Most Influential Weapon Ever???

reply to post by quintar


What about patriotism? I think far more people fight out of a sense of national pride than do out of a sense of fear.

Best Weapon: Aircraft Carriers

Why: The Navy has more fighter planes than the Air Force. They have a better trained land-based fighting force. There is no other Navy in the world that can hold a torch to the size and strength of the United States Navy. The aircraft carrier is the flagship of a fleet, and because of its planes, it makes it the most feared opponent on the sea and poses an extreme threat to land-based targets. The point of big powerful ships to to make sure that your troops can get across the ocean unhurt so they can overrun the "bad guys" on their turf. So due to its direct and indirect influences, it has to be aircraft carriers.

Worst Weapon: Chemical Weapons

Why: They suck at killing people. You have to get exposed to direct liquid contact to stand a chance of dying. I will make my own ranting thread about this later.

[edit on 12-10-2007 by AChE_Inhibitor]

Originally posted by uberarcanist
reply to post by quintar

 

What about patriotism? I think far more people fight out of a sense of national pride than do out of a sense of fear.

I think the question is the actual physical object that you manipulate in a fashion to kill, wound, or maim another person. It's pretty hard to kill someone with a concept. For instance, I can't stab you to death with my integrity or shame.

But I do understand the point you were trying to make

I was going to say pen as well, but I will rephrase and say the letter or the telephone.

That or...

"Their called boobs Ed"
julia roberts in erin brochovich
Boobs have been used as weapons before bows and arrows were ever thought of.



[edit on 12-10-2007 by mrsdudara]

In my opinion, Fire.

i say the mp44 was the most influencial it was the very first assult rifile,
or possiblly the mp40 it was the first sub-machine gun (incase you dont know they where german weapons during WWII)

Guns. They took the skill out of death. They made making death easier. War became great.

I agree with V K the human mind. It was used to come up with the pen and all other weapons.

but if i had to pick a weapon that was created i would go with the spear.

from the short throwing spears to the long spears. Look what Alexander The Greats army was able to do with the spear. also the romans used spears in their battle strategies. Two of the most influential conquering nations in history.
Many other armies of the past used spears as well. Also do not forget that the bayonet is just another form of spear. Bayonets are still in use today. Name another weapon from thousands of years ago that is still part of modern armies, only other thing i can think of are knives(daggers).

Long live the sharp and pointy stick

Gunpowder, without gun powder bombs, firearms cannons ect wouldn't be around, gunpowder.

reply to post by C0le


Ayup, I clearly agree with this one.

Most Influential Weapon Ever???

The mind on man!

Roper

Well, I'll give 2 responses, one modern and precise, and one broad.

Answer 1: Nowadays I'd say the AK-47. In impoverished countries they're cheap, reliable and easy to access. Like someone else mentioned, they're used by militia, terrorists, armies, etc... I've heard that you can buy an AK-47 (russian made, not china crap) in Slovenia for roughly $25 US.

Answer 2: For all time, I would have to say probably the simple staff (Bo Staff). From it, spears and all sorts of other weaponry and farming equipment were born. It's really just a long stick, but hey, ya gotta start somewhere I guess.

The Longbow. It made armor obsolete.

Its artillery. (Including modern mortars) Nothing has caused more change throughout history in offensive/defensive tactics and defending positions than artillery. Nearly all armies in history have depended upon or used some type of artillery. If your looking for a speific weapon itd have to be the modern 105mm light artillery or the Roman "Polybolos".


[edit on 12/10/07 by Pfeil]

Wow, such a wide range of responses and personal opinions! Even the abstracts like patriotism and religions. The original intent is weapon based and not on ideals so it's nice to see it's back on track. Not that any and all ideas are not valid since they obviously are...............but yeah, I was talking about physical weaponry!

I still like the basic things like the bow and arrow, then again I do think napalm to be quite q nasty invention too. Nuclear weapons are still way up there in my opinion but I agree that aircraft carriers are just unreal.

Maybe another way to view it is like this, if you had to go back in time and you could have any weapon at your disposal, what would you choose (size and quantity not being a problem in this scenario).

Cool relies and thanks for the thoughts........Peace, Mondo

Politics.
They are the most influential weapons ever, they are the ones who give the order to use a weapon or not.

I think all of history was shaped by the spear. The entire psyche of mankind was shifted by this weapon.

Caveman all have flint knives, hunting and fighting, etc.

Suddenly. One puts a knife on a stick.

He has a better weapon than any of the other cavemen, able to kill out of reach.

The other cavemen make spears too

One makes a bow

Suddenly...the arms race begins.

The machine gun, the A bomb, they are all just upgrades of the original arms race. Arm to knife to spear to bow.

Ultimately its the human mind in a philosophical way.

Physical its obviously the gun, small quick and effective, its probably killed more people than any other weapon and its still going strong

The tank

Millions killed in embedded trench warfare of WWI. Both sides spend years hitting each other with small arms and artillery. No significant advances. Then along comes the tank. The troops can now advance and kill without fear of being shot at such a rate that enemy artillery ends up engaging their own front line. War won. Home for tea and medals.

Come to think of it how about self loading weaponary, like the Machine Gun. Sure Hell makes formation fighting like stone age.