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Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Silver Bullet on August 25, 2005, 04:20:35 AM

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: Silver Bullet on August 25, 2005, 04:20:35 AM

http://www.forbes.com/personaltech/2005/08/23/technology-firearms-rifle_cx_de_0823rifle.html?partner=yahootix

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: Paddy on August 25, 2005, 05:20:52 AM

That's interesting, thanks for posting it.  Any guesses what 1-6 are?

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: Silver Bullet on August 25, 2005, 05:40:53 AM

From a link in the article:

Quote

For our purposes, we decided to define a tool as a material device that provides an advantage in accomplishing a task. That eliminated things like language and software.

We decided to exclude the traditional list of "simple machines," which includes the lever, pulley, wheel and wedge, since most other tools employ some form of simple machine--a hammer is basically a lever, and an axe is essentially a wedge.

We tried where possible to limit the list to handheld or easily portable objects, eliminating most heavy machine tools, like hydraulic jacks.

We also decided to eliminate complex machines capable of essentially running themselves. That means things like cars, windmills and computer networks don't qualify.

This excludes a few items I would have guessed, including knife (a form of wedge), wheel (specifically excluded), telephone (runs itself), and printing press, fire, boat (all three fail the portability test).

A few possibilities:

lantern
bow and arrow
ruler

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: Nathaniel Firethorn on August 25, 2005, 05:45:02 AM

Cars run themselves?

Well, maybe KITT...

- NF

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: Stickjockey on August 25, 2005, 06:16:30 AM

Can't seem to find the top 5, but I find it interesting that while the sword is on the list, the stirrup is not, at least so far.

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: Silver Bullet on August 25, 2005, 06:23:32 AM

The top 5 haven't been published yet.  No. 6 was published yesterday (8-24-05).

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: StopTheGrays on August 25, 2005, 07:54:08 AM

http://www.forbes.com/personaltech/2005/08/25/technology-agriculture-harness-cx_0825harness.html?boxes=author


Number 5. The Harness.

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: Silver Bullet on August 25, 2005, 08:50:40 AM

I would think money was a very significant tool, considering that prior to money folks had to barter for goods, which meant finding somebody who had what you wanted and wanted what you had.

I doubt if this falls in the authors definition of tool, though; it seems too collective in its use and not enough of an individual implement.  However, this is Forbes magazine.

The invention of writing clearly had a big impact on mankinds development:  you could record and accumulate collected wisdom and knowledge.  I think that would be considered even less of a tool in this context, though.  More of an acquired skill than a material object.

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: griz on August 25, 2005, 10:02:18 AM

Their definition seems a bit twisted to me, why would a chisel be OK but an axe not allowed? Anyway, I would agree with the bow/arrow, possibly a spear, and by all means the knife, assuming it is permitted. I would also vote for ty raps and weed whackers, but that's just me. Oh, also the battery.

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: Silver Bullet on August 25, 2005, 10:37:07 AM

I agree, if they can include the saw and chisel and sword, then I think the knife can be included, and I would expect it to be high on the list.  Unless ... they figure since they have the sword already that the knife is too similar.

A knife can do so many different things, though, that I think they might include it.  And, the utility of the knife has fallen off less than most of the items already in the list.  Sometimes I carry a knife with me, but hardly ever a harness or sword.  Im pretty sure I no longer keep a sword in my tool box.  

Ya gotta love tie-wraps, though.  Recently I see the availability of  Â½-inch by 6-inch velco strips that are even handier; you can undo them (and easier!) and reuse them.  Great for stereo and computer network cables.

Blender!  They wouldnt dare leave blender off the list.

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: Silver Bullet on August 25, 2005, 10:45:12 AM

On a more serious note, Im going to guess compass.

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: Silver Bullet on August 25, 2005, 11:10:16 AM

Hammers.  Ill bet the price of stock shares in ChiselsRUs (#20) must have shot through the roof after hammers were invented.

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: Silver Bullet on August 26, 2005, 07:05:12 AM

Number 4 is the Pencil.
http://www.forbes.com/technology/personaltech/2005/08/26/technology-writing-pencil_cx_de_0826pencil.html
They must have read post #8 where I suggested Writing.  Glad I could help.  

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: jefnvk on August 26, 2005, 06:06:18 PM

#1 will be the printing press.  JMHO.

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: brimic on August 26, 2005, 07:39:14 PM

Quote

#1 will be the printing press.  JMHO.

Either that or the Spork.

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: Silver Bullet on August 29, 2005, 10:13:47 AM

They were a little late today, but they named the compass as #3.

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: Guest on August 29, 2005, 03:15:54 PM

Wheel and printing press?

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: jefnvk on August 29, 2005, 06:25:52 PM

No simple machines, rules out the wheel.

Printing press, and I dunno.  Maybe computer?  Engine?

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: Silver Bullet on August 30, 2005, 11:15:08 AM

Number 2 is the abacus.

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: jefnvk on August 30, 2005, 03:25:57 PM

OK, it is just a primitive computer.  If #1 is a printing press, I win

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: garrettwc on August 31, 2005, 03:52:41 AM

Maybe it's the cynic in me, but I bet #1 is something lame like the cell phone. After all it is a technology column.

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: griz on August 31, 2005, 07:57:21 AM

PLEASE tell me #1 isn't the television. That would be like saying powdered donuts are the most important food.

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: Silver Bullet on August 31, 2005, 10:07:42 AM

Number 1 is the knife.

http://www.forbes.com/technology/personaltech/2005/08/31/technology-tools-knife_cx_de_0831knife.html

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: Art Eatman on August 31, 2005, 11:35:21 AM

I'd go with the knife as #1, myownself.  I'd add in the stirrup, as well as the horse-collar.

The collar allowed the chariot and the wagon.  The stirrup allowed an incredible increase in the use of a horse by an individual, including fighting.  The stirrup added a helluva lot of force to the lance/spear.

Art

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: Silver Bullet on August 31, 2005, 11:57:58 AM

I liked the knife for number one.  Forbes author specifically said the wheel was too fundamental, and I think they were ruling out things like printing press as too complex (more of a machine, perhaps), not what you typically think of as a tool.  Even if they were including the printing press, I think I would go with the knife because its been around for so much longer and because it was so critical for survival.  The printing press was critical for advancement of civilization by the distribution of knowledge and communication of ideas, but you didnt see Davy Crockett with a printing press in his belt (or Jim Bowie ).

Title: Forbes ranks the rifle as the 7th most important tool of all time
Post by: jefnvk on August 31, 2005, 03:08:40 PM

Ah, makes sense.  I figured that he printing press was what really propelled us forward faster than we had ever evolved than before, it would be the perfect choice.