09-27-2017, 03:00 PM | #41 |
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Berkeley, CA
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Re: Our dwarves are different
That depends on what you mean by cannon fodder? By definition, a eusocial species has groups that are not directly needed for propagation of the species, but they can still be expensive to replace (for example, domestic horses are effectively eusocial, though that pattern is imposed from outside, but that doesn't mean geldings are throwaways).
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09-27-2017, 07:23 PM | #42 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon
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Re: Our dwarves are different
Property on par with farm or service animals, not outside imposed alteration.
If we count non-breeding groups that serve society, then that may include grandparents. But while considered less valuable than children, they aren't considered worthy to so directly sacrifice for the health of others as cannon fodder generally means.
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09-27-2017, 09:42 PM | #43 | |
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
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Re: Our dwarves are different
Quote:
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09-27-2017, 09:55 PM | #44 |
Join Date: Dec 2007
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Re: Our dwarves are different
The funny thing about dwarves is that while any pretty somewhat magical and slender humanoid is called an elf, relatively minor variations on the model of "short hardy humanoid who lives underground" are given their own distinct naming. Thus dwarves, svarts, duergar, halflings, gnomes and so forth.
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09-27-2017, 10:26 PM | #45 | |
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
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Re: Our dwarves are different
Quote:
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"The navy could probably win a war without coffee but would prefer not to try"-Samuel Eliot Morrison |
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09-27-2017, 11:22 PM | #46 |
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Forest Grove, Beaverton, Oregon
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Re: Our dwarves are different
Wikipedia says they're used as guinea pigs for genetic experimentation. That's pretty darn expendable.
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09-28-2017, 07:39 AM | #47 |
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Portland, Oregon
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Re: Our dwarves are different
The haut regard everything as guinea pigs for genetic experimentation including themselves. But they are never shown tossing the ba away like tissue paper by marching them over minefields or working them on building pyramids until they die or throwing away their brains when they reach majority to gain a new body. So it depends on what you mean by expendable. As honeybees defend their hive by being kamikazes I assumed something along that line when eusociability was discussed.
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"The navy could probably win a war without coffee but would prefer not to try"-Samuel Eliot Morrison Last edited by jason taylor; 09-28-2017 at 08:03 AM. |
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