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Vlad the Impaler

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 5:06 am
by Mr Sleep
It seems some scientists have had this great idea, they were in their office one day and they thought i know lets clone Vlad the impaler, wouldn't that be cool!.....

I was just wondering whether anyone thinks this is just plain barmy, the guy was a complete lunatic, in case anyone was not aware he used to get his enemies and place them at the top of a spike and watch them slide down, a not very well adjusted fellow, i think you'll agree.

One of the scientists was quoted as saying.

"There has been a lot of bad things said about Vlad, we ar ehoping to clear them up...."

Is anyone else slightly worried about the sanity of some of these people, it's like in about 25 years they are going to say,"i know what lets clone Hitler, just to clear up a few arguments....."

I suppose this all depends on if you beleive the evil gene.....i for one certainly think it has an effect.

Opinions?

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 5:22 am
by Xandax
I don't know if I belive in an evil gene, per se. If you think people are evil due to genectics then these people can't actually be held accountable for their crimes, because then they couldn't help it.

I belive we are all to be held accountable for our own actions, good or bad, and therefor I would not hope such a gene is ever discovered :eek:

So in general I would say that there are a lot of things I would say influence a person to become what they becomes, for instance peers, parents, other family members.
But I also strongly belive in that you make a choiche on how to reach a goal.

In cases of Vladimir (or something) I really don't know enough about him to get into a discussion about him, but wasen't there something about much of his cruelty was made agains his/his countys enemies? Then his cruelty could be seen as a mean of keeping in power.

As for Hitler, well he was also looking for a scape goat as a mean to secure power.
It always helps when you have an enemy to unite against.

(IMHO)
(rambeling - :) )

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 5:34 am
by Mr Sleep
I didn't think about the evil gene in that way, but i think genetics can dispose you to a certain state of mind, for instance Hitlers Father was a direct relation of his Mothers, and i think this had a part to play.

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 6:03 am
by Angelus
The evil gene aside, I think there is a difference between Hitler and Vlad.

IMO Vlad wasn't that much different from the rest of the people of his time, sure impaling sounds cruell today but just take a look at the rest of the 15th century and it's there togethere with people burning at stakes, being quartered or broken on the wheel.
Besides I think this impalement business was "just" a means of psychological warfare and not really due to some kind of sick mind on his part.

MO about Hitler is that he just had some vital parts misplaced in his brain. He wasn't a complete lunatic, but you wouldn't call him sane either. Whether it's due to a gene or incest(?) I don't really think you can compare him to Vlad.

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 6:15 am
by Mr Sleep
I wasn't necessarily comparing the two i was just using them as examples. The story about Vlad BTW is absolutely true (too my knowledge ;) )

Incest can surely have consequences down the line in a persons mental health, you can not be sure it did not effect his sanity in some way.

True Vlad was possibly a victim of the times as much as anyone, but one can not discount that it takes a ruthless mind to do something like that, even if it is in warfare.

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 6:28 am
by Angelus
Yeah, I think at least some of the stories about Vlad are true, you don't get a name like "the Impaler" for nothing after all.

I suppose most of the great people of that time were like that, cruell and ruthless when it comes to it. Perhaps Hitler was some kind of anachronism.

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 6:32 am
by Edwin
One time some ambassadors from foreign countries went in front of Vlad for political affairs. They had some kind of crowns in their head. He decided that, if they liked those crowns so much, they'd have liked to keep them forever...so he made one of his men to permanently keep their crowns with some rusty things......

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 6:35 am
by Edwin
AH!!! And don't forget that, usually, he was having dinner while looking at people sliding down the spikes......

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 7:11 am
by Anatres
I'm confused. I thought that cloning only replicated the physical. That the clone didn't posess the memories/experiences/life of the clonee.

If this is the case then what good would it be to clone any historical person? The clone would most likely turn out to be entirely different that the original. Evil gene or not.

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 7:27 am
by Mr Sleep
That i think is the ultimate question, would someone who has the same genes turn into the same meglomanical figure of mass destruction. IMHO i will sleep better at night not having Vlad the imapler remastered. :D

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 7:34 am
by Vehemence
Ah, genetics vs environment... the age old discussion. :)

Sorry, but I'm going to have to back the environment. Give me a clone of Vlad, and a caring environment in which to raise the chap, and I'll show you the truth of my words.

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 7:46 am
by Mr Sleep
It could be quite amusing he could end up becoming a major drag queen :D :D

Remember you have to buy him lots of care bears and my little pony ;) :D

(Not that i'd know anything about that :eek: :o )

IMHO the argument has been done to death and genetics does play a part, but ones environment also makes irrevicable changes to any person, just as ginger hair colour follows strongly in families so can a certain impunity towards other human beings.....

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 8:13 am
by Darkpoet
Hey I could go to see some human popsicles.

Talk about having a broomhandle up your @ss. :D :eek:

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 8:34 am
by Waverly
Gruntboy has been impaled on a huge pole, havn't you GB? :D

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 8:38 am
by Darkpoet
You are saying that Grunty likes to be impaled?

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 8:40 am
by Weasel
Originally posted by Waverly:
<STRONG>Gruntboy has been impaled on a huge pole, havn't you GB? :D </STRONG>
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:


I bet that was a holy experience :D

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 8:40 am
by Mr Sleep
Likes tol... DP, likes to.

Why bring GB into a serious conversation?

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 8:44 am
by Darkpoet
I think they should being Vlad back. Have him run an International justice system. I wonder what the crime rate would be world wide?

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 8:47 am
by Weasel
Originally posted by Darkpoet:
<STRONG>I think they should being Vlad back. Have him run an International justice system. I wonder what the crime rate would be world wide?</STRONG>
I believe it would cause a shortage of trees :D :D

@Mr.Sleep...haven't seen you in a while...work piling up??

Posted: Fri May 18, 2001 8:51 am
by Darkpoet
Originally posted by Weasel:
<STRONG>I believe it would cause a shortage of trees :D :D

@Mr.Sleep...haven't seen you in a while...work piling up??</STRONG>

Make iron broom handles. :D