Talk:2578: Sword Pull

I was going to opine that the title text should have said "mini bike" instead of "dirt bike" since the former is usually started by a recoil pull rope and the latter by a kick start. But I guess technically neither one is started by a magic sword so kind of a toss up. 172.70.126.221 22:48, 7 February 2022 (UTC)Pat

I know nothing of these machines but a quick google search brought me to this page with three items listed as "Dirt Bike Pull Start" so seems that is a thing? --Kynde (talk) 07:56, 8 February 2022 (UTC)

I just thought it was a motor boat. Those pull start, and are partially submerged in the substrate. 108.162.250.234 09:57, 9 February 2022 (UTC)

There is a pun with dirt mound / mount.

Hope u like my explanation 172.70.110.151 (talk) (please sign your comments with ~~~~)

I though the sword belongs to Lady of the Lake ... -- Hkmaly (talk) 23:29, 7 February 2022 (UTC)

The sword from the stone (proof of lineage/fate) really should be considered differently from the one from the lake ("strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government ^(Citation)", but they do tend to be conflated by some versions of the storytelling. The various myths were already that confused/contradictory/clashing centuries ago. (Some versions have Excalibur drawn from the stone to start his destiny, but ultimately then have him (...have a trusted but reluctant knight to) 'return' it to the Lady Of The Lake, from whence it presumably came (before being set in the stone), at the end of his life.)

But I choose to go with the strand of canon that says that the 'kingmaker' sword was separate, got broken in a personal combat he should not rightfully have fought, and that only after reparations for the incident was he directed to go receive Excalibur, as its replacement, from its watery source.

Really though, it probably is all a mistelling (and probably very Freudian, in every way!) of what never quite happened anyway. Except for the version where the time-traveller does the setting up of the contest with tidally-powered electromagnets and possibly an unintended recipient of the legend made true... ;) 172.70.85.79 00:34, 8 February 2022 (UTC)

I thought Lancelot (possibly one of the others?) received Excalibur as a proof of valor, and chose to pass it on to his king as a sign of respect; no longer the knight whose pride in his own virtue stops him bowing to a higher authority. Guess there's more versions than I know. Returning the sword I remember; but I thought he originally obtained it second hand, so the Lady accepting the sword back was the final proof that he had been worthy to have it. Angel (talk) 02:03, 8 February 2022 (UTC)

Honestly, there are so many versions of the story, and so many unrelated stories merged into it, that it's probably impossible to identify the "canonical" version. Monty Python's version is no less valid than Geoffrey of Monmouth's. 162.158.187.228 16:02, 8 February 2022 (UTC)

Merlin is a brand of motorcycle produced in Spain from 1980-1984. KingPenguin (talk) 01:36, 8 February 2022 (UTC)

Wow, I heard of them but didn't realise the brand was so short-lived. Angel (talk) 02:03, 8 February 2022 (UTC)

"Dirt bike" could also be interpreted as an -apparently motorized- bike made of dirt. Condor70 (talk) 16:25, 8 February 2022 (UTC)

Anyone else reminded of the weird moving rocks in Chronicles of Amber? The ones Random rode out of Chaos? I mean, the comic is probably not a reference to that (doesn't need to be in the explanation or anything), but still, similar vibe. 172.70.250.249 21:47, 8 February 2022 (UTC)

I was reminded instead of the moving rocks in Death Valley, which further reminded me of 505:_A_Bunch_of_Rocks. There aren't many xkcd comics that contain stones as a focus object. (I forgot to sign my comment, 172.70.178.25 23:25, 9 February 2022 (UTC).)