> --- In WorldofGlorantha_at_yahoogroups.com, Jane
> Williams
> <janewilliams20_at_...> wrote:
> >
> >
> > --- Toread DuDerysi <jakyer_at_...> wrote:
> > > According to accounts of such societies (such as
> > > Seutonius or
> > > Tacitus), the barbarian elders spend their days
> > > instructing the youth to pass on their skills.
> >
> > Sure. And as they chat, what are they doing with
> their hands?
>
> Drinking, of course. And gesturing. And indicating
> just exactly how
> big the Storm Bull really was. At least, in my
> glorantha.
So you subscribe to the "men are too incompetent to talk and act at the same time" theory? Weren't we saying something earlier about bias against men being just as unfair as bias against women? We have this lovely picture of the women in the loom house making all the decisions that run the clan, as they weave - and the men can't manage anything more constructive than drinking, while they do their talking?
> > > And as always, the swords and spears need to be
> > > tended to,
> >
> > Yep - weaponcrafting, that's a craft.
>
> Which is usually covered as a part of, say, the
> warrior or farmer keyword.
Sure, when it's just something you do a bit of from time to time. When the balance of how you spend your time shifts, things change.
> Nandan;s for those who don't want to farm or hunt or
> fish or fight as their primary duty.
Even when fit enough to do these things (erm, fish? Sitting down doing nothing? There's something for the elderly!) Yes, fine.
> As a side note, Chalana Arroy is considered
> too extreme for most women, let alone men, to join
> with its fanatic attitude towards fighting.
Agreed - but the option does exist, just as the Gors do for female would-be warriors.
> I think that Nandan would be perfect to
> provide a needed outlet for males who wish to become
> healers in the society
Yes, that sounds good. Though also stopping them from being husbands and fathers sounds pretty silly.
> > > How is this different from the old granny by the
> > > fire?
> >
> > It's different in that they're not yet that
> decrepit. Old age is not an on/off switch. ..
> Conversely, how much effort is required to tell some
> young kid that he's not holding the spear right?
You have to stand up, at least! Pick up the shield so as to show him how to hold it. And follow the kid around. He won't be learning spear all day anyway, most of his time is spent farming. What do you do then? An hour or so a day on teaching, sure - now what?
> > > What does she
> > > do now that her gnarled hands can no longer
> thread a
> > > needle, weave a basket, or set a bone?
> >
> > Die, basically. And chat as she waits. If she's
> that
> > far gone, she's waaaay past it. But arthritis is
> > hardly the first symptom of no longer being young
> and
> > fit.
>
> YGMV
My Glorantha may well do, the basic facts of how the
human body and low level technology work does not.
> But similarly, a man who can no longer even
> instruct the youngsters is also rather far gone.
Nowhere near that far. Not even close.
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