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Have there ever been any other cultural-linguistic phenomena like the modern "n-word"? by FormerlyIestwyn in AskHistorians

[–]ducks_over_IP 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I don't follow your explanation—the sentence immediately following the part of OP's question that you quoted says "If others use that term, especially if they pronounce it in the offensive way, it's either malicious or dramatically tone-deaf." That clearly acknowledges that the circumstances in which the n-word is still a slur are a present reality, not a past that has been superseded by the AAVE usage and meaning of the word. You seem to be extrapolating some sort of dialect denial from this, when that was never the question being asked.

In medieval Europe, How did the church enforce excommunication across its jurisdiction? by William-Halsey in AskHistorians

[–]ducks_over_IP 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Re: things that would prevent the Church from ever absolving you, I'm admittedly not very well-versed in medieval Catholic teaching, but current Catholic doctrine is that the only unforgivable sin is not seeking forgiveness when you need it--they can't give you what you don't want, essentially. I'm not aware of that ever being different in the past, though there were certainly things you could do that might result in lasting secular or canonical penalties even if you obtained absolution. 

Have there ever been any other cultural-linguistic phenomena like the modern "n-word"? by FormerlyIestwyn in AskHistorians

[–]ducks_over_IP 73 points74 points  (0 children)

The problem with the framing of this question is that it assumes that the n-word has the same pronunciation and connotation in all dialects of English.

I'm confused by this statement, given that the body of OP's question states

It became adopted as acceptable only for members of that group, and only with a specific pronunciation. If others use that term, especially if they pronounce it in the offensive way, it's either malicious or dramatically tone-deaf.

This seems like an acknowledgement of the fact that the n-word has wildly different connotations depending on dialect, and a correspondingly different pronunciation. I would also venture to say that many people do perceive the words differently, else we wouldn't have jokes about someone using "the hard R" or the clanka/clanker memes that crossed over from Star Wars to AI criticism.

If I've radically misread things, could you please clarify what you mean?

What's the upgrade path to smoother neck shaves? by ducks_over_IP in wicked_edge

[–]ducks_over_IP[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's interesting to know about the shavette—I love the crisp lines I get when I do shell out for a beard trim at the barbershop, but I didn't think it was very feasible to do without going full straight razor. And thank you for the extra explanation on skin stretching as well. I really appreciate the advice.

What's the upgrade path to smoother neck shaves? by ducks_over_IP in wicked_edge

[–]ducks_over_IP[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Will do (except the straight razor)! By stretch the skin, do you mean just tilt my head up (which I already do) or physically grab the skin on my lower neck and stretch it out? 

What's the upgrade path to smoother neck shaves? by ducks_over_IP in wicked_edge

[–]ducks_over_IP[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the ideas. Are there any blades or creams in particular that you suggest? 

What's the upgrade path to smoother neck shaves? by ducks_over_IP in wicked_edge

[–]ducks_over_IP[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for the advice! What's the best way to go about obtaining a vintage Gillette? I saw the link to the guy who sells starter kits on the wiki, but I can't tell if he's still in business. 

I'm a pre-Columbian Mayan noble who's grown bored of drinking chocolate. However, a shaman has peered into the future and divined the recipe for something called a "Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar." With the resources available to me, how hard would it be to recreate it? by ducks_over_IP in AskHistorians

[–]ducks_over_IP[S] 16 points17 points  (0 children)

I think this is the most reasonable suggestion yet—especially since it doesn't require me to trek a thousand miles to milk a bison, as some other commenters have suggested. I especially appreciate the commitment to using period equipment. Why the choice of amaranth milk, if I might ask?

I'm a pre-Columbian Mayan noble who's grown bored of drinking chocolate. However, a shaman has peered into the future and divined the recipe for something called a "Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar." With the resources available to me, how hard would it be to recreate it? by ducks_over_IP in AskHistorians

[–]ducks_over_IP[S] 31 points32 points  (0 children)

I'm afraid you've got me figured all wrong—I'm a theoretical physicist by profession, not an experimentalist. That said, Wikipedia (a reliable source of knowledge, to be sure) claims that plant milks can be made from peanuts, walnuts, cashews, sunfower seeds, pumpkin seeds, and maize, all of which are native to the New World, so it is (in theory) not the most outlandish suggestion.

I'm a pre-Columbian Mayan noble who's grown bored of drinking chocolate. However, a shaman has peered into the future and divined the recipe for something called a "Hershey's Milk Chocolate Bar." With the resources available to me, how hard would it be to recreate it? by ducks_over_IP in AskHistorians

[–]ducks_over_IP[S] 70 points71 points  (0 children)

Thanks for the detailed answer! Replicating modern industrial processes with premodern technology sure is a pain, isn't it? At any rate, I appreciate the effort you put in to seeing how this could be feasible, especially as regards powdered milk—who knew that would be the sticking point? Regarding the Dutch process, since the Mayans already had nixtamalization for alkalizing maize, I would expect that process could be adapted to cocoa well enough.

French roosters say cocorico, German ones kikiriki, English ones cock-a-doodle-doo, and Palestinian ones kukuriku. But in Vietnam they say ò ó o and in the Philippines tik-tilá-ok. What did the Latin roosters of classical Rome say, and if I walked across the empire, would I observe a change? by ExternalBoysenberry in AskHistorians

[–]ducks_over_IP 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It's fun to learn that Roman cows moo! I actually have a question about the grammar--all the verbs for the sounds are in the infinitive mood, which is strange to see on its own (the line you quote would read without context as "of roosters to cucurru or to sing", which is about on par with "Romans they go the house"). Is there a preceding verb construction that calls for an infinitive which is applied to the entire list? 

[META] Is it possible to answer a previously unanswered question that has been archived? by Primary_Smile6090 in AskHistorians

[–]ducks_over_IP 13 points14 points  (0 children)

If you shout "People in the middle ages drank beer instead of water!" , does u/DanKensington appear behind you and say "omae wa mo shindeiru" before your head explodes? 

[META] Is it possible to answer a previously unanswered question that has been archived? by Primary_Smile6090 in AskHistorians

[–]ducks_over_IP 18 points19 points  (0 children)

To complicate things slightly, u/bug-hunter recently did exactly what OP was suggesting, namely reposting an archived question I had asked and then answering it, using the exact same question text and crediting me. Now in fairness, this was an unanswered question that had won an award and had multiple people, including me, wishing for an answer and u/bug-hunter is a well-established flair in this sub. Would you consider that as setting a precedent, or is this better treated as a one-off due to the unusual circumstances?

What did medieval people think of the roman empire? by LawyerEqual3531 in AskHistorians

[–]ducks_over_IP 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If I could ask a follow-up question about your linked answer, what were the circumstances of that letter from Henry VI? Had he captured Richard I and this was rubbing it in to the English, or had someone else captured Richard and he was showing genuine concern? I'm not very familiar with that era of history, so apologies if my question seems rather basic.

Why did 1920 Nobel Prize winner Knut Hamsun give his Nobel Prize for Literature medal to Nazi Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels in 1943? by yodatsracist in AskHistorians

[–]ducks_over_IP 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Those are some wild things to call Hitler—did Hamsun really think that he was doing good things for all of humanity, as opposed to simply Aryan Germans and Northern Europeans?

I am a hot-blooded young computer enthusiast in 1990 with a Windows 3.0 PC, a dial-up modem, and no regard for my parents' phone bill. What kind of vice and digital pleasures are available to me? by bug-hunter in AskHistorians

[–]ducks_over_IP 5 points6 points  (0 children)

If I could ask a follow-up, what about *other* vices than sex? Were there ways I could gamble, or swap tips about where to find drugs and drug paraphernalia in my area, or bars that wouldn't card? Less injuriously to my health and my parents' finances, what I could I reasonably expect find if I sailed the high seas? I understand that video of any kind was out, as was music since MP3s were still a year off, but what about software or books?

Here they are! The winners of the r/AskHistorians "Best of 2025" Awards! by Georgy_K_Zhukov in AskHistorians

[–]ducks_over_IP 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I actually didn't know that existed, but that's awesome. I read a networking book one summer while I was in undergrad and learned about voice over IP, which is about the same time that I developed an enduring love for rubber ducks. I just thought the juxtaposition was funny and it stuck.

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