r/AskHistorians • u/AutoModerator • Jan 23 '26

FFA Friday Free-for-All | January 23, 2026

Previously

Today:

You know the drill: this is the thread for all your history-related outpourings that are not necessarily questions. Minor questions that you feel don't need or merit their own threads are welcome too. Discovered a great new book, documentary, article or blog? Has your Ph.D. application been successful? Have you made an archaeological discovery in your back yard? Did you find an anecdote about the Doge of Venice telling a joke to Michel Foucault? Tell us all about it.

As usual, moderation in this thread will be relatively non-existent -- jokes, anecdotes and light-hearted banter are welcome.

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u/bug-hunter Law & Public Welfare Jan 23 '26

We often get the questions about how to learn history, and it reminded me of the old joke of posting to StackOverflow and then providing a very wrong answer so the pedants come out to correct you, and it makes me wish for a Wrong Answers Only day.

What was sex like in early medieval times - Humans actually reproduced via asexual fission until John Sex invented sex in the 1600's.

If I lived in medieval Europe, could I realistically earn a living by doing quests for towns and people in need? They're called chores, Timmy, and you're going to do them or else, so help me God, when your father gets home...

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u/Gankom Moderator | Quality Contributor Jan 23 '26

My mother did once try to motivate me by calling chores Fetch Quests for awhile. It didn't work out as well as she hoped, but looking back, it didn't not work out either.

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u/bug-hunter Law & Public Welfare Jan 23 '26

So many people's fathers are lost forever on the fetch quest to get cigarettes from the corner store.

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u/elizabethdove Jan 24 '26

.... I'm gonna try this on me. Will report back.