with those genetics, so in that sense it matches your own, but i doubt that too, seeing as it's rather popular use by such a wide range of people.

Ultimately, it feels natural, it feels good! Be happy with your brand new, amazing, sword.

[Sal Bertucci]

Well, crows seem to have a genetic affinity to shiney things.

Since some would argue that we're smarter than birds, we might be able to add more variables to that genetic attraction. Like "sharp" and "cruciform".

[JeremyDillon]

-S

I disagree on that score

It's not a disagree sort of thing, "longsword" isn't a building block in our DNA. It's literally impossible. That'd be like having a genetic affinity for a rolling pin. It's just not how it works. Hand-eye, balance, strength, sure, but there's no "Longsword" gene. It's a man-made creation. There's no longsword genetic code.

For arguments sake, you could argue that the longsword was created FOR/ by a people with similar genetics to you, and was created for people with those genetics, so in that sense it matches your own, but i doubt that too, seeing as it's rather popular use by such a wide range of people.

Ultimately, it feels natural, it feels good! Be happy with your brand new, amazing, sword.

Not to quible, but I think it is pretty reasonable to say that someone might favor a particular implement due to biomechanics concerns imposed by genes, and might thus have what you might call a mechanical predisposition to its use. All those things you mentioned (hand-eye coordination, balance, strength, not to mention limb dimensions, kinesthetic sensitivity and weight distribution to name but three others) are, to some extent, genetically determined, and these are all factors which might shape how a person experiences wielding a particular weapon. There isn't a "longsword" gene, but there also isn't an "arm" gene or a "leg" gene . These organs are products of the expression of MANY genes working together. As far as preferences go, the matter is also dependent on a lot of environmental and psychological concerns which are outside the realm of genetic governance, but I think it's easy to see how genes might play an important role. Probably off topic, but wanted to express that opinion.

[Sean Gallagher]

Touche. I concede. I was thinking about it primarily i guess as longsword specificity.

[Roy Robinson Stewart]

It's an inteesting topic, hopefully not too OT for the forum.

I was thinking along the lines of a genetically evolved response to certain shapes, which doesn't seem out of the question if compared with male responses to female shapes which appear ( although I could be wrong ) to vary from culture to culture somewhat.

Perhaps if such differences exist they are learned, perhaps not, but I'm under the impression that learned behaviour can also alter genetics over the generations.

.

[Sean Gallagher]

It's an inteesting topic, hopefully not too OT for the forum.

I was thinking along the lines of a genetically evolved response to certain shapes, which doesn't seem out of the question if compared with male responses to female shapes which appear ( although I could be wrong ) to vary from culture to culture somewhat.

Perhaps if such differences exist they are learned, perhaps not, but I'm under the impression that learned behaviour can also alter genetics over the generations.

.

That's actually a seriously great point. didn't even think of that. I've been thinking more about it too, and it seems viable that the longsword, or even swords in general have been influenced by the base genetics that their creators had in the day. So almost the reverse that, we are not genetically predisposed to the longsword, but the longsword is predisposed to our genetics. or those of us who have genetics most similar to others in the time period. An interesting thought indeed.

[JeremyDillon]

Perhaps if such differences exist they are learned, perhaps not, but I'm under the impression that learned behaviour can also alter genetics over the generations.

.

Errr... not really. The CAPACITY to learn certain behaviors or the propensity for learning in a particular way is another story, as these things are actually reliant on information stored in an organism's genes. Knowledge and learned behavior are the result of rewiring of the brain subsequent to the expression of all the (extremely nontechnical terminology follows) brain-forming genes, and these genes are not affected by this rewiring. So, when a parent passes on their genes to offspring, they are essentially passing on the same genes they themselves were given at birth, excepting any genes that may have mutated in the parent's germ-line cells. Now if the parent has a particular GENETIC predisposition for, say, recognizing how the shape of an object affects its aerodynamic and mechanical properties, that definitely could affect how successful they are at quickly learning which stick/sword/whatever is best for swinging, and the predisposition for that enhanced learning COULD be passed on to later generations. Any knowledge the parent has gained because of this predisposition cannot be passed on genetically, though.

[Roy Robinson Stewart]

I see.

Recently I read that experiences can change one's genetic makeup, I don't know if it's true or not though.

If I'm reading your post correctly it woulod seem to imply that attraction to the opposite sex due to appearance is learned rather than innate, it's hard to wrap my head around that one.

.

[Stacy Clifford]

Recently I read that experiences can change one's genetic makeup, I don't know if it's true or not though.

Only if you count being heavily irradiated as an experience. There's always a little bit of random mutation as cells multiply for growth or replacement, but a mutation in one liver cell won't affect your entire genetic makeup. Experiences only affect neural pathways and chemical makeup in the body, not genetics.

If I'm reading your post correctly it would seem to imply that attraction to the opposite sex due to appearance is learned rather than innate, it's hard to wrap my head around that one.

The brain is definitely hardwired to show favoritism toward certain shapes, textures, etc., but there are also a ton of chemical responses involved.

That said, let's drag this thread back on topic guys.

[Roy Robinson Stewart]

Hi Stacey

Here's the Archangel Falchion, still off topic as it's not a longsword though.