Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="Ridley's Cohort" data-source="post: 3333467" data-attributes="member: 545">The necessary psychology to be a highly effective killer is an achievement that requires a lot of brutality along the way.It is an imperfect book, but Richard Rhodes' Why They Kill examines this issue in some detail.I would note that it became a common practice for the knightly classes to ship their sons off to allies/relatives for their training to manhood.  Probably the main advantage is a father may love his son and therefore cannot be counted on inflict the necessary degree of authoritarian violence.  The child must soak up this violence and learn to enjoy dishing it out ot others if he is going to excel at the violent & ruthless professional that is knighthood.</blockquote>