"How H.G. Wells Helped Pioneer Tabletop Gaming in 1913" Topic

The author starts, "I don't know anything about war games."

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Cripes. That guy disses on Wells style of writing. I hope he did not get paid for his writing.

He doesn't know anything about Wells, either.

Nor the world he inhabited, nor his efforts towards gender equality.

Can't say, based on the evidence, he knows much about this thing where you stick words, one behind the other, until there's lots of them, and they're supposed to make sense.

If he wants to inform the present with insights of the past, he'd better trouble himself with the task of understanding that past first.

The man's an ignoramus.

The author of this article shows his ignorance about the place of women in Edwardian British society.

Try:

"Edwardian Women and their Position in Society," by Marjorie Bamsare

Try:

"Edwardian Women and their Position in Society," by Marjorie Bamsare

While a reference to a scholarly work is always useful, it would in fact be much more useful to provide a quote from any such reference either supporting or refuting a proposition.

BTW how do you propose to share your words of wisdom with Mr Brian Taylor, the author in question?

This article was written with the degree of research and professionalism that I find to be the standard for web "journalists". After all, if you can attack something your audience dislikes in the absence of any actual understanding, why should you be burdened with facts or truth?

I think both HG Wells and Little Wars will survive this badly written and ill-informed critique unscathed.

The one thing in its favour is that it might just result in a few more people reading the original.

Eotheipi said it best.

For such a sarcastic author he has a very poor grasp on irony.

When Wells writes of "girls of the better sort" he means "girls who will play wargames". It's a joke, not sexism.

Wells was a Socialist, an anti-racist and a supporter of votes for women. And a pacifist who liked playing wargames.

In the aggregate, the author just comes across as one more pseudo-intellectual twit which the web spawns in profusion.

When Wells writes of "girls of the better sort" he means "girls who will play wargames". It's a joke, not sexism

I completely agree with 20thmaine's assessment of Wells' view toward women. I always read that phrase as a compliment to women – "You live in a society that will not give, and sometimes will actively deny you, you the opportunity to build the skills necessary to wargame (which are also skills with other values), yet you can obtain them regargless!"

The writer is one of a long tradition of writers, common in Edwardian times, who send back humourous reports of life among the cannibals.

Nothing to get upset about. We have been insulted by far better writers before this and will get more in the future.

Demonstrates beautifully why substituting snark for thoughtful analysis is a bad idea.

At least he got the first sentence 100% correct.

I don't think He ever actually played a game of little wars just read the book.
'"A 1 for gameplay?" Little wars is great fun to play. The graphics are pretty good for 1913 considering the photographs, and the little marginal drawings are great. This is Pretty much A waste of time as an article.

Here's a picture towards the end of a big little Wars game I did at Historicon in 2013. 500 original Britians, 12 naval guns. It was thoroughly enjoyed by all who participated.

Oh, put your pitchforks away.

Author does say " A lot of the writing's tone is very wry". Second sentence of paragraph four.

Wells had cannon that could fire, but he was challenged by how to make the troops move.

He inspired me, in the late 1970s to create "Little Wars of the 20th Century," using 1/35 scale Tamyia motorized tanks. We had tanks that moved, and were challenged by how to make them shoot. Ultimately, a pellet gun was employed.

At one time I had 50 motorized German tanks. Those were the days!

After each battle, mangled tanks were canabalized for parts, new models were ordered. It became a regular arms race from week to week.

Almost cost me my Masters Degree in Architecture, but what fun!

McKinstry
..the author just comes across as one more pseudo-intellectual twit which the web spawns in profusion.

I believe 'the WEB' says it all.
The author is a "Wikipedia" professional in the making.

This brings to mind a young man that told me 'emphatically':
"the Internet is The Only source for the Truth in the world."

Wells also authored 'The Rights of Man', which has been credited as being a pivotal source document for the International Declaration of Human Rights.

Sounds like the pompous arrogant mellinial of the past election? Nes pas?

Quoi?

How I love those toy town landscapes made of building bricks, cotton reels and twigs – so evocative of something I cannot recreate on with modern ultra-realistic materials