imp_resario: (SIR.)
Moxxie ([personal profile] imp_resario) wrote in [community profile] dreamcrystals2022-12-08 12:24 pm

A Matter Of Opinion

Sender: Moxxie
Subject: re: Armaments, traditions, and customs, vis-a-vis names

Reverein, I need a little help in resolving a minor dispute on a matter of opinion. And weapons.

Namely, the naming thereof.

Now, I've always had a mind for the classics in both music and literature, and giving a weapon a name all its own is a way of establishing personal significance, identity, and legacy, to say nothing of gravitas in recognition of or anticipation of the deeds ascribed to it. What, pray tell, would be Der Ring des Nibelungen without Nothung, the accursed sword of Siegfried? What would be the Arthurian legends without Excalibur or La Chanson de Roland without Durandal?

I would assert, therefore, that the practice is timeless, and has a well-earned place in the modern day, and with modern weaponry besides; that something like, for example, a shotgun can have enough significance to its wielder and within its deeds that it is no less worthy of being given a name than the weapons of old.

HOWEVER, in contrast, a certain colleague of mine does not share my views on this matter and describes the entire practice as, and I quote them directly,

"Cringe, T B H".

Which to me not only shows a lack of dramatic appreciation but also ignorance of the proud tradition upheld by the act of doing so. Thus I put it to a vote in a public forum before my fellow dreamers:

Is the practice of naming weapons really just a relic of a bygone sentimentality, or is it a timeless practice honoring the tools of the world's second-oldest trade?
herewardbound: (Default)

[personal profile] herewardbound 2022-12-09 05:08 am (UTC)(link)
No, I mean I never felt the urge to name a 'mundane' weapon
herewardbound: (ponder)

[personal profile] herewardbound 2022-12-10 03:54 pm (UTC)(link)
I do have a sword named Hi-no-Kagutsuchi. I felt it appropriate for a flamberge that literally sets things it touches on fire.
I haven't actually seen that one since I got here. I should visit the well again, see if I could perhaps get it to come out, since I rather liked that sword.

... I also named my pistol Doomsday.
If you must know it's a reference to a television show I loved as a small child.
herewardbound: (Default)

[personal profile] herewardbound 2022-12-12 07:22 pm (UTC)(link)
It was a gift from a close friend.

Also through a process I'm only familiar with by secondhand description he fed the Zoroastrian metaphysical concept of diligence to it and now it shoots lasers and also I can't be certain but it makes me

better

It's all something to do with cognition.
herewardbound: (Default)

[personal profile] herewardbound 2022-12-15 06:22 pm (UTC)(link)
In fairness to you
it only functions as a firearm here and in other metaphysical places.

As best as I can explain it- when you point a gun at someone, they expect it to be loaded unless they've already seen you fire it quite a lot.

When you squeeze the trigger, they expect it to fire. And they expect bullets to hurt.

In a world bound by the laws of physics, they soon learn the difference, and everything is fine.

But in a world like this one, which is warped by the perception of people, a gun that merely looks threatening is threatening. The more visually impressive, the better. And if you've lent an extra few pounds of cognitive weight to a weapon by, for instance, binding the essence of a cognitive construct to it, then you have quite a dangerous tool at your disposal.

I also used to own a Sig-Sauer P230.

Interesting factoid: suppressed firearms, I've noticed, make the same sorts of sounds they do in media, here.
herewardbound: (Default)

[personal profile] herewardbound 2022-12-18 04:16 pm (UTC)(link)
I'm not sure. This is just me guessing, so bear with me-

The application of the name may help with your own personal cognition coming to believe that your weapon is 'better'.

But if what you want is a gun that sets things on fire, you could apply fire-patterned engraving or decals.

I am not joking, that worked.
herewardbound: (Default)

[personal profile] herewardbound 2022-12-18 04:28 pm (UTC)(link)
I had the same attitude

Then I watched a girl get her favorite grenade launcher custom-engraved with a snowflake pattern, fire it into a mob of enemies, and freeze them solid.

If it looks stupid but it works...
herewardbound: (ponder)

[personal profile] herewardbound 2022-12-18 04:29 pm (UTC)(link)
Actually in hindsight that probably should've been the first of many signs my plan was not going to work.