QOTD IV!! 884: Who should be next QOTD master and why, or should it die?

[Integrity]

Napalm is scary, and made of Styrofoam.

i hope these are similarities between you and napalm

[Makaze]

i hope these are similarities between you and napalm

it would explain a lot, wouldn't it

[peener weener]

i too am a gel-like fuel

[Freohr Datia]

I can be fiery and explosive with just the right provocation, but I don't think I am quite so liquid!

[Integrity]

it would explain a lot, wouldn't it

very much so

[Specta]

accurate

[Renne]

accurate

Except replace Specta with Shirley.

[Knight Falchion]

If either myself or napalm got in your home, you'd probably lose a lot of food. I tend to cause less property damage, at least

[dekw]

Question of the Day: Compare and Contrast yourself HARUDOKU with Napalm

Harudoku and Napalm are both prolific incendiary devices sharing a number of obvious similarities – they both burn brightly, both serve a role as harbingers of CHAOS and DESTRUCTION, and by definition of incendiary, share a strong affinity for the aspect of fire. At a glance, it would almost seem as if they embody the same ideal – however, closer examination actually reveals a significantly larger list of differences between the two than one might expect.

The obvious point of comparison between Harudoku and napalm is in their nature as incendiary devices. There are, of course, some easily seen similarities – both burn brightly and should be given some space by mere mortals (for sake of temperature tolerance), and both provide large quantities of fire. However, despite the obvious visual similarities, the natural affinity between the two seems to end there. While napalm historically has served as a strong fuel for ignition of various targets, by the nature of fuel that means that provided ignition napalm will be consumed. Harudoku, on the other hand, is a perpetual flame, and in fact has been observed to increase in quantity and quality when on sufficient fire*.

Looking back historically, it is easy to actually find a disturbing disparity in terms of comparable roles in incendiary munitions: historically, napalm has served a significant roles in water-based military units such as the U.S Navy, whereas Harudoku is actually known to have significant issues working with water¹. This could, on the other hand, serve as one side of a sort of cultural liaison – while Harudoku has shown a traditional closed approach to the topic of water, she has not shown a complete unwillingness to work with it, provided sufficient incendiary context². This, as seen later, will not be the only instance of important cultural bridges between the two subjects.

Beyond what is directly related to their incendiary nature, it is also worth considering the other physical properties of Harudoku and napalm for comparison, although in this case there is less similarity provided. For one, napalm is a liquid, and Harudoku, while primarily on fire, is a solid. Furthermore, napalm on fire tends to have an opposite effect to a Harudoku on fire – while Harudoku on fire tends to draw in or welcome people, napalm unfortunately deoxygenates the air, leading to high quantities of materials poisonous to the average human³. Research is inconclusive (and nonexistent, reverse-consequently), on whether a Harudoku lit with previously applied napalm exhibits the general tendencies of her ordinary self, or standard application of napalm.

Now, in the context of the Harudoku, it is important to note that perpetual autoimmolation is not just a state of affairs, but is a way of life and spiritual philosophy – as such, it is also important to look at other non-physical aspects. However, given that napalm can often be found lacking in sentience, one can’t look directly at choices or ideologies. That does not, however, leave one with nothing to examine – instead, one can look at the linguistics and attempt to determine a similarity of purpose. First of all, the chosen names themselves actually bear some resemblance – Harudoku is a direct conjoinment of two Japanese words⁴, and napalm is actually joined from the roots of two acids: naphthenic and palmitic⁵. Napalm also has a verb form (to attack with napalm)⁵, where Harudoku is known to exist in other active verbal forms, such as KER-HARU, or “Haru happened”, which can indicate a similar form in terms of incendiary maximization. Finally, it is a known fact⁶ that Harudoku exists in a constant state of ‘a’, but it is a lesser known fact that modern napalm is actually Napalm B, thus providing a degree of alphabetic synergy.

In conclusion, Harudoku and Napalm actually have a remarkable number of difference more than immediately meets the eye — once you get past the initial incendiary similarities, the remaining similarities are more in metaphysical purposes than in direct resemblance. This is not necessarily a bad thing, however — while one might initially be disappointed at how proportionately little Haru directly resembles napalm, it could easily be argued that this is an important point in a healthy cross-cultural relationship between future time-travellers that are also living napalm elementals and strange, omni-ignitional human ambassadors – especially given that a great deal of synergistic similarities are verbal and linguistic in nature, which is a key component in any diplomacy with such a being.

*citation needed

1: [10:38 PM] : As a connoisseur of being on fire, what is your opinion on getting steamed to death

[10:38 PM] Harudoku: water is involved

[10:38 PM] Harudoku: so

[10:38 PM] Harudoku: less than enthused

[10:41 PM] : wow

[10:41 PM] : so close-minded

[10:44 PM] Harudoku: I'm

[10:44 PM] Harudoku: waterist

2: [10:45 PM] : what if the water was on fire

[10:45 PM] Harudoku: hydrist

[10:45 PM] Harudoku: I'm hydri--

[10:45 PM] Harudoku: okay

[10:45 PM] Harudoku: I could see that

3: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/munitions/napalm.htm

4: 4/27/16, 12:25:29 PM] dekw: How does the syntax of your name work japanese-wise

[4/27/16, 12:25:34 PM] dekw: Is it just two separate words in meaning

[4/27/16, 12:25:40 PM] dekw: This is important and will be cited

[4/27/16, 12:25:55 PM] Harudoku: oh

[4/27/16, 12:26:00 PM] Harudoku: It's two seperate words, yes

[4/27/16, 12:26:14 PM] Harudoku: For maximum confusion, it's

[4/27/16, 12:26:52 PM] Harudoku: ハル毒

5: http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/napalm

6: Q.E.D

[Integrity]

i fucking love you

[Esme]

qotd should be over now

nothing can top that

[Serpent of Sheol]

i love you dan3

[Specta]

holy shit dan3

[Freohr Datia]

thank you dan3

[Griffonite]

861: dmc3 was stellar compared to dmc2, which was just decent.

862: Umbreon

863: wtf

Edited April 27, 2016 by Griffonite

[AnonymousSpeed]

Compare and contrast yourself and napalm.

When napalm drops, it's actually hot.

[Original Alear]

This question requires far too much creativity for me. Napalm is not very creative either however. It's very destructive, I guess. I dunno much about napalm. I bet napalm doesn't know very much about napalm either.

[euklyd]

as much as I hate non-answers, I've lost all ability to come up with comparisons after reading that work of art

[claire]

who

[Dijon Mustard]

lieutenant colonel bill kilgore loves the smell of me in the morning

[peener weener]

lieutenant colonel bill kilgore loves the smell of me in the morning

vaguely erotic

[Parrhesia]

i panic around fire

napalm panics around me

[Integrity]

i did this qotd for shits and giggles and it turned out to rule

QUESTION EIGHT HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOUR: Do you enjoy outdoorsey stuff?

like camping, hiking, etc

[secondworld]

Yes, both of those examples in fact

Though I have not been able to do either in some time unfortunately

[Renne]

Only some... sometimes. I can enjoy some hiking but not prolonged. Some walking. I'd enjoy biking too if I could manage my balance on a bike. And I'd hike on a mountain though I get terrified too.