Whoever said I'd only be posting fauna here? Any of my ideas go here.
Here we have the Scientific process of Felarya, devised and tested for ages by the greatest minds in Negav. It's used worldwide to further the knowledge of Felarya.
This isn't a metaphor for anything. Honest.
Science of FelaryalScientific progress in Felarya is broken into five stages, which are as follows.
Observation:A person, be they adventurer, explorer or scientist, will notice something. This may be something never seen before, but more often it is something very obvious that was always missed due to Nose Blindness. (Take a person into a room. Ask them to tell you what they see. Keep pushing. Have them list everything that they can see. You can go on for quite a while before that person will mention their own nose, even though there isn't a place where they can look without seeing it. )
Ex. "That harpy has sharp claws."
HypothesisGiven the observation, a scientist will now develop a theory to explain it. This theory will likely be the most obvious one to arise from the observation, in accordance with Occom's Razor.
Ex. "Those claws are probably used for slashing things."
Anti-ThesisA second scientist, hoping to gain acclaim, will devise an alternate theory. Because the most obvious theory is taken, this second theory will represent an application not immediately obvious but nonetheless possible.
Ex. "They were actually used for grasping things."
In-FightingThe two theories will gain credence with various groups. These groups will split into "camps"; members of each camp will feverently follow camp dogma while simultaneously denying any new ideas (even if backed up with indisputable proof) that contradict it. Because the two camps cannot tolerate each others ideas, they fight endlessly. Flame wars are common, and it is not unheard of for arguments to erupt into outright violence. The Anti-Thesis typically attempts to get its views taught in all the prestigious Felarya schools, despite the fact that they have little scientific backing.
Ex. "Stupid N00b. Every1 knows that clawz R 4 slashing."
SynthesisFinally, the two groups will decide to resolve their differences through actual testing. Measurements are made, graphs designed, declarations signed in blood. A representative from each camp then ventures to the harpy to get it's opinion on the delicate slashing/grasping issue, at which point they are both devoured.
Following this, the two camps will decide that the best way to prevent more of their members from being eaten is to find a middle ground. The theory is thus revised to say that harpies used their claws for slashing and running. This consensus continues until an alternate theory is formed, and the whole thing starts over again.
Seriously. This isn't a metaphor for anything.
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This Week's Climax!
November 3rd, 2009
Forgotten already.
It's a Brand New Day, and the Sun is high. All the Fairies sing, that you're gonna die!