Somebody had to do it...

Boerseun · 06-09-2006

Well...

We've been nagging Tormod for ages now for a History forum, and I just stumbled over it! Here it is, it seems!

And this thread will go down in History as being the firts thread in the History Forum!

Schweeeeet!

Chacmool · 06-09-2006

Welcome to the new History forum! I will be Junior Moderator around here, and I look forward to some interesting discussions.

Tormod · 06-09-2006

Great. I look forward to this!

Jay-qu · 06-09-2006

What is classified history? For me it caries the connotation of old and long ago. But what is the minimum age (if there is one) for something to be considered part of history?

InfiniteNow · 06-09-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jay-qu

What is classified history? For me it caries the connotation of old and long ago. But what is the minimum age (if there is one) for something to be considered part of history?

Tough question.

I don't personally think a limit should be set, but maybe at the very least we could try to avoid including issues which are still impacting society and culture. For example, current war in Iraq? No. First Gulf Incursion? Yes. Bush presidency? Not yet. Clinton presidency? Yes.

However, I'll leave those decisions up to the Mods of this forum!

Panjandrum · 06-09-2006

History is a way of seeing events, not a period. Anything has happened can be considered history, provided it is discussed in the correct, objective terms. Of course, not all history is equally interesting, and it is often best to leave a subject for a while, in order to gain a clearer insight into its long-term effects before discussing it in historical terms.

InfiniteNow · 06-09-2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Panjandrum

History is a way of seeing events, not a period. Anything has happened can be considered history, provided it is discussed in the correct, objective terms.

For the record, there is no such thing as objective history. What has happened in the past is always filtered by the observer, hence, subjective. That's part of what's fun about it!

Panjandrum · 06-09-2006

I understand this. I meant objectivity is the aim of historical enquiry, not that it was the way in which such is actually discussed.

Of course, the same applies to all areas of study, including science. It is therefore usual to use the term 'objective' as a shorthand to indicate a desire for objectivity.