Who controlled this discussion was Vinny. I listened continually (not watched) to the first 55 minutes (edit-and longer after the post) to try to grasp the interaction. The more I listened, the more it all seemed pretty give and take. Abby and Brad were both invested in their opinions, and it showed. Jan said enough to and for about his own points. Good for that.
But besides more takes on this game, the conversation came off enthusiastic. Awkward sometimes, but really okay.
Also, I'm playing Bloodborne, and I just think I need to play something different right now. I bought Gears of War 5 on sale specifically as a summer game. But this looks so great. Both diversionary and with a decent story. Formulaic it may be, but after all this is a juggle between it and GoW!
@toughshed: Hey, I understand escapism and fantasy as well as anyone. As I already said, I'm not addressing morals , or at most, peripherally.
Just to note, the Dark Ages were precipitated by the fall of the Roman Empire. As for political hypocrisy of the Christian side of things, sure. As far as it applied in 'holding Europe back'.
But the effect of the Vikings isn't just something I made up. Historians have come up with this as studied effects of the Vikings excursions. And when I had an interest a year or so ago about the Vikings, this was what I read.
@toughshed: I have nothing against what you said, whether it be Vikings or Pirates in context of trying to bring morality into the picture. Though I personally believe(and am not trying to foist it upon others) that Vikings and Pirates tend to be the suckier in a relative sense.
But what is really in the back of my mind was for Europe, The Vikings held back progress of any sort. I'm thinking of representative government, the further development in agrarian culture, Innovation, even personal well being, that would facilitate the Renaissance, the explosion of true Scientific thought and procedure, the Industrial revolution, and progress to equaling today. That is, it could have potentially happen 200 years earlier. And that hit me with a what if, if say perhaps populations were lower than now, and we did not hit the hard red lines of climate change and rising Fascism and Authoritarian rule, coupled with over-population, but rather had more time and flexibility for these things. (Not to say that we wouldn't squander it like we seem prone to)
A bit of speculation for sure. But all the Vikings ever brought to the table that really meant anything, was misery and pain equaling the plague, and literally stunting the growth of Europe, just when it was throwing off a bit the binding conditions of post Dark ages and medieval . They retarded the growth of progress on just so many fronts, and in present day we could have been conceivably so farther down the road...
bybeach's comments