The spectacle of the guillotine was part of its function. There were easier ways to kill aristocrats, but there deaths were also a message, and smothering them in their sleep isn’t as effective as a public execution with 6 meter tal technological marvel.
Nothing to do with that. I just didn’t realize the dull blade was a thing. As far as I know it was used in capital punishment outside of the revolution as well, and that’s where I was lacking the knowledge
Makes you wonder what the French Revolution would have been like with a 9mm.
Quicker? Or deadlier?
The spectacle of the guillotine was part of its function. There were easier ways to kill aristocrats, but there deaths were also a message, and smothering them in their sleep isn’t as effective as a public execution with 6 meter tal technological marvel.
I guess the modern day equivalent is a security camera the guy clearly was aware of and the internet.
Guillotine: old, cumbersome, hard to find, frankly boring to a modern audience
Woodchipper: easy to find, easy to transport, new and exciting, sends a message
The big ones you need a tow hitch. Govern yourself accordingly.
We have better media coverage now.
Not to mention the local businesses that public executions support.
Iirc, it was also a newfangled, more effective/humane method, and a symbol of progress.
Crazy to think something so gruesome is pretty damn painless and quick.
Yeah, but then the blades get dull, and you have to do it a couple times.
Well this is not a fun fact I was aware of.
I just sort of thought it was heavy enough that it pretty much didn’t fail
You’re rethinking your billionaire-killing strategy?
Nothing to do with that. I just didn’t realize the dull blade was a thing. As far as I know it was used in capital punishment outside of the revolution as well, and that’s where I was lacking the knowledge