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World's Greatest Draft (1 Viewer)

Crongatulations, Comrade DC Thunder! You have truly proved yourself a brave member of the proletariat! Allow me to award you this ribbon to commemorate your fine work so far, and remember to follow with all of your being the following truths:

1. I will work harder.

2. Comrade Timschochet is always right.

If things get difficult for you in the future, just repeat the above and you will feel much better.

As for the rest of you, DC Thunder should serve as your example!
Is this like getting the Order of Lenin?
 
This one of the most ludicrous statements you've made so far. You're clearly not taking into account the categories and round taken when you respond to my comment (since you could easily have gotten Gabrini several rounds later). As well as it's a pretty silly argument for you to make against me when the biggest argument you have for Tzu is that he's the most popular today. Attributing my disregard for the placement of these pics (a sentiment btw echoed by most other people commenting on them) in our draft towards a general lack of knowledge of history is pretty ####### stupid.eta: I'd be bitter too if I fell flat on my face with the first overall pick.
I like my team quite a bit. This is not a popularity contest. If it was, I would have taken Jesus at one. This draft is about World History and I have just as good a team as anyone else. Not my fault you don't subscribe to Sun Tzu's theories. If this draft is about influencing people or the amount of people a historical figure helped to change the world... the whole world and not just the Western world... than Sun Tzu has every right to be at the top. China and its wars have had an effect on, possibly, 2 billion people dating back to his time (China alone) plus countless others when his book was translated later on. I am drafting with the world in mind... not just Western thinking.
 
4.14 Euclid, the Father of Geometry, Scientist/Mathematician

Since mathematicians are merged with scientists, I have to imagine that Euclid is near the top of the category, besting arguably all others save Newton. When you took Geometry in high school, it was Euclidian Geometry. In about 300 BCE, he assembled all the known geometrical ideas, all the apparently unrelated pieces of information and developed them into a related, understandable, and beautiful, system.

He described this system in his book, Elements, which has been studied consistently for over two thousand years. It has been translated into every known language, is the most successful textbook of all time, having more editions than any other book ever printed except the Bible. Albert Einstein said of it: "Anyone who was not transported by this book in youth was not born to be a theoretical searcher."

Following in the footsteps of XXX, he championed the use of deductive reasoning to use facts to prove theorems. The study of mechanics, sound, light, navigation, biology, medicine, as well as all branches of science and technology depend upon this man's teachings.

 
7. Usual21 - pick skipped

15. Yankee23fan - Turn To Pick

16. Acer FC - On The Deck

17. FUBAR - In The Hole

18. Arsenal of Doom

19. Larry Boy 44

20. Mario Kart - I want to pick tonight

 
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It's hard to argue with Euclid being one of the greatest scientists, if not the greatest scientist ever. But who do you rank him over?

Newton?

Einstein?

Darwin?

Archimedes?

Yet another impossible category...

 
It's hard to argue with Euclid being one of the greatest scientists, if not the greatest scientist ever. But who do you rank him over?Newton?Einstein?Darwin?Archimedes?Yet another impossible category...
I would put him in the tier below Newton and Einstein with Archimedes and Galileo and a few others. I don't think Darwin is in this second tier. One could make an argument that Euclid deserves to be first, although I'm not sure many would buy it. In fact, one could argue that all of those guys in the second tier belong in the same tier as Newton and Einstein, but again popular perception has so long been Newton and Einstein at the top, not many would be convinced.
 
Tim, given that so many categories will be so difficult to rank 1-20, have you considered doing a 1-10 point scale instead like you did for Wild Cards? I really don't see the downside of this... Teams will likely be grouped more closely, but I think as we get to the later rounds, and as long as the judges don't give all eights, nines, and tens, we will see some separation.

 
And one piece of shameless self-promotion: for the first time in my life, I skied double-diamond expert terrain. Therefore, I have bumped myself up to the 204,438th tier in the Athlete category. Currently targeting the millionth round. :unsure:
Where?I noticed blue intermediates in some parts of the country are equivalent to black diamond in others.

FWIW, gave up DBD in North America after I skied here.
Sugarloaf, USA. Why did you give up DBDs? :wub: ?

 
Play nice fellas. ELE. Everybody love everybody.
If someone wants to start insulting me because I don't agree with his poor defenses of the worst picks of the draft then I'm going to point that out (unless they're a judge). That said, if MK can keep the sarcastic #####ery out of his posts, so can I.
Hey, I am not the one in this thread criticizing people's picks and coming off as a know-it-all. But, continue if it makes you feel better.
 
This is not a joke at all, so please don't take it that way, but after hearing what happened to Natasha Richardson, I kind of want to give up blacks, blues, greens, and bunny slopes. Life is so fragile.

 
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This is not a joke at all, so please don't take it that way, but after hearing what happened to Natasha Richardson, I kind of want to give up blacks, blues, greens, and bunny slopes. Life is so fragile.
FWIW today was also the first time I ever wore a helmet skiing. :thumbup:
 
This is not a joke at all, so please don't take it that way, but after hearing what happened to Natasha Richardson, I kind of want to give up blacks, blues, greens, and bunny slopes. Life is so fragile.
FWIW today was also the first time I ever wore a helmet skiing. :thumbup:
Probably a wise move. Although what happened to her was so freakish. I don't know that they gave details of her fall, but the fact that it was bad enough to cause brain hemorrhaging yet not bad enough to make her feel so abnormal as to require medical attention is scary.
 
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Tim, given that so many categories will be so difficult to rank 1-20, have you considered doing a 1-10 point scale instead like you did for Wild Cards? I really don't see the downside of this... Teams will likely be grouped more closely, but I think as we get to the later rounds, and as long as the judges don't give all eights, nines, and tens, we will see some separation.
No no no no. The only reason I get to do that for wildcards is because they really can't be compared to each other, since they represent so many different fields. Part of the great fun of this whole thing is that the category judges have to rank each category 1-20, and will be subject to major criticism when they do. The discussion at that point will be the most stimulating in the entire draft, not to be missed.
 
Tim, given that so many categories will be so difficult to rank 1-20, have you considered doing a 1-10 point scale instead like you did for Wild Cards? I really don't see the downside of this... Teams will likely be grouped more closely, but I think as we get to the later rounds, and as long as the judges don't give all eights, nines, and tens, we will see some separation.
No no no no. The only reason I get to do that for wildcards is because they really can't be compared to each other, since they represent so many different fields. Part of the great fun of this whole thing is that the category judges have to rank each category 1-20, and will be subject to major criticism when they do. The discussion at that point will be the most stimulating in the entire draft, not to be missed.
You're the boss. It's going to be even more controversial in this draft, though, when we see a guy like, oh I don't know, Darwin, ranked 20th (not saying this is where he should fall, but it could happen).
 
And one piece of shameless self-promotion: for the first time in my life, I skied double-diamond expert terrain. Therefore, I have bumped myself up to the 204,438th tier in the Athlete category. Currently targeting the millionth round. :thumbup:
Where?I noticed blue intermediates in some parts of the country are equivalent to black diamond in others.

FWIW, gave up DBD in North America after I skied here.
Sugarloaf, USA. Why did you give up DBDs? :scared: ?
Yup, been a few times, love it there. Most often we ski in northern Vermont, though I am starting to enjoy Stratton more (90 minutes closer, very well run).I gave up DBD because I got old.

:lol:

I got all that adrenlin stuff (scuba, tree skiing, bungee jumping) out of my system awhile ago.

My gf is an average skier; usually I go halfway down and wait for her, or if we've done several runs, just wait at the bottom. Just like being outdoors and not really look to challenge myself. As Clint Eastwood once said, "A man's got to know his limitations"

I still go in the glades once in awhile, and a friend convinced me to start wearing a helmut 5-6 years ago. But I stay away from really steep grades or terrain parks.

 
4.13--Vladimir Ilyich Lenin-Rebel

Since I have two of the three persons who have major schools of Communist thought named after them, I'll get the third. This should definitely help my Pinko Draft.

Lenin was the ultimate rebel. He took the theory of Marx and made it into the ideology that overthrew the Russian Czarist empire and founded a movement that at one point in time appeared to be prepared to sweep the world. Lenin founded the USSR and defeated the reactionary forces including expeditionary forces from Britian and the US in the early 1920s. He was one of the few Russian leaders who could keep Stalin at bay, and Marxist-Leninist thought was the basis of all Soviet ideology until 1988.

He is still revered as a god in Russia and his Tomb on Red Square that displayes his embalmed body is still a major tourist attraction

Yes, Lenin, rounds out my pinko draft.
DC, I know more about Lenin as Chairman and less as a revolutionary. If you can point me towards stuff, I will read up. Or are you saying he was a rebel in being the first chairman in the Soviet Union and implementing what he did. I'm not saying he isn’t a good rebel, I just need more help on this one. Thanks
Fennis, I'm saying that he was a revolutionary as far back as 1895 and that he participated and led revolutionary groups from that time forward, culminating with the October Revolution of 1917 which brought the Bolseviks to power and made him First Secretary and Chairman of the Communist Party. All revolutionarys are rebels, almost by defintion, and Lenin was a revolutionary first and an administrator second. Even as party chairman he wanted to export his revolution around the world. He got himself exiled, jailed and persecuted by the Czarist government and the return to Russia in the sealed train via the Finland Station is celebrated in Soviet and other literature.The Wiki article is as good a place to start as any: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenin
:thumbup: I'll brush up on my revolutionary Lenin so I can fairly grade him.
 
Tim, given that so many categories will be so difficult to rank 1-20, have you considered doing a 1-10 point scale instead like you did for Wild Cards? I really don't see the downside of this... Teams will likely be grouped more closely, but I think as we get to the later rounds, and as long as the judges don't give all eights, nines, and tens, we will see some separation.
No no no no. The only reason I get to do that for wildcards is because they really can't be compared to each other, since they represent so many different fields. Part of the great fun of this whole thing is that the category judges have to rank each category 1-20, and will be subject to major criticism when they do. The discussion at that point will be the most stimulating in the entire draft, not to be missed.
Possibly to give you more leeway... you should do a base score out of 50 for the Wild Cards. Instead of assigning individual scores to each person, assign a score as a group. Or, up the individual scores to 15 or 20 points each. Allows more leeway for you.
 
This one of the most ludicrous statements you've made so far. You're clearly not taking into account the categories and round taken when you respond to my comment (since you could easily have gotten Gabrini several rounds later). As well as it's a pretty silly argument for you to make against me when the biggest argument you have for Tzu is that he's the most popular today.

Attributing my disregard for the placement of these pics (a sentiment btw echoed by most other people commenting on them) in our draft towards a general lack of knowledge of history is pretty ####### stupid.

eta: I'd be bitter too if I fell flat on my face with the first overall pick.
I like my team quite a bit. This is not a popularity contest. If it was, I would have taken Jesus at one. This draft is about World History and I have just as good a team as anyone else. Not my fault you don't subscribe to Sun Tzu's theories. If this draft is about influencing people or the amount of people a historical figure helped to change the world... the whole world and not just the Western world... than Sun Tzu has every right to be at the top. China and its wars have had an effect on, possibly, 2 billion people dating back to his time (China alone) plus countless others when his book was translated later on.

I am drafting with the world in mind... not just Western thinking.
Once again, you don't get it. I never said Sun Tzu was wrong about anything or that he isn't influential. He is not the best 1.01 pick, he is not #1 in the military category or in any category. You seem to think that because I say he was taken too early that I disregard him. Couldn't be more wrong. In fact if you go back I said that I was thinking about him since I figured for sure he wouldn't go in the top 10. Further, you referenced that statement in defense of your pick to all the others that agree that it was a reach.My critiques of people in this draft are relative to their round taken, not their worth of not being on this list.

You're also wrong about what this draft is about. It isn't The World's Most Influential People or The Amount A Person Has Helped Change The World Draft. It's the World's Greatest Draft. Alexander, Hannibal, Khan and Napoleon are all GREATER military figures than Sun Tzu.

 
Play nice fellas. ELE. Everybody love everybody.
If someone wants to start insulting me because I don't agree with his poor defenses of the worst picks of the draft then I'm going to point that out (unless they're a judge). That said, if MK can keep the sarcastic #####ery out of his posts, so can I.
Hey, I am not the one in this thread criticizing people's picks and coming off as a know-it-all. But, continue if it makes you feel better.
This is actually almost as ridiculous as your previous statement since this all started by you telling me how much less than you I know about history.
 
This draft has got me thinking. Having recently (volunatarily) joined the ranks of the unemployed, I finally have some free time. Would like to get back to regularly reading again. Any suggestions for a good read? I don't really want to get into any of the classics being discussed in these drafts, I generally prefer history books. Particularly military history. I'm sure Ozymandius or perhaps even Tim has something in mind for me to dig into.

 
You're also wrong about what this draft is about. It isn't The World's Most Influential People or The Amount A Person Has Helped Change The World Draft. It's the World's Greatest Draft. Alexander, Hannibal, Khan and Napoleon are all GREATER military figures than Sun Tzu.
I am pretty sure Tim will back me up here, but the terms "greatness" and why we are doing this draft is because different people use that term in different ways. I view "greatness" in who are originators or who rise up and do something or who think of something and others follow that. Like I stated many posts ago, the 1.01 was either Sun Tzu or Alexander.
 
This draft has got me thinking. Having recently (volunatarily) joined the ranks of the unemployed, I finally have some free time. Would like to get back to regularly reading again. Any suggestions for a good read? I don't really want to get into any of the classics being discussed in these drafts, I generally prefer history books. Particularly military history. I'm sure Ozymandius or perhaps even Tim has something in mind for me to dig into.
I just finished The Greatest Battle: Stalin, Hitler, and the Desperate Struggle for Moscow That Changed the Course of World War II by Andrew Nagorski.Terrific read.

:X

 
This one of the most ludicrous statements you've made so far. You're clearly not taking into account the categories and round taken when you respond to my comment (since you could easily have gotten Gabrini several rounds later). As well as it's a pretty silly argument for you to make against me when the biggest argument you have for Tzu is that he's the most popular today.

Attributing my disregard for the placement of these pics (a sentiment btw echoed by most other people commenting on them) in our draft towards a general lack of knowledge of history is pretty ####### stupid.

eta: I'd be bitter too if I fell flat on my face with the first overall pick.
I like my team quite a bit. This is not a popularity contest. If it was, I would have taken Jesus at one. This draft is about World History and I have just as good a team as anyone else. Not my fault you don't subscribe to Sun Tzu's theories. If this draft is about influencing people or the amount of people a historical figure helped to change the world... the whole world and not just the Western world... than Sun Tzu has every right to be at the top. China and its wars have had an effect on, possibly, 2 billion people dating back to his time (China alone) plus countless others when his book was translated later on.

I am drafting with the world in mind... not just Western thinking.
Once again, you don't get it. I never said Sun Tzu was wrong about anything or that he isn't influential. He is not the best 1.01 pick, he is not #1 in the military category or in any category. You seem to think that because I say he was taken too early that I disregard him. Couldn't be more wrong. In fact if you go back I said that I was thinking about him since I figured for sure he wouldn't go in the top 10. Further, you referenced that statement in defense of your pick to all the others that agree that it was a reach.My critiques of people in this draft are relative to their round taken, not their worth of not being on this list.

You're also wrong about what this draft is about. It isn't The World's Most Influential People or The Amount A Person Has Helped Change The World Draft. It's the World's Greatest Draft. Alexander, Hannibal, Khan and Napoleon are all GREATER military figures than Sun Tzu.
That is very much your opinion, and not one I, in particular, agree with.
 
This draft has got me thinking. Having recently (volunatarily) joined the ranks of the unemployed, I finally have some free time. Would like to get back to regularly reading again. Any suggestions for a good read? I don't really want to get into any of the classics being discussed in these drafts, I generally prefer history books. Particularly military history. I'm sure Ozymandius or perhaps even Tim has something in mind for me to dig into.
I just finished The Greatest Battle: Stalin, Hitler, and the Desperate Struggle for Moscow That Changed the Course of World War II by Andrew Nagorski.Terrific read.

:X
Looks interesting.... Added to the cart
 
This one of the most ludicrous statements you've made so far. You're clearly not taking into account the categories and round taken when you respond to my comment (since you could easily have gotten Gabrini several rounds later). As well as it's a pretty silly argument for you to make against me when the biggest argument you have for Tzu is that he's the most popular today.

Attributing my disregard for the placement of these pics (a sentiment btw echoed by most other people commenting on them) in our draft towards a general lack of knowledge of history is pretty ####### stupid.

eta: I'd be bitter too if I fell flat on my face with the first overall pick.
I like my team quite a bit. This is not a popularity contest. If it was, I would have taken Jesus at one. This draft is about World History and I have just as good a team as anyone else. Not my fault you don't subscribe to Sun Tzu's theories. If this draft is about influencing people or the amount of people a historical figure helped to change the world... the whole world and not just the Western world... than Sun Tzu has every right to be at the top. China and its wars have had an effect on, possibly, 2 billion people dating back to his time (China alone) plus countless others when his book was translated later on.

I am drafting with the world in mind... not just Western thinking.
Once again, you don't get it. I never said Sun Tzu was wrong about anything or that he isn't influential. He is not the best 1.01 pick, he is not #1 in the military category or in any category. You seem to think that because I say he was taken too early that I disregard him. Couldn't be more wrong. In fact if you go back I said that I was thinking about him since I figured for sure he wouldn't go in the top 10. Further, you referenced that statement in defense of your pick to all the others that agree that it was a reach.My critiques of people in this draft are relative to their round taken, not their worth of not being on this list.

You're also wrong about what this draft is about. It isn't The World's Most Influential People or The Amount A Person Has Helped Change The World Draft. It's the World's Greatest Draft. Alexander, Hannibal, Khan and Napoleon are all GREATER military figures than Sun Tzu.
That is very much your opinion, and not one I, in particular, agree with.
I would say your opinion would without a doubt be in the minority. Not saying its wrong because it really is hard to slot these guys. But those 4 are what I usually see as the top of the heap when most people talk military figures.
 
This one of the most ludicrous statements you've made so far. You're clearly not taking into account the categories and round taken when you respond to my comment (since you could easily have gotten Gabrini several rounds later). As well as it's a pretty silly argument for you to make against me when the biggest argument you have for Tzu is that he's the most popular today.

Attributing my disregard for the placement of these pics (a sentiment btw echoed by most other people commenting on them) in our draft towards a general lack of knowledge of history is pretty ####### stupid.

eta: I'd be bitter too if I fell flat on my face with the first overall pick.
I like my team quite a bit. This is not a popularity contest. If it was, I would have taken Jesus at one. This draft is about World History and I have just as good a team as anyone else. Not my fault you don't subscribe to Sun Tzu's theories. If this draft is about influencing people or the amount of people a historical figure helped to change the world... the whole world and not just the Western world... than Sun Tzu has every right to be at the top. China and its wars have had an effect on, possibly, 2 billion people dating back to his time (China alone) plus countless others when his book was translated later on.

I am drafting with the world in mind... not just Western thinking.
Once again, you don't get it. I never said Sun Tzu was wrong about anything or that he isn't influential. He is not the best 1.01 pick, he is not #1 in the military category or in any category. You seem to think that because I say he was taken too early that I disregard him. Couldn't be more wrong. In fact if you go back I said that I was thinking about him since I figured for sure he wouldn't go in the top 10. Further, you referenced that statement in defense of your pick to all the others that agree that it was a reach.My critiques of people in this draft are relative to their round taken, not their worth of not being on this list.

You're also wrong about what this draft is about. It isn't The World's Most Influential People or The Amount A Person Has Helped Change The World Draft. It's the World's Greatest Draft. Alexander, Hannibal, Khan and Napoleon are all GREATER military figures than Sun Tzu.
That is very much your opinion, and not one I, in particular, agree with.
I would say your opinion would without a doubt be in the minority. Not saying its wrong because it really is hard to slot these guys. But those 4 are what I usually see as the top of the heap when most people talk military figures.
And most of the time people arent including military theorists in the discussion. Sun Tzu is without a doubt the top military theorist in history, so its a question of how you mix generals with theorists.
 
You're also wrong about what this draft is about. It isn't The World's Most Influential People or The Amount A Person Has Helped Change The World Draft. It's the World's Greatest Draft. Alexander, Hannibal, Khan and Napoleon are all GREATER military figures than Sun Tzu.
That is very much your opinion, and not one I, in particular, agree with.
Of course it's my opinion. And when Ozy judges military or whoever judges any of the categories it will be based on their opinion. I view greatness in terms of accomplishment first, legacy and influence second. Three of those people have been judged by and large in the opinions of learned men to be the greatest military men in all of history without the benefit of Tzu's book. Those men that accomplished are going to rank higher than those that talked about it.
 
This draft has got me thinking. Having recently (volunatarily) joined the ranks of the unemployed, I finally have some free time. Would like to get back to regularly reading again. Any suggestions for a good read? I don't really want to get into any of the classics being discussed in these drafts, I generally prefer history books. Particularly military history. I'm sure Ozymandius or perhaps even Tim has something in mind for me to dig into.
I just finished The Greatest Battle: Stalin, Hitler, and the Desperate Struggle for Moscow That Changed the Course of World War II by Andrew Nagorski.Terrific read.

:thumbup:
Not sure what others will think of William J. Bennett but I am reading his book right now, America: The Last Best Hope... there are two volumes of it as America has had a lot happen. The book does not go into depth that much about events or people but it gives a good primer to the history and also allows you to ask yourself "This is interesting... I would like to know more about (fill in people/event here)" and continue reading. I remember in the GAD, people never heard of the night Lincoln was killed and what else should have gone down (the four men getting killed). Well, the book tells of this event pretty good so he does hit some things that may not be readily known as well.

 
And most of the time people arent including military theorists in the discussion. Sun Tzu is without a doubt the top military theorist in history, so its a question of how you mix generals with theorists.
I've said this several times. See my above post about where to slot Tzu with regards to the great military minds that never heard of him before.
 
You're also wrong about what this draft is about. It isn't The World's Most Influential People or The Amount A Person Has Helped Change The World Draft. It's the World's Greatest Draft. Alexander, Hannibal, Khan and Napoleon are all GREATER military figures than Sun Tzu.
I am pretty sure Tim will back me up here, but the terms "greatness" and why we are doing this draft is because different people use that term in different ways. I view "greatness" in who are originators or who rise up and do something or who think of something and others follow that. Like I stated many posts ago, the 1.01 was either Sun Tzu or Alexander.
Mario is correct that it's up to each drafter to decide what greatness is. That being said, Mad Sweeney is correct, IMO, about the people he ranks ahead of Sun Tzu.
 
Alexander, Hannibal, Khan and Napoleon are all GREATER military figures than Sun Tzu.
That is very much your opinion, and not one I, in particular, agree with.
Of course it's my opinion. And when Ozy judges military or whoever judges any of the categories it will be based on their opinion. I view greatness in terms of accomplishment first, legacy and influence second. Three of those people have been judged by and large in the opinions of learned men to be the greatest military men in all of history without the benefit of Tzu's book. Those men that accomplished are going to rank higher than those that talked about it.
Ok, see, the bolded segment is a statement in absolute terms - a statement of fact. You seem very unaware in that post that the statement in question is in actuality an opinion. Atleast now you're acknowledging that statement is an opinion.
 
You're also wrong about what this draft is about. It isn't The World's Most Influential People or The Amount A Person Has Helped Change The World Draft. It's the World's Greatest Draft. Alexander, Hannibal, Khan and Napoleon are all GREATER military figures than Sun Tzu.
I am pretty sure Tim will back me up here, but the terms "greatness" and why we are doing this draft is because different people use that term in different ways. I view "greatness" in who are originators or who rise up and do something or who think of something and others follow that. Like I stated many posts ago, the 1.01 was either Sun Tzu or Alexander.
Mario is correct that it's up to each drafter to decide what greatness is. That being said, Mad Sweeney is correct, IMO, about the people he ranks ahead of Sun Tzu.
:bag: That is fine however criticizing in a less than constructive manner does not belong here either.
 
And most of the time people arent including military theorists in the discussion. Sun Tzu is without a doubt the top military theorist in history, so its a question of how you mix generals with theorists.
True most don't, but I have seen plenty that include him. Not really arguing as I think Tzu is incredibly influential, but I the sheer amount that those 4 accomplished outweighs anything Tzu brought to the table. After they are off the board, I think an argument for Tzu can be made. Just my opinion.
 
Alexander, Hannibal, Khan and Napoleon are all GREATER military figures than Sun Tzu.
That is very much your opinion, and not one I, in particular, agree with.
Of course it's my opinion. And when Ozy judges military or whoever judges any of the categories it will be based on their opinion. I view greatness in terms of accomplishment first, legacy and influence second. Three of those people have been judged by and large in the opinions of learned men to be the greatest military men in all of history without the benefit of Tzu's book. Those men that accomplished are going to rank higher than those that talked about it.
Ok, see, the bolded segment is a statement in absolute terms - a statement of fact. You seem very unaware in that post that the statement in question is in actuality an opinion. Atleast now you're acknowledging that statement is an opinion.
I've never said any different. Maybe this will help you follow the thread-Pretty much any time any of us discuss where someone ranks it can be rightly assumed to be their opinion. In the context of our discussion about Tzu I thought it was very apparent that it was my opinion. As it is with every other post I make. You and Kart seem to be pretty mistakenly keyed into what I do and don't know.
 
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You're also wrong about what this draft is about. It isn't The World's Most Influential People or The Amount A Person Has Helped Change The World Draft. It's the World's Greatest Draft. Alexander, Hannibal, Khan and Napoleon are all GREATER military figures than Sun Tzu.
I am pretty sure Tim will back me up here, but the terms "greatness" and why we are doing this draft is because different people use that term in different ways. I view "greatness" in who are originators or who rise up and do something or who think of something and others follow that. Like I stated many posts ago, the 1.01 was either Sun Tzu or Alexander.
Mario is correct that it's up to each drafter to decide what greatness is. That being said, Mad Sweeney is correct, IMO, about the people he ranks ahead of Sun Tzu.
:bag: That is fine however criticizing in a less than constructive manner does not belong here either.
Then perhaos you should refrain from it.
 
Alright, when this draft began there were 10 names that came to mind in antiquity for me that had to be drafted. After this guy wasn't taken in the first two rounds, I figured he might fall. Watching some of the previous picks makes me think he isn't falling much further.

Now, many a scientist has been drafted so far, and each worthy. I wonder, however, how much of an actual influence on all human life those scientists have had to actual practical terms. The inventors have, sure, but has each scientist taken actually done something in a field that we each deal with on a daily basis? Maybe. But this guy has without question, and in perhaps the most important field we have in science. Medicine.

I select the Father of Medicine, Hippocrates He was the person that took medicine out of the spiritual control of oracles and gods and taught that human health was based not on angry gods but on diet, environment and every day occurances that today we take for granted.

Hippocrates began to categorize illnesses as acute, chronic, endemic and epidemic, and use terms such as, "exacerbation, relapse, resolution, crisis, paroxysm, peak, and convalescence." Another of Hippocrates' major contributions may be found in his descriptions of the symptomatology, physical findings, surgical treatment and prognosis of thoracic empyema, i.e. suppuration of the lining of the chest cavity. His teachings remain relevant to present-day students of pulmonary medicine and surgery. Hippocrates was the first documented chest surgeon and his findings are still valid.

So revered was he that after his death the progression of medicine actually stopped because it was thought that no one could be a brilliant as him and therefore there was nothing further to learn and expand on. That is an influence that many here don't have.

 
And most of the time people arent including military theorists in the discussion. Sun Tzu is without a doubt the top military theorist in history, so its a question of how you mix generals with theorists.
I've said this several times. See my above post about where to slot Tzu with regards to the great military minds that never heard of him before.
Most of the greatest military minds that you list have technology to credit for a large portion of their dominance. And there are plenty of people that have been influenced by Sun Tzu, he need not have influenced everyone in history to deserve consideration for the top spot.
 
Alexander, Hannibal, Khan and Napoleon are all GREATER military figures than Sun Tzu.
That is very much your opinion, and not one I, in particular, agree with.
Of course it's my opinion. And when Ozy judges military or whoever judges any of the categories it will be based on their opinion. I view greatness in terms of accomplishment first, legacy and influence second. Three of those people have been judged by and large in the opinions of learned men to be the greatest military men in all of history without the benefit of Tzu's book. Those men that accomplished are going to rank higher than those that talked about it.
Ok, see, the bolded segment is a statement in absolute terms - a statement of fact. You seem very unaware in that post that the statement in question is in actuality an opinion. Atleast now you're acknowledging that statement is an opinion.
It usually helps, however, to know that a man was actually born, lived and accomplished something. Right now, all we have from Sun Tzu is a book that he supposedly wrote, but which could have been a compilation made by a clerk whose master asked him to write to various generals and have them each contribute a chapter. Or it could have been put together gradually, over a period of decades."Scholars have expressed doubt in Sun's historicity and the traditional dating of The Art of War. The skepticism is fueled by factors that include historical inaccuracies and anachronisms in the text, as well as the unlikelihood of the execution of the king's favorite concubines. Increasing skepticism, which sometimes cause scholars to completely deny the existence of a historical figure named Sun Wu (Sun Tzu), has lead to acrimonious debate between skeptics and traditionalists, especially in China. Attribution of The Art of War's authorship varies among scholars, and have included people and movements including Sun; Chu scholar Wu Zixu; an unknown author; a school of thought in Qi or Wu; and Sun Bin."

As soon as we arrive at a category called "Important works on the science and art of war", the work might well have pride of place.

 
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Alright, when this draft began there were 10 names that came to mind in antiquity for me that had to be drafted. After this guy wasn't taken in the first two rounds, I figured he might fall. Watching some of the previous picks makes me think he isn't falling much further.

Now, many a scientist has been drafted so far, and each worthy. I wonder, however, how much of an actual influence on all human life those scientists have had to actual practical terms. The inventors have, sure, but has each scientist taken actually done something in a field that we each deal with on a daily basis? Maybe. But this guy has without question, and in perhaps the most important field we have in science. Medicine.

I select the Father of Medicine, Hippocrates He was the person that took medicine out of the spiritual control of oracles and gods and taught that human health was based not on angry gods but on diet, environment and every day occurances that today we take for granted.

Hippocrates began to categorize illnesses as acute, chronic, endemic and epidemic, and use terms such as, "exacerbation, relapse, resolution, crisis, paroxysm, peak, and convalescence." Another of Hippocrates' major contributions may be found in his descriptions of the symptomatology, physical findings, surgical treatment and prognosis of thoracic empyema, i.e. suppuration of the lining of the chest cavity. His teachings remain relevant to present-day students of pulmonary medicine and surgery. Hippocrates was the first documented chest surgeon and his findings are still valid.

So revered was he that after his death the progression of medicine actually stopped because it was thought that no one could be a brilliant as him and therefore there was nothing further to learn and expand on. That is an influence that many here don't have.
Brilliance.
 
And most of the time people arent including military theorists in the discussion. Sun Tzu is without a doubt the top military theorist in history, so its a question of how you mix generals with theorists.
I've said this several times. See my above post about where to slot Tzu with regards to the great military minds that never heard of him before.
Most of the greatest military minds that you list have technology to credit for a large portion of their dominance. And there are plenty of people that have been influenced by Sun Tzu, he need not have influenced everyone in history to deserve consideration for the top spot.
Foul, overgeneralization.He should at least have some influence on more than 1 of the 4 greatest military men of history.

 
This draft has got me thinking. Having recently (volunatarily) joined the ranks of the unemployed, I finally have some free time. Would like to get back to regularly reading again. Any suggestions for a good read? I don't really want to get into any of the classics being discussed in these drafts, I generally prefer history books. Particularly military history. I'm sure Ozymandius or perhaps even Tim has something in mind for me to dig into.
I just finished The Greatest Battle: Stalin, Hitler, and the Desperate Struggle for Moscow That Changed the Course of World War II by Andrew Nagorski.Terrific read.

:thumbup:
Not sure what others will think of William J. Bennett but I am reading his book right now, America: The Last Best Hope... there are two volumes of it as America has had a lot happen. The book does not go into depth that much about events or people but it gives a good primer to the history and also allows you to ask yourself "This is interesting... I would like to know more about (fill in people/event here)" and continue reading. I remember in the GAD, people never heard of the night Lincoln was killed and what else should have gone down (the four men getting killed). Well, the book tells of this event pretty good so he does hit some things that may not be readily known as well.
I just added this one too. Should be a fun read. Yea the Lincoln conspiracy is very interesting, I read a pretty good book dealing with that subject specifically a few years ago.
 
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4. 16 Voltaire- Philosopher

François-Marie Arouet (21 November 1694 – 30 May 1778), better known by the pen name Voltaire, was a French Enlightenment writer, essayist, and philosopher known for his wit, philosophical sport and defence of civil liberties, including freedom of religion and free trade.

Voltaire was a prolific writer and produced works in almost every literary form, authoring plays, poetry, novels, essays, historical and scientific works, more than 20,000 letters and more than 2000 books and pamphlets.

He was an outspoken supporter of social reform, despite strict censorship laws and harsh penalties for those who broke them. A satirical polemicist, he frequently made use of his works to criticize Catholic Church dogma and the French institutions of his day.

Voltaire was one of several Enlightenment figures whose works and ideas influenced important thinkers of both the American and French Revolutions.
 
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