How demographics works
2024-12-12 15:58 Demographics is about the size of a population and how it is composed.
The myth of the uninhabited habitable area
2024-11-28 17:09 Many seem to have trouble grasping how populated the world is.  Areas not built up or clearly fenced in are mistaken for unpopulated.  At worst parts of counties are believed to be entirely uninhabited. 
The ice ages’ effects on geography
2024-11-27 13:56 One should not overestimate how much geography has changed during the human era.  The largest differences are caused by the ice ages.  The three last in particular I find interesting.  Not only were they particularly cold.
Getting across the sea low-tech
2024-11-26 13:34 Today it is outright easy to get across the world.  In a time of motorised transports it is easy to not think about how hard it has been.  Getting there at all can’t be taken for granted.
How technological progress works
2024-11-25 13:55 There is a mix-up between brain capacity and which technology people use.  On one hand simple technology is equalled to people would have been stupid.  On the other hand it is claimed we should have developed high technology very long ago.
Imaginary and real technology
2024-11-13 12:43 Old monuments and objects has given rise to myths on technology.  Some individuals can’t imagine how they could have been built or made without the technology of industrial societies.
Denying the past is denying the existence of data
2024-11-08 12:59 Many people are ignorant on earlier conditions.  Then people tend to take it for granted it was like when they grew up.  This includes both standard of living and how people treated each other.
On nationalistic archaeology denial
2024-11-02 19:53 One expression of misplaced nationalism is claiming all they can come up with would come from their own country.  Or at least the country which they see as precursor.
The myth of all being descended from one’s favourite language
2024-10-31 12:40 Some ethnocentrics believes all languages would be descended from their own particular.  Or at least the favourite language they personally have.  They start from well-known words in any of the 300 largest languages.
Language as indication of culture
2024-10-29 13:12 I see language as a practical way of classifying cultures.  Language is relatively easy to compare systematically.  One may compare phonotactics, vocabulary and grammar.  I think all three should be given equal weight.