The Order of the Stick

Art always triumphs over science. Science may disagree with art on some points, but rarely is science able to persuade enough people to take its side.

Science has a habit of losing to politics and religion a lot too. Science, regrettably, is a poor debater on account of the fact that it's limited by adherence to actual facts that are real rather than cool-sounding talking points.

edited 18th Aug '16 12:24:50 PM by TobiasDrake

Science produces technology though, and with the right technology you can Hostile Takeover the world and your technologically superior philosophy over it

^^ Depends on the timescale. Science has a pretty good track record with victories in the long run.

The thing about facts is, they don't stop being true just because people don't believe them. And you can't ignore facts forever.

Science did triumph over art for a time, then people realized what the internet is really used for and it went downhill ever since.

Speaking of art, that first panel is pretty damn spiffy.

No need to ignore them forever, just for about a century. Then the next generation can take over the job.

Aww, I was hoping for a pointless argument over whether a ship whose flight relies on magical enchantments and magically-sourced materials is or is not a "magical airship", "technically" or otherwise...

It's a magicked technological marvel.

I like Elan's spiffy new (?) or redesigned (?) jacket.

Entertaining strip. Reminds me of this idea expressed by the author Max Gladstone about how so many things in life are effectively magic- like everyone uses cellphones and computers but probably couldn't describe how they work nor make one of their own. So it's a cool detail that the science of the Mechane is just as "magical" as the magic.

Different webcomic◊, but relevant to the current discussion.

I decree that science and art shall exist side by side, with both marveled at for their own merits. Surely, this is the most sensible way of things.

My favorite part of this strip is the falling roc(k)s pun. That cracked me up.

edited 18th Aug '16 3:27:58 PM by TobiasDrake

I didn't get it.

A roc is a mythical bird.

A Roc.◊

Bat guano goes in, fireball comes out, you can't explain that!

But why are the Rocs falling in the first place.

I assume the Falling Rocs were hit by the Falling Rocks.

It's the only logical explanation.

Elementary, my dear Watson. The rocs fall because they're simply too bloody big and heavy to fly in the first place. But unfortunately, that doesn't stop them from trying anyway. Bird instincts combined with low intelligence, you see...

And it takes a roc his whole life to scrabble up the side of the mountain in order to jump in the first place.

"Falling rocs"

I love the idea that the magics for Rocs occasionally just run out, and these massive beasts just fall out of the sky.

Well, raptors mostly fly atop rising pockets of warm air, which would be absent over a sunless valley in a cold environment. So they could be soaring over the mountains when suddenly they hit that low spot and then Hilarity Ensues.

I figured the Falling Rocs are in a dive. Which is why you must beware: a rapidly-descending bird of prey is typically intending to snatch up something vaguely food-shaped and at their size, you count.

But I must admit, both the "Falling rocs hit by falling rocks" and the "Magic just ran out and they plummet from the sky" images are hilarious.

edited 19th Aug '16 9:07:30 AM by TobiasDrake

At their size, an elephant counts.