The Facts of the Case
Posted by James Maxwell on Thursday, November 5, 2009
I try to keep out of whip world politics. Okay I did star the "I was Banned from Whip Basics" group on Facebook but I did it of my own free will for reasons that make sense to me, those who can join understand too. But there is this thing about "The Truth" in the whip world. And how it varies from person to person. Very rarely are facts the reason for a whip truth. And it's sad. And all it takes is a little research on google and maybe a phone call and you'll have an answer first hand. We are still as fairly small community and that is possible.But If it's history, construction or technique you can find two sides or more to everything with people putting up their mother-in-law on a stack of bibles telling you it's true. In some cases it's blatantly not true. The evidence does not bear it out. In others, it does.
The classic case is cracking with the belly of a whip. I too have heard the myth that doing so weakens a whip. However I have tracked this statement to the source and have decided that source is unreliable in this instace. What I find interesting is how that source has affected others. "But James, isn't this politics?" No, it's fact. It can be verfifed and shown impericaly that this does not affect a whip one way or another. And people saying differently are ignoring more then just a simple statement, they are acting as a detriment to the whip world at large.
In reading Ron Edwards legendary How to Make Whips he makes the comment "Every whipmaker has his own special way of doing things, and insists that this is the only true and correct way of doing it. This is the first rule, and as a beginner you have to remember it". (Page 45) But this goes throughout the whip world. We all have our own way of doing it. I like to think I can't tell you the right way, just mine. This is an important distinction that is lost on many. I'm also not afraid to have my own thoughts on various subjects, some of which go against what is considered mainstream. Take whip's in combat for instance.
A lot of people out there espousing views on whips as weapons have never nor would they ever attempt to use a whip as a weapon. Or teach it. I do both. So when I'm talking about that subject, I talk from my experience as such and may reference others who also have experience doing it. On the flip side I rarely talk about whip construction because I don't make whips. Doesn't mean I don't want to learn though.
When navigating the whip world never be afraid to look at multiple sources, where the source material comes from, and what it means for the community in general. Only then can you make an informed decision on what your stance is on a given subject. Knowledge is power. Stay Safe, Practice.
The classic case is cracking with the belly of a whip. I too have heard the myth that doing so weakens a whip. However I have tracked this statement to the source and have decided that source is unreliable in this instace. What I find interesting is how that source has affected others. "But James, isn't this politics?" No, it's fact. It can be verfifed and shown impericaly that this does not affect a whip one way or another. And people saying differently are ignoring more then just a simple statement, they are acting as a detriment to the whip world at large.
In reading Ron Edwards legendary How to Make Whips he makes the comment "Every whipmaker has his own special way of doing things, and insists that this is the only true and correct way of doing it. This is the first rule, and as a beginner you have to remember it". (Page 45) But this goes throughout the whip world. We all have our own way of doing it. I like to think I can't tell you the right way, just mine. This is an important distinction that is lost on many. I'm also not afraid to have my own thoughts on various subjects, some of which go against what is considered mainstream. Take whip's in combat for instance.
A lot of people out there espousing views on whips as weapons have never nor would they ever attempt to use a whip as a weapon. Or teach it. I do both. So when I'm talking about that subject, I talk from my experience as such and may reference others who also have experience doing it. On the flip side I rarely talk about whip construction because I don't make whips. Doesn't mean I don't want to learn though.
When navigating the whip world never be afraid to look at multiple sources, where the source material comes from, and what it means for the community in general. Only then can you make an informed decision on what your stance is on a given subject. Knowledge is power. Stay Safe, Practice.
Tags: "politics" "whip basics"
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