Oh come on Berz. No, execution as punishment for desertion isn't really compatible with modern sensibilities, but this is a medieval society and in context it's perfectly reasonable.

So, what, you'd give him life in some country club prison? A mental hospital? They don't exist. Dungeons are cold, dark and dank, and you get gnawed on by rats - except in the Eyrie, where it's cold and windy, and you might roll over in your sleep and fall to your death.
Or would you send him back to the Wall, closer to the Others? He's so afraid, he'd just run away again. Beheading is probably the kindest thing. It's over quick, and he doesn't have to live with his fear and shame.
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. - Ben Franklin
Iain Banks missed deadline due to Civ | The eyes are the groin of the head. - Dwight Schrute.
One more turn .... One more turn .... | WWTSD
Oh come on Berz. No, execution as punishment for desertion isn't really compatible with modern sensibilities, but this is a medieval society and in context it's perfectly reasonable.

Even in WW2, soldiers were executed for desertion. Even on the allies.

Well berz is right in that there's an obvious parallel there.
Stop Quoting Ben

I never would have put him in prison for "poaching", much less make him guard a wall or behead him for running from the monsters.
We're talking about guilt and innocence, not medieval "morals" or moral relativity. The guy didn't deserve to lose his head...
Thank you![]()

berz you have to remeber that the monsters have been sleeping for thousands of years so people dont seem to belive in them any more.

One of the big themes in the series is classism but the author is a good enough writer to write characters compelling enough that we generally see things from their point of view and the bulk of them are upper class. For a few examples when Lady dies there was much sadness but nobody gives a crap about Mycah even with Arya continually bringing him up and Ned doesn't bat an eye at starting a war which'll kill lots and lots of peasants because HONOR, but if his daughters lives are on the line... The whole Westerosi society is deeply, sickeningly unfair to anyone who's not in the nobility and only a small percentage of the characters really questions this whole structure, which make sense since few people really question their own society on a fundamental level, but often the readers start buying into it as well.
Stop Quoting Ben

It's the opposite of the LOTR's ideal medieval society. I'm not sure which I like reading more though, they both have their merits.
"

Well, who's going to man the Wall, then? Who's going to protect the realm from the Wildlings and the Others? There are very few volunteers, and even with the criminals who do get sent, the Watch still doesn't have enough people.
And if there's no penalty for desertion, many might not stay up there. And when they come south, what are they going to do? Turn to banditry, probably.
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. - Ben Franklin
Iain Banks missed deadline due to Civ | The eyes are the groin of the head. - Dwight Schrute.
One more turn .... One more turn .... | WWTSD

Modern man calls walking more quickly in the same direction down the same road “change.”
The world, in the last three hundred years, has not changed except in that sense.
The simple suggestion of a true change scandalizes and terrifies modern man. -Nicolás Gómez Dávila

I find it odd that so many people (not necessarily here) like the protrayal of Daenerys by the actress.
This is literally the only expression she has:
The now dead Khal Drogo was better when he had speaking scenes.
Modern man calls walking more quickly in the same direction down the same road “change.”
The world, in the last three hundred years, has not changed except in that sense.
The simple suggestion of a true change scandalizes and terrifies modern man. -Nicolás Gómez Dávila

Tyrion got pwned in the drinking game...
You just wasted six ... no, seven ... seconds of your life reading this sentence.

Game of Thrones' Sean Bean Stabbed in Bar Brawl
Turns out, Sean Bean's hero image is the real deal.
The Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings tough guy reportedly came to the aid of his famous glamour model companion after a fellow pub reveler made some untoward comments on her topless posing past. While Bean's white knighthood was obviously admirable, it also proved rather dangerous, as a melee ensued and the actor was ultimately stabbed outside the London pub.
So what, exactly, happened? And just how is Bean doing now?
According to the Daily Mail, the incident kicked off when the 52-year-old Bean and 22-year-old Playboy bunny April Summers (real name Nadia Foster) went outside Camden's Hill Bar and Brasserie to smoke. A passerby spotted the duo (or at least one half of the duo) and began making lewd comments, leading Bean to confront the big talker.
All was seemingly well until the stranger returned later on, at which point a scuffle broke out, and Bean was reportedly punched in the face, causing a bruise over his eye, and stabbed in the arm with broken glass. Despite his wounds, Bean refused any medical attention and opted not to go to a hospital.
Instead, the actor accepted a first aid kit from the bar staff, then ordered another drink.
Guess all those tough guy roles haven't been too much of a stretch, after all.
Read more: http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b247126_game_of_thrones_sean_bean_stabbed_in.html# ixzz1PHTmrjSd
Don't **** with Ned.
Last edited by OzzyKP; June 14, 2011 at 18:24.
Captain of Team Apolyton - ISDG 2012
When I was younger I thought curfews were silly, but now as the daughter of a young woman, I appreciate them. - Rah

Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety. - Ben Franklin
Iain Banks missed deadline due to Civ | The eyes are the groin of the head. - Dwight Schrute.
One more turn .... One more turn .... | WWTSD

I used to drink in that pub sometimes when I lived around there. It's actually very close to a major hospital.the incident kicked off when the 52-year-old Bean and 22-year-old Playboy bunny April Summers (real name Nadia Foster) went outside Camden's Hill Bar and Brasserie to smoke. A passerby spotted the duo (or at least one half of the duo) and began making lewd comments, leading Bean to confront the big talker.
What if his battle-'scratch' goes bad though? Will he suffer the fate of the Chief Horse-Fetishist?
I haven't read the thread but I picked up these books and had just started on the first when i was told of the series. My tv provider has them on video on demand for free so over the last two days I whipped through the first 5 episodes and then started reading feverishly to catch up
Spoiler:
OH well-- I'll be back to read the thread in a week when I finish the book and show and can actually join the discussion
Last edited by OzzyKP; June 15, 2011 at 11:07.
You don't get to 300 losses without being a pretty exceptional goaltender.-- Ben Kenobi speaking of Roberto Luongo

There is another thread to discuss the book. Please don't post spoilers here.
If you post spoilers about the TV show (and only the TV show) then use the spoiler tags. Thanks
The book thread:
http://apolyton.net/showthread.php/1...cussion-thread
Captain of Team Apolyton - ISDG 2012
When I was younger I thought curfews were silly, but now as the daughter of a young woman, I appreciate them. - Rah

Wouldn't book discussion necessarily be spoilers about the TV show?![]()
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
- John 13:34-35 (NRSV)

I have to agree that her range of expressions seems a bit limited. But we'll give her a little more time since that might have been her "Geeze I'm naked here look"
The OT at APOLYTON is like watching the Special Olympics. Certain people try so hard to debate despite their handicaps.
Baron O RIP.

she wasnt like that in the books? i thought she was stiff like that to then grow. hade a few scenes where she hade her claws out, nothing amazing tho.
She has developed the defiant "I'm an your damn Callista" look as well. Broke it out a couple times this week...
Apolyton's Grim Reaper 2008, 2010 & 2011
RIP lest we forget... SG (2) and LaFayette -- Civ2 Succession Games Brothers-in-Arms

Dude, it's 'Khaleesi'. WTF is this Callista ****!? It would take you like 2 seconds on google to get the right spelling...![]()
"History is a lie that has been honed like a weapon by people who have suppressed the truth. Centuries from now, your own history will also be suppressed."
Apolyton's Grim Reaper 2008, 2010 & 2011
RIP lest we forget... SG (2) and LaFayette -- Civ2 Succession Games Brothers-in-Arms


It looks like several of the actors have been trying to convey a lot of the extra inflection from the books in very subtle facial expressions...Sansa and Littlefinger are both the same way. Early in the season I would have agreed about Cersei, but I think the actress has been getting a bit more emotive lately and it's working better. (Sansa did great at the end of the last episode too, Littlefinger is still missing the mark but has enough dialog to make up for it.)
"In the beginning was the Word. Then came the ******* word processor." -Dan Simmons, Hyperion

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