#mea weapons

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fictiveprophet replied to your post “As someone who's studying archaeology at university, I would just like...”

Very much agreeing with this, even though I insufficiently highlighted that in my comments. Archaeology is basically a field of study (in European academia at least) which origin has undeniable ties to imperialism, racism and xenophobia and there are many damaging remnants of that history in a lot of the terminology - "primitive" being one of them.

fictiveprophet replied to your post “That weapon being pointed at the asari is a chinked metal point,...”

I am liking and commenting on all these posts, but I am just so excited to see the discussion develop on this one detail, people throwing in their knowledge! We have no idea what bioware's intent with the design is of course, but loving people analysing in all seriousness anyway!!

Yeah, I think it helps to try and be precise about what we’re seeing, even if the picture isn’t detailed. I already know a lot more than I thought I could know about this weapon just by reading you guys tell me what you can see, so I love it! :)

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That weapon being pointed at the asari is a chinked metal point, probably a large knife or metal spearhead. @fictiveprophet was absolutely correct. It's way too flat to be a knapped/retouched stone flake. //takes off anthropology phdc hat// lol. And "primitive" is a culturally relative term, and any one person will have a different personal/cultural definition of it. hint: Javik.

Yep. Thank you!

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As someone who's studying archaeology at university, I would just like to mention that archaeologists, anthropologists, sociologists etc. ALL say that words like 'primitive' are very poor descriptors in describing cultures other than your own (present, not ancient), especially as they have many negative connotations and biases behind them, including racism, imperialism, xenophobia etc.

Thank you!

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im admitting i used the term primitive incorrectly thats why i stopped using it and saying carved spearhead instead im really not sure what youre still confused by? im sorry i guess for using the term primitive but the rest of what i said still stands? sorry to bother u tho i figured this would be a good place to say my thoughts but i guess not ??? sorry dude

Well you can say your thoughts but I can tell you I’m confused by it, I don’t see what’s wrong about either of those things? No need to apologize, I’m just confused because you didn’t stop using it, you just said people would know what you mean, but going by the definition carved isn’t primitive in itself. So do you mean it’s a tool created in a distant past, that is quite basic? Even so, it really doesn’t seem like it is to me. In that case, we could simply agree to disagree.

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i used the term primitive because its shorthand for something so that i kno people will kno what i mean, i kno people still make carved tools and stuff. my only point is its clearly not serrated it looks very deliberately designed to look like carved spearheads and arrowheads, the logistics of it r on bioware not me. i kind of doubt they put that much thought into the design

Yeah but when you say “it’s shorthand for something” you’re still not explaining to me what you mean by that, especially in the context of Andromeda? 

And carved does not equal primitive. 

Primitive, the definition from Merriam-Brewster:

of, belonging to, or seeming to come from an early time in the very ancient past

not having a written language, advanced technology, etc.

very simple and basic : made or done in a way that is not modern and that does not show much skill

There’s nothing in that picture that indicates this weapon is from an early time, doesn’t have advanced technology or is “basic”. Even if hand carved, it wouldn’t be “basic” or showing no skill? I’m still so confused.

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fictiveprophet replied to your post “because u can see the etching/carving marks. i guess it could be that...”

Anything "hand carved" can't have a surface that flat! Such a surface would have to be either ground with a grinding stone (which is a total waste of time for a tool that is meant to be used rather than showing prestige), moulded or forged. Stone tools are created by finding the right quality rock and knocking it with another rock. It is a skill that takes YEARS to master.

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because u can see the etching/carving marks. i guess it could be that And something else but the fact that its a hand carved spearhead is pretty undeniable

I find @fictiveprophet‘s thoughts on that weapon here quite interesting. 

If you assume it’s hand carved, why is it primitive? I’m genuinely asking because I don’t understand your use of that word. What’s your definition of primitive? Does it have to do with a specific period in time? Because time might be seen differently in Andromeda. And what is “primitive” to us (or what looks like primitive) could actually be quite advanced. So I’m confused.