Historical Figures Draft Workshop Thread

[GirlySports]

Good suggestion by octothorp

Categories

Monarch
Politician
Warlord
Commander
Soldier
Mercenary/Vigilante
Religious figure
Philosopher
Writer
Artist
Composer
Scientist
Inventor
Explorer

I assume octothorp and berger are in

Need 10 more people

[Wood]

nm.

[octothorp]

yup, definitely in!

One question I'd have is how we determine who's eligible? Do they have to be currently deceased? Or is there a cut-off for when they're born? WWII era should definitely be included...

[GirlySports]

I would think they should be dead.

Can you be alive and still be a historical figure?

[Coach]

well arguments could be made for composers and inventors/scientists who are still alive

[Berger_4_]

Indeed Matty indeed. Verily, I believe some of thine categories be only for those sadly deceased, whilst others are left open for those still enjoying the aire of this realm.

But alas! Perhaps this method could'st be too difficult for thou to officiate? As a gentleman, I defer to thou.

[RougeUnderoos]

I'm in. Can I be in?

[Itse]

I'm in.

As expected, commentary on the categories:

Monarch
Politician
Warlord
Commander
Soldier

I have trouble setting those categories apart. I assumen you mean "commander" in the military sense, and that "soldier" means a fighter but NOT a commander, but warlord?

That seems too arbitrary, basicly just about any historical commander could also be a warlord and vice versa? I wouldn't want to go into definitions of formal armies as a separating factor, 'cause that can get messy.

How about Outlaw and Rebel as a categories? Some marvelous historical people there.

I don't see why mercenary and soldier need to be separate really.

Also wouldn't Scientist/Inventor be essentially the same thing, the difference being mostly formal/nonformal, which is again tricky when you go across history and different cultures.

Artist propably means visual arts (painting, sculpture, film, so forth), since you separated composer and writer as different categories? (just to make sure, nothing wrong with such a category, I'm just trying to figure them out). Although I think it might be best to not have that many categories so we can pull this the whole way through, and cutting out composer would seem simple enough, as it's just a type of artist anyway.

I'd add Thinker to Philosopher to cover the less formal leaders in thought.

My suggestion:

Monarch
Politician
Commander
Soldier / Mercenary
Vigilante / Outlaw
Rebel
Religious figure
Philosopher / Thinker
Writer
Artist
Scientist / Inventor
Explorer

[Superflyer]

I would like to be in on this as well but I am taking off for 2 weeks so I will miss out

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by Itse

I'm in.

As expected, commentary on the categories:

Monarch
Politician
Warlord
Commander
Soldier

I have trouble setting those categories apart. I assumen you mean "commander" in the military sense, and that "soldier" means a fighter but NOT a commander, but warlord?

That seems too arbitrary, basicly just about any historical commander could also be a warlord and vice versa? I wouldn't want to go into definitions of formal armies as a separating factor, 'cause that can get messy.

My thought is that a warlord is akin to a military dictator: both military and civil control over a nation or region, while a commander is simply responsible for military. The distinction is pretty clear in my mind, but maybe it's not that significant a distinction. I don't mind seeing them combined.

How about Outlaw and Rebel as a categories? Some marvelous historical people there.

I don't see why mercenary and soldier need to be separate really.

Outlaw was sort of what I was going for in the mercenary/vigilante category, but that word never occured to me. And I don't mind rebel as a category.

Also wouldn't Scientist/Inventor be essentially the same thing, the difference being mostly formal/nonformal, which is again tricky when you go across history and different cultures.

I see the difference as being that the inventor is known for producing tangible things, while the scientist is responsible for adding to human knowledge. Yeah, there's definitely some overlap, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, and there are just so many interesting figures in the two realms that it can definitely fill two categories.

Artist propably means visual arts (painting, sculpture, film, so forth), since you separated composer and writer as different categories? (just to make sure, nothing wrong with such a category, I'm just trying to figure them out).

Although I think it might be best to not have that many categories so we can pull this the whole way through, and cutting out composer would seem simple enough, as it's just a type of artist anyway.

Yeah, I was trying to think up a better word for this since artist is nebulous. Although I don't know about cutting out composer; there's just too many great figures from both disciplines.

I'd add Thinker to Philosopher to cover the less formal leaders in thought.

Great idea, totally agree.

[Wood]

Damn, I'm gone for the next week so I won't be part of this.

[Aeneas]

I would like to go in this one.

[troutman]

I would like to join this one.

Seems heavy on the military categories.

Other suggestions?

Poet
Woman (Wild Card)
Building/Structure/Architect
Medical
Legal/Jurist
Comedian
Athlete

This could be dominated by Western Europeans, so how about also;

Asian
African
Americas

[Yeah_Baby]

I'd join.

[driveway]

Still need people? I'd love to get in on this, and echo the comments about too much focus on military categories - troutman had some great suggestions for alternate categories.

[Aeneas]

Originally Posted by troutman

I would like to join this one.

Seems heavy on the military categories.

Other suggestions?

Poet
Woman (Wild Card)
Building/Structure/Architect
Medical
Legal/Jurist
Comedian
Athlete

This could be dominated by Western Europeans, so how about also;

Asian
African
Americas

I like the emphasis on the martial aspect of history. Sadly that seems to be a strong point of our species. I think I would have trouble thinking of any "historical" figure to fit the above bolded categories.

Near half the original categories would fall into the arts and science.

[troutman]

Comedian might be tough - I was thinking of famous satirists.

Does "historical" include everyone ever born, or is there a cut-off date?

[GirlySports]

I think we're going to include anyone. Dead or Alive.

[Yeah_Baby]

Originally Posted by GirlySports

I think we're going to include anyone. Dead or Alive.

Thats not as much fun.

[GirlySports]

Originally Posted by Yeah_Baby

Thats not as much fun.

So you want dead people only?