Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
I mean, is this confirmed orOf course not.
As much as we don't assume a character can fly
"Yeah, they seem to be a normal human but we've never seen him sit, so we can't assume he's able to! Never seen him go up stairs either, kind of sus to assume he'd be able to. Likewise, when's the last time you've seen him cry? Clearly this spell that makes people cry wouldn't work since he lacks the ability to cry."Birds can fly.
Anyways, we don't assume characters have any skill they haven't shown even if they theoretically could, as much as we don't assume intelligence ratings, to say the least.
this is literally the worst analogy that I ever saw in this site, and I already saw a lot of creepy ***** here lolAs much as we don't assume a character can fly, otherwise we'd be entirely making up capabilities a character hasn't even shown.
Not everyone knows how to walk either, so we're more-so looking at what's typical of that demographic.Eh? Not everyone knows how to swim, but you can really take a guess at it based on the circumstances and character in question. More often than not, you'll find characters are likely going to be able to swim, but maybe the character was some medieval peasant thousands of miles inland with nothing more than ponds around them. Context, that's all.
Yeah, of course. In the modern day and age, we can assume most people can swim unless said otherwise. A few thousand years ago, with less travel and communication, depends on when and where.Not everyone knows how to walk either, so we're more-so looking at what's typical of that demographic.
Pure Google conjecture, but 80% of Americans say they can swim, and 56% demonstrated all skills to do it safely.
So to say, for example, an American man could at least doggy-paddle seems like a very safe assumption.
I think you make a good point, I can agree that it probably depends on context, I was just appalled at the notion we can't ever assume a human is capable of basic human things.
well, i highly doubt that a healthy person (2 arms and 2 legs in this context) can't do doggy-paddle swim or something nowdays lolYeah, of course. In the modern day and age, we can assume most people can swim unless said otherwise. A few thousand years ago, with less travel and communication, depends on when and where.
A healthy person can self-teach this method with a little practice, but we're imagining a scenario where they're completely isolated from water (such as a desert planet or just extremely far inland and away from lakes and pools).well, i highly doubt that a healthy person (2 arms and 2 legs in this context) can't do doggy-paddle swim or something nowdays lol
in that case, then yesA healthy person can self-teach this method with a little practice, but we're imagining a scenario where they're completely isolated from water (such as a desert planet or just extremely far inland and away from lakes and pools).
In this case, this battle would be their first time swimming ever and I do think they'd drown.
Occam's razor implies using the least assumptions. In this case your description does not fit as being physically fit is not necessarily related to swimming ability, and so it requires the assumption that their workout routine includes swimming.Just use occams razor. If a character is a humanoid and physically fit, its logical that they'd be able to not drown.
The most simple answer, that requires the least assumptions is often correct. A person who is physically fit would logically be able to swim. It is both more logical and requires a less fanciful assumption then a fit person being unable to do a basic physical activityOccam's razor implies using the least assumptions, in which your description does not fit as being physically fit is not directly related to swimming ability, so it requires the assumption that their workout routine includes swimming.
It is an assumption that a physically fit person out of context can swim. You do not need to do any swimming to be physically fit.The most simple answer, that requires the least assumptions is often correct. A person who is physically fit would logically be able to swim. It is both more logical and requires a less fanciful assumption then a fit person being unable to do a basic physical activity
False equivalence
As much as we don't assume a character can fly, otherwise we'd be entirely making up capabilities a character hasn't even shown.
By swimming here im merely referring to the ability to stay buoyant. An effect which most humans naturally adhere to. That's on me for wording it that way, but i hardly doubt a character would drown, when literally staying buoyant is their goal.False equivalence, that's far more trivial and inherent by the mere capability of walking (unless they're implied to lack development in this area), while swimming requires more specific practice and so on, which we can't just assume happened.
What's next? Assume that every character can read because it's "trivial"?
As seen above, I'm already for making certain assumptions. I'm not the one who brought up Occam's razor, a trend which isn't even an absolute rule and often used incorrectly.You can use that notion with everything.
"Has this character been shown to be able to walk up vertical stairs"
"If not we default to the negative, and assume they can't"
The idea that somebody who cannot swim can easily float is exactly the reason so many unprepared people die in the water.By swimming here im merely referring to the ability to stay buoyant. An effect which most humans naturally adhere to. That's on me for wording it that way, but i hardly doubt a character would drown, when literally staying buoyant is their goal.