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<blockquote data-quote="Hussar" data-source="post: 8348329" data-attributes="member: 22779">Ok, let's work with this a bit.How advanced?Is Japan primitive because it doesn't use cheques?&nbsp; Is it primitive since it's home computer use is very close to zero?&nbsp; How primitive compared to who, exactly?&nbsp; Is it that only those with the bleeding edge of technology that aren't primitive?&nbsp; But, then, how do you call one group primitive and another not primitive when it's very likely that one group is more advanced in one area but less advanced in another.&nbsp; You mentioned China and the Opium Wars.&nbsp; You do realize that at the time, China produced the best porcelain in the world.&nbsp; No one else was even close.&nbsp; There's a reason that England imported massive quantities of Chinese porcelain for centuries.&nbsp; Does that mean that England was primitive?Heck, on the topic of China, on the Tea Horse Road, China would trade tea with Tibet for horses bred in Tibet.&nbsp; Did so for centuries.&nbsp; Tibetan horses were considered the best work horses to be had.&nbsp; Does that make China primitive?&nbsp; But, at that point in time, China was light years ahead technologically than Europe.&nbsp; So, Europe was always primitive until about the 17th Century when European technology, imported from other areas began to widely spread and be used?You do see why your definition doesn't work here right?&nbsp; Being primitive is not simply &quot;oh, that's a bit old fashioned&quot;.&nbsp; Being primitive has pretty strong denotative and connotative meanings.&nbsp; There's a very, very good reason why the writer of The Book of Cylinders didn't use it.&nbsp; And didn't use the word tribal either.&nbsp; Why do you believe that grippli are tribal?</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Hussar, post: 8348329, member: 22779"] Ok, let's work with this a bit. How advanced? Is Japan primitive because it doesn't use cheques? Is it primitive since it's home computer use is very close to zero? How primitive compared to who, exactly? Is it that only those with the bleeding edge of technology that aren't primitive? But, then, how do you call one group primitive and another not primitive when it's very likely that one group is more advanced in one area but less advanced in another. You mentioned China and the Opium Wars. You do realize that at the time, China produced the best porcelain in the world. No one else was even close. There's a reason that England imported massive quantities of Chinese porcelain for centuries. Does that mean that England was primitive? Heck, on the topic of China, on the Tea Horse Road, China would trade tea with Tibet for horses bred in Tibet. Did so for centuries. Tibetan horses were considered the best work horses to be had. Does that make China primitive? But, at that point in time, China was light years ahead technologically than Europe. So, Europe was always primitive until about the 17th Century when European technology, imported from other areas began to widely spread and be used? You do see why your definition doesn't work here right? Being primitive is not simply "oh, that's a bit old fashioned". Being primitive has pretty strong denotative and connotative meanings. There's a very, very good reason why the writer of The Book of Cylinders didn't use it. And didn't use the word tribal either. Why do you believe that grippli are tribal? [/QUOTE]

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