How Dragons Rep...

[Ragnarok]

Well, this is strange. I could have sworn I posted this before. Oh well, I'll just do it again.


There are a few major flaws with in-flight mating, either in flight or in free-fall.

In order for something like that to happen in-flight, the two participants would have to match all flight characteristics perfectly. Airspeed, rate of wingbeat, altitude gained per wingbeat, etc. I cannot imagine how something requiring that kind of coordination could evolve naturally, especially not when a much safer alternatice (terrestrial mating) is available.

Its prospects are even worse if its done in free-fall. Using a human as a base, terminal velocity would be somewhere in the neighborhood of 200kph, or about 55.6m/s. For every minute the mating took, the pair would have to be 3.3km high (3.3km for 1 min, 6.7km for 2 min, 10km for 3 min, etc). If the time exceeds altitude, the dragons would hit the ground at terminal velocity, and go splat on the ground. In addition to that, their rate of descent for the two would have to be identical. That might sound simple, but given varying aerodynamic profiles of the participants, an exact matching of speeds would be difficult, unless the two were actually holding each other, which makes breaking apart before they hit ground more difficult. Again, given the risk involved in this option, it would be highly unlikely to evolve, at least, not while a much safer alternative is available.
_________________
To win against an opponent stronger than yourself, you must not be weaker than that opponent. - Takamachi Nanoha

[Ganelon]

Well damn it Ragnarok if I told you air is breathable you'd tell me I'm wrong because of the large procentage of CO2. Have you ever seen two birds fight. WELL BY MYTHOLOGY ,my man, it takes that much for a dragon to mate so stop beeing so realistic when it's you who says that dragons do not exist. I SAID IT'S BY MYTHOLOGY!!!! And now you just keep giving me laws of physics like there's a dragon sitting next to you. Yeah if a dragon would exist he would become one with the floor before finishing the job(meaning making a baby.)

BTW I love debating with you it's never boring
_________________
ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH!!!

[Ragnarok]

[Ganelon]

By mythology I said my friend. Aside with the laws of physics if it's a magical creature. I am aware of them but, once again by mythology I say, it takes a dragon like 15 secs to mate but it takes much more for the mating dance. I know its quite impossible but It is MYTHOLOGY.
_________________
ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH!!!

[Ragnarok]

You keep throwing the word "mythology" around, but what myths are you talking about? You said that you're using works of modern fiction, which, by definition, have been completely made up by their authors. What sort of source is that?
_________________
To win against an opponent stronger than yourself, you must not be weaker than that opponent. - Takamachi Nanoha

[Ganelon]

As well as any. It is mythology too even if it's modern. And if you want to find any literature about dragons and it will say that dragons mate in air.
_________________
ZIP-A-DEE-DOO-DAH!!!

[Namhias]

my‧thol‧o‧gy  /mɪˈθɒlədʒi/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[mi-thol-uh-jee] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun, plural -gies.
1. a body of myths, as that of a particular people or that relating to a particular person: Greek mythology.
2. myths collectively.
3. the science or study of myths.
4. a set of stories, traditions, or beliefs associated with a particular group or the history of an event, arising naturally or deliberately fostered: the Fascist mythology of the interwar years.

myth  /mɪθ/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[mith] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation
–noun
1. a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, esp. one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature.
2. stories or matter of this kind: realm of myth.
3. any invented story, idea, or concept: His account of the event is pure myth.
4. an imaginary or fictitious thing or person.
5. an unproved or false collective belief that is used to justify a social institution.
[Origin: 1820–30; < LL mȳthos < Gk mŷthos story, word]

If I interpret this correct, mixed with a little common sense, then I come to this conclusion:
Mythology refers to an event that happened many many many years ago. A story based on truths, but disguised as a story. It's (almost) always metaphorical.

I don't think that modern fiction can fall under the category "Mythology".

I have to agree with Ragnarok on this one.
(I couldn't resist )

[Ragnarok]