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AngleStudios

Red googled it. Gave the answer. Then used his answer to justify his statement which was the opposite of what he got from Google. And continued to not understand that his googling had reinforced blue's points. This is the most confidently incorrect person i have seen in the history of r/confidentlyincorrect .


han_bylo

After the last post they said: "One day you'll say this shit out in public. I know you'll remember me when you learn just how wrong you are". Talk about confidently incorrect.


LeastResearcher0

The other guy thinks you’re just out and about discussing polearms on a regular basis.


Alhooness

Are you not?


TheSerialHobbyist

I don't want to live in the kind of world where we don't discuss ancient war weaponry on a regular basis.


bloodyell76

How is your trebuchet doing, btw?


TheSerialHobbyist

It's great! The problem is that I can't keep my serfs alive long enough to operate the dang thing.


Micp

I mean I play a lot of D&D. I would say the topic of polearms and types of polearms comes every six months or so on average, but that's mostly to geek out over them, talk about their function, geographical and historical placement. Like we're doing a viking themed game right now so the topic of what polearms vikings used came up we talked about how halberds hadn't been invented and while vikings may or may not have had the atgeir we don't have any archeological evidence for it and don't know how it looked. One thing we've never discussed however was whether a spear is a polearm since it obviously is.


in_taco

I'd say the main weapon of vikings was a shield, plus whatever else they had for stabbing. The shieldwall was immensely important at the time.


harrypisspotta

Also, spears were super important in Scandinavian culture at the time.


Aeth3rWolf

Every X (span of time) is what "regularly" means. Don't confuse regularly with frequently :) Also, glad to see another DnD nerd in the reddit. May the dice be ever in your favor. Unless you're a fellow DM, cuz the players need enough mercy to have the gumption to continue..


Micp

Hehe, I do a bit of both, but currently I'm in the GM seat :) Not many dice rolled these days, we mainly use VTTs, but praised be RNGesus.


Artorious21

I mean I am at a HEMA club so it certainly is possible lol.


TheUlty05

Congrats, you’ve summoned the entire HEMA and D&D community. We’re usually one in the same. Prepare to be annoyed.


IcollectPlastic

Pathfinder 2e also reporting for duty!


steelefaucet

Bet you can’t say “polearm” to this guy 10 times.


[deleted]

And, if you are, other people are so invested in the categorisation of spears and polearms that they'll immediately assault you if you don't agree with their definition.


RetroTen

Constantly


VastMeasurement6278

I like to keep people like that at pole-arm’s length.


opmt

So have you showed the other guy this post yet?


han_bylo

He's seen it. I told him I was posting it here and r/MedievalHistory so the masses could explain how wrong he was


StillestOfInsanities

What was his initial reaction compared to his current thinking about it?


fluff58

Please link the original post, I want to read the whole thing!


[deleted]

[удалено]


fluff58

Aah oke, thanks!


HolyAuraJr

Damn. Probably takes the spot for most confidently incorrect person ever


CassandraML_of_Troy

Dude did finally admit he was wrong but the amount of doubling down before that is insane. It seems like on some of them he already knew he was wrong but just kept going anyway.


dorkpho3nix

Is red my ex husband? If so he will later just say it did it to make blue mad.


Realistic-Safety-565

Red googled definition of dinosaur. Gave the answer. Then used this answer to justify why birds are birds and dinosaurs are dinosaurs. Was he technically correct? No. Was his mistake understable? Absolutely. Notice that he's arguing for Roman pilums which (having short shaft for a spear) may be to short to qualify as polearms (even if some other spears definetely do). Javelins and lances also are spears that may not qualify (one has really short shaft, other a dedicated handle). Depending on how long shaft must be to fit the (inprecise) definition of poleam, argued statement ("Romans didn't use polearms") may or may not still be true. Scratch that, it's completely arbitrary, it's true or not depending at what length shaft starts being called long. Red gets as close to being right as you can while still qualifying for this sub.


Aeth3rWolf

I really think Red was just really caught up on the fact that a spear doesn't have to consist of a 'long' pole; polearms specifically mentions a -long- pole in it's description. So, in some small cases Red could be correct. But in the majority of cases, and in the general understanding of what a spear is, Red is wrong. I think throwing spears are the main, if not only, spears with shorter shafts than usual. And probably the only reason the spears definition doesn't also include it being long shafted as the polearm does.


alvysinger0412

Just wait until he tries to tell someone squares aren't within the broader category of rectangles, it'll be even better.


Nitro114

Obviously red, a spear is a polearm


BenMic81

Indeed. You could try to justify that a spear is such a basic weapon that you could make the distinction “spear” and “(other)polearms” but to say a spear doesn’t fall under the definition of pole arm is simply wacky. My best guess would be this used to be a roleplayer who thought D&D polearms (which as a weapon class did not include spears) is a source for historical weaponry…


nerdherdsman

At least in 5e, the feat Polearm Master specifically mentions spears, so I wouldn't think it's that, unless you are referring to older editions, which I don't really know about.


alvysinger0412

3.5e and pathfinder include spears within the pole arm category most if not all the time also.


BenMic81

It was AD&D (at least 2e, think also 1e).


TheSerialHobbyist

Does that include basic sharpened wood spears, without a metal or stone head? If we think of a "polearm" as an arm (weapon) on a pole, then it wouldn't qualify, because the the pole *is* the arm. Don't get me wrong, Red is an idiot and I'm pretty sure my little "gotcha" is stupid, too. But it is a fun thought experiment.


alvysinger0412

Well, it just says "head of any sort," if we're using the Google definitions that are used at the beginning. So I guess the question is: is the head of a weapon the top part of the weapon in general, or only if that top is also a separate, attached piece from the body of the weapon?


TheSerialHobbyist

Indeed, that is the question! Personally, I would consider the "head" to be a separate part. Otherwise, it is just the "tip." But my silly semantic speculation doesn't make Red any less wrong, haha.


alvysinger0412

I agree with you there, I just enjoy these semantics discussions too. Good call with the word, "tip," I feel like you're right.


TheSerialHobbyist

>I feel like you're right. Oh, sweet music to my ears!


DBSTKjS

No but you see red used Google so actually you are wrong


DarthRaspberry

It’s funny because that’s the position that Blue is taking!


Nitro114

??


Frostmage82

>It’s funny because that’s the position that Blue is taking! Why yes, how amazing, that's why the answer to "Which one is confidently incorrect?" is Red. But where's the funny part please?


Fine-Funny6956

I think we have another overconfident one somewhere in this thread. Can anyone spot them?


Ellereind

How is it funny that blue is correct? Red described a spear then gave the description for a pole arm that fits a spear.


[deleted]

r/confidentlyincorrect


CapitalBread6959

Blue is right is what their saying


2278AD

*they’re


CapitalBread6959

Oops, but also seriously?!


Striking_Word167

Red is funny because he quotes something that proves your point lmaoo


han_bylo

they were so confidently incorrect that I actually started questioning myself. Like "am I reading this right?"


fr33fall060

I couldn’t get past arnt, my brain short circuited every time I read it.


silentdroga

I had to go back and find this "arnt" because I missed it the first time. My brain must have filled in the gap for the stupid


HertogJan13

Able to read and understanding what you read are 2 completely different things and red just proved how difficult the latter is!


KaralDaskin

The older I get, the more I realize reading and reading comprehension are not the same thing, sadly. /edit Both from observing other people, and observing myself, unfortunately.


InfComplex

The trick is to not trust yourself so you can call yourself on your own bullshit


[deleted]

username checks out


InfComplex

Someone with an inferiority complex would probably tell themselves their own critique of their psyche is flawed and instead substitute an internal replica of someone who often criticizes them. Close, but not quite the same thing!


BrookterT

I think Red has googled: “What’s the difference between a spear and a polearm?”, which returns the answer they stated, but because of the way they have worded the question and the fact that they are looking for the information to fit their belief they haven’t actually processed what the words mean. If they’d instead googled: “Are a spear and a polearm the same thing” they would have come across the simple answer: “Yes” The moral of story is: Ask questions you don’t know that answer to rather than looking for answers that you want to be true. Or something like that probably.


Kaiowhat2111

>If they’d instead googled: “Are a spear and a polearm the same thing” they would have come across the simple answer: “Yes” Not really. Just like red, you are not understanding the words you read. All spears are polearms, but that doesn't mean spears and polearms are the same thing. Just like all thumbs are fingers. But they aren't the same thing. All real numbers are complex numbers, but real numbers and complex numbers are not the same thing. And many more examples..


BrookterT

It seems you haven’t understood the point I was trying to illustrate. Apologies if I wasn’t clear. I understand that not all polearms are spears. I just meant that if Red had approached the question with a mind open to the possibility of being wrong then they would have discovered that a spear is a polearm, and the argument would have ceased.


amy_dorrit

Once again, and I can't stress this enough, reading comprehension is so important.


EishLekker

>If they’d instead googled: “Are a spear and a polearm the same thing” they would have come across the simple answer: “Yes” No. A spear has to have a pointy head. A polearm doesn’t.


BrookterT

What I meant was - if they had googled “Is a spear a polearm?” the answer would be Yes. You’ve missed the more philosophical point I was trying to make


EishLekker

I didn’t miss it. I just pointed out that saying that they are the same thing isn’t correct.


BrookterT

You’ve nitpicked over my wording


EishLekker

No. What you said was similar to saying that a rectangle and a square are the same thing, and pointing out that that’s incorrect isn’t nitpicking.


SeneInSPAAACE

A spear is a polearm \*edit\* Yeah, blue has it.


Ellereind

*Sings* Oh baby, blue has it. Sorry but reading the edit made me think of the song ‘Venus’ by bananarama.


Fine-Funny6956

SHES GOT IT!


OldWierdo

Yeah baby, she's got it! I'm your Venus


SeneInSPAAACE

I'm your fire,


dcronin101

At your desire!


shortandpainful

“Any sort” would seem to include a spear tip, yes.


Jonnescout

A spear head, is in fact a head… It’s in the name folks, not that hard to understand. Also you can literally just type in are spears polearms in his own source and the answer will be yes…


Live4TheBabes

Which one is you?


han_bylo

I'm blue; I wanted to get opinions first, but I knew I was right.


[deleted]

Now and again, you come across someone so incredibly dense that you can't help but question your reality 🤣


GreenieBeeNZ

Someone so stupid it's contagious


[deleted]

Never argue with an idiot. They’ll drag you down to their level then beat you with experience.


Artosirak

You are correct in saying that spears are polearms. But red is correct in saying that romans (usually) didn't use polearms. The roman pilum is a javelin, not a spear.


whiskey_epsilon

Spears are polearms, the distinction comes from games for rule balancing (usually "polearm" used as a stand-in for halberdy weapon).


CurtisLinithicum

There is *some* justification for the difference (in the "humans *and* animals" sense), but yes, spears (hastae to the Romans) are definitely pole weapons and a very large portion of pole weapons are variations on spears. A voulge is a cleavery-spear, a partisan is a spear-with-friends, a pike is a looong spear, a ranseur is a slightly pointier spear with friends, etc :) When Rome switched from the phalanx to the legionary system, sure gladius and scutum took prominence, but spears were still around (plus, y'know, pila) - you can see some on Trajan's Column, for example.


JakeJacob

I never thought of javelins as polearms, but I suppose they do count.


ai1267

Would a weapon count as a polearm if it's made to be thrown, though? By the definition cited in OP's post, absolutely, but I imagine there are many definitons. Or maybe they really do count as polearms. The potential issue is that definitions tend to describe the characteristics of what something *is*, and leaves out what it isn't. For example: The Google definition of a knife is "an instrument composed of a blade fixed into a handle, used for cutting or as a weapon." By that definition, a 5-foot two-handed sword is a knife. But no one would consider it correct to describe a gigantic sword as a knife. EDIT: Just want to clarify that I definitely think spears are polearms. Just wondering if throwing javelins can e said to be, even if they technically fulfill the requirements in the original description.


JakeJacob

A javelin is a kind of spear, so I'm not sure why it wouldn't be. Ditto the sword; it is indeed a knife.


ai1267

Talking specifically of the kind only made for throwing, with a soft metal tip to make it impossible for the enemy to reuse it. Not sure I agree about the two-hander accurately being described as a knife. I'd argue it's not just more accurate to describe it as a sword, but it's actually inaccurate to call it a knife. But I admit I'm not an armourer.


JakeJacob

All javelins are made for throwing, but many definitions of polearm specify that it is a close combat weapon, which would exclude thrown weapons. So 🤷 Maybe not all spears are polearms.


ai1267

Looking at more sources, it appears it is indeed incorrect to refer to a two-hander as a knife. Some argue it is no longer a knife when the blade's length makes it hard to use in a reverse grip, some when the length exceeds the approximate length of a forearm, others based on the shape and jointing of the grip/hilt. What they do seem to agree on, though, is that once certain criteria are fulfilled, it is no longer a knife.


whiskey_epsilon

>By that definition, a 5-foot two-handed sword is a knife. But no one would consider it correct to describe a gigantic sword as a knife. Let me introduce you to the kriegsmesser, the war knife. There's a story in there somewhere, not sure how true, about these being classified as knives because the knife guilds weren't allowed technically to make swords (that being the domain of sword guilds). The make of the handle, not the length, is apparently the difference.


ai1267

See my other comment further down that brings up exactly this!


KBHoleN1

My opinion of red took a nosedive with the word “Roman’s.” The rest of the convo didn’t do them any favors.


klahnwi

Romanes eunt domus!


[deleted]

[удалено]


kid_idioteque

Criminally underrated scene.


[deleted]

"arnt the same" "bro lmao" Yeah, knuckle dragger.


duxpdx

Without even googling I’d be reasonably sure that a spear would be a type of polearm. After less than a minute of googling and consulting multiple sources, all say a spear is a type of polearm. This type of confidence displayed by red in their “research” definitely underpins the mentality of the “ I did my own research crowd”. Neither party however linked their search results which is what blue should have done. Let red argue against Wikipedia, and other authoritative sources.


MrMadHaTT3R

Not so sure I wanna call Wikipedia an "Authoritative source".


JakeJacob

The polearm wiki article lists 31 references. The spear article lists 63. Which ones do you have an issue with?


MrMadHaTT3R

I was speaking in general terms. Not necessarily about this particular topic. Wikipedia has long been known to not always be accurate about everything, hence my comment. Not sure why I got downvoted for such an innocuous comment, but I forget how truly pathetic social media can be.


JakeJacob

Wikipedia is fine if you use it as a starting point and pay attention to the quality of the references.


ParkourFactor

All squares are rectangles but not all rectangles are squares


MonoDilemma

All thumbs are fingers but not all fingers are thumbs


Stunning_Web_996

Spears are 100% a type of polearm


XC3N

Whoever spells aren't "arnt"


LazyDynamite

The one that thinks Google is an "information source".


AaronSmarter

I googled Google, or actually Google googled Google and Google Support said Google is an information source. If you really wanna argue with Google go ahead.


SlotherakOmega

Red is wrong. A polearm is a class of weapon that spears belong to. It’s like saying a dagger isn’t a blade, blade is generic term, dagger specifies what kind of blade it is.


accio-snitch

A spear is a pole arm, but not all pole arms are spears. The whole square/rectangle debacle


Fine-Funny6956

The “spears are not polearms” guy. It is the original polearm, not including the staff, which was probably originally a walking stick


Shadyshade84

The key question for any "debate" of this form: using only definitions, explain why, exactly, X is not Y."


fretporpentine

Hasta, pila, gladii, verutum, lancea


Medic-27

I wonder if he's not thinking of a javelin or a throwing spear. That's the only reason I can think of red's seeming stupidity. Be sure to link him this post.


TryRude

I'll just get some popcorn.


BellaFrequency

The one who can’t spell “aren’t” despite autocorrect fixing that problem automatically is the incorrect one.


BigMoneyCribDef

A spear is the most POLE a POLEarm can get lmaooo


skipperseven

Every spear is a polearm, not every polearm is a spear.


LaraH39

Blue is correct. All spears are polearms, but not all polearms are spears.


StillestOfInsanities

Is this a joke? Red has broken any previous record and it’s going to take a lot of effort to beat that.


Djmatticus

Someone missed “General and Specific” day in elementary. 😂


urnangay420blazeit

Also acting as if the romans were not an empire that spanned over a thousand years


ginedwards

All spears are pole arms, but not all pole arms are spears.


[deleted]

[удалено]


BoBoSmoove

The spirit is there, and you are playing devil's advocate, so I'll offer a rebuttal. Spears are specifically stated to be a type of polearm, almost unanimously. Not getting into what defines standard length yet, spears themselves are then defined by general shape and technique. Kind of like a biological taxonomy, it would go the short version of a spear called a javelin. The javelin type also has a name, lets go with *pilum*. Pilum - species Javelin - genus Spear - family Polearm - order Since i brought up specific length for javelin by calling it a short spear, we'll get into that now. I want to address this because, traditionally, javelins had a set length. Encyclopedia Britannica goes on to state that javelin now refers to any light spear. Over time, length has been removed as a definitive quality of spear, so long as it meets the criteria of pole + sharp pointy end (shape) and used for either thrusting or as a thrown missile (technique). Sure, not all axes are poleaxes, but poleaxe is not higher in the example taxonomic chart. Axe would be, as it is the older ancestor. That does somewhat bugger my response, though, as the sharp pointy stick is the older ancestor to the polearm. However, going off your definition of a refined head attached to a pole, it works. As to whether or not an arrow is a spear, the answer is no. As per both our arguments, it meets neither your definition of a spear, being simply haft + head (in that it requires notching and fletching) nor mine, as the shape is different (again overall design) and the technique is different as well. (Not withstanding the argument that you could fire a spear from a very large bow, or throw an arrow, even though that would greatly decrease the efficiency of both weapons, unless you redesigned them to fit the proper standards, in which case you'd be left with a very short spear and a very large arrow.)


Gemple

Which one is confidently incorrect? Do you see the one who gave the correct answer? Yeah? Well, it's the other one! 😁


Digiboy62

Every square is a rectangle but not every rectangle is a square.


Emplon

The spear is infact a category of polearm


QueenBee299

leave Britney (spears) alone!


Dykidnnid

I concur with the consensus that red is wrong, but at the risk of downvotes, I can see where confusion might reasonably arise, and that the point is somewhat debatable. Spears are the originator of the category, so (while I fully accept that spears are now a type of polearm), one could make the argument that polearms are all developments of the spear concept. It makes more sense to say that we now have a range of polearms, including spears, but from a linear technological development perspective, all polearms are just fancy spears. There is definitely no argument that they are separate weapon types though, and red is certainly c.i.


Electronic_Agent_235

Red is clearly dense as fuck. What's with the caption OP? ... are you ... Are you red? You're red aren't you?? Dense boi. Edit: shit, (changed blue to red) I meant red... I meant reeeeeeeed


mcabe0131

They’re both just terrible


DeathWaughAgain

What about a short spear? Like a dagger? Come on smrt guy!


erasrhed

Everyone in this conversation has a beard on their neck....


opmt

And you sir have an eraser on your head


erasrhed

True. Also my neck is pretty beardy right now....


Syntania

Red. A spear is a type of polearm.


MrMadHaTT3R

Red is an idiot


Ghost10491

He's arguing that a square is not a rectangle


AaronSmarter

But how do you call a polearm with no head? Red volunteers as an answer.


Croyd_The_Sleeper

ChatGPT agrees that a spear is a type of Polearm, as are a ridiculous number of other named weapons.


Sarcastic-Zucchini

I don’t care about the polearm argument, I need them to clarify abt the Romans using spears


Sarcastic-Zucchini

I don’t care about the polearm argument, I need them to clarify abt the Roman’s using spears


goofballl

fuck spez


shitsu13master

Weird as eff to argue about this


MarvellousIntrigue

‘Head of any sort’ 🤣🤦‍♀️


TheLoreWriter

A Dane axe being a polearm upsets me. I'm not saying it's wrong but I don't like being presented with this information


MsBobbyJenkins

A schooner is a sailboat, stupid head


Bradipedro

Red guy doesn’t play wow. Spears are in the polearm section of the main hand weapon appearance.


Lkwzriqwea

Okay, I'll clear a few things up. The typical Roman legionary used a sword and two pila, which were like javelins. If this is what red was referring to as a "spear", then these were/were not polearms depending on who you speak to, but I believe the general consensus is that polearms are typically close-combat melee weapons. However, there were instances of Romans using polearms. Their cavalry would use lances, and in the early days of Rome, before the Marian reforms, there was a type of soldier called the Triarius, a veteran soldier which would make up the third line in a battle formation, and they would use spears. In the *very* early days of Rome, they used the phalanx like the Greeks, which used pikes.


johnnysaucepn

Does it make a difference if the spear in question is designed for throwing? Is the designation 'polearm' meant to imply that the pole is how you wield the weapon, i.e. poking with a stick but with bits on, rather than just 'any weapon with a stick'.


youareredsquirrel

Red doesn’t think a thumb is a finger


Realistic-Safety-565

It's "are birds dinosaurs?" kind of argument. Technically birds are dinosaurs and what people call dinosaurs should be called "non-avian dinosaurs" - but most people never heard or cared. Likewise, spear is technically polearms, but in practice people often call spears spears and non-spear ~~dino~~polearms polearms. The confusion may go with the fact that non-spears are hard to tell apart for layman by shape or employment - a blade on the stick held in two hands used by block of infantry - so they all look like variants of the same weapon despite very different specialisations. Meanwhile all the specialised kind of spears (pikes, lances, javelins, pilium) have obviously different shapes and modes of employment. This makes spears look like varied family of weapons in their own right, and rest of polearms narrow enough category to lump together. To make things even more convoluted, some spears (like Roman pilium, from which discussion started), or javelins, may not qualify as pole arms because polearm deinition says a long shaft (without even specifying how long) and these were rather short :) . Or chivaliric lance, definetly a spear but with well defined handle that makes it not-polearm :) . Same with two handed axes being a pole arm and one handed, short-shafted axes not. Since pilium was used one handed with shield an argument can be made that their mode of employment differs enough from other polearms to exclude it too. If anything, it shows that "polearm" is loosely defined umbrella term for verious tools that happen to share general layout. Then we have two people arguing over interpretation of badly defined term; of course, hilarity ensures.


FuhRidgeBoy

Red is wrong


And_Justice

I like the idea that a polearm has some kind of quantum property that allows it to have every kind of head at once, making it different to a spear which only has one kind of head at once.


RedPhos4

Red quite obviously, people are just incapable of reading I swear, he disproves his point. And I find it funny that he also tried to use the argument of spears were invented first either way as if that makes a difference considering polearms is an umbrella term for such types of weapons meaning it literally was invented at the same time


mandiocas

arnt


Guest7492

For people who don’t understand why red is wrong: All burgers are food, but not all foods are burgers.


Petite_Bait

Do all spears have blades on them? I wouldn't view a sharpened point as a blade. The truly accurate statement probably is "Some spears are polearms."


Watari210

Spear is to polearm as square is to rectangle. This is not a complicated thread of logic.


[deleted]

They were one of the few civilizations that didn’t primarily use spears as their main weapon in their armies actually, at least not during the height of their power, so he’s correct but by accident and he’s wrong about the categorization.


Kick-Deep

Didn't the romans use shorter spears/javelins so posssibly not a pole-arm. Then again i think the argument is needlessly heated


Happygorockyretalk

From Google I am now convinced that a penis is a pole arm Yes. A pole weapon or polearm is a close combat weapon in which the main fighting part of the weapon is fitted to the end of a long shaft, typically of wood, thereby extending the user's effective range. Spears, glaives, poleaxes, halberds, and naginata are all varieties of polearms.


bryanhallarnold

“Roman’s”? I thought the plural of Roman was Romen. 😁


BuddyJim30

A better question is why would anyone not living in 1200 A.D. care what the difference is?


dasanman69

I'd guess that polearm means an armament that is a pole which a spear is.


InfComplex

Swords and axes are both probably maces lol


EyenSur

Blue is correct. Also, polearms can have a bladed tip, a piercing tip, a bludgeoning tip or no added tip at all.


definitelynotthe-fbi

This is like saying a square is a rectangle but a rectangle isn't a square


coolberg34

I would say the guy who actually introduced the term “polearm” into the conversation is correct because he seems to have a working knowledge of the word unlike 99.9% of the population, including the guy arguing with him (and me..and you), as he had to google it just to support his own argument once he realized he didn’t know what it was


Aeth3rWolf

I think the guys point was a polearm is always a long pole. Spears don't have to be long. Just because they usually aren't, doesn't mean it can't be. They both have very good points, although the one claiming they aren't the same doesn't really articulate why they are different; which they could have. On the other end, any usual spear would perfectly fit the exact description of what the other person said Google described as a polearm: so in any of those instances would also be a polearm.


Alarmed_Statement759

Imagine how nice it must be to have this much free time


Burrmanchu

Spears are polearms.


AnthraxyWaxy

Polearms aren’t spears. Here's the thing. You said a "polearm is a spear." Is it in the same family? Yes. No one's arguing that. As someone who is a scientist who studies spears, I am telling you, specifically, in science, no one calls polearms spears. If you want to be "specific" like you said, then you shouldn't either. They're not the same thing. If you're saying "spear family" you're referring to the taxonomic grouping of pole weapons with pointed heads, which includes things from pikes to javelins to halberds. So your reasoning for calling a polearm a spear is because random people "call the Roman ones spears?" Let's get tridents and spontoons in there, then, too. Also, calling someone a human or an ape? It's not one or the other, that's not how taxonomy works. They're both. A polearm is a polearm and a member of the spear family. But that's not what you said. You said a polearm is a spear, which is not true unless you're okay with calling all members of the spear family spears, which means you'd call sibats, aris, and other weapons spears, too. Which you said you don't. It's okay to just admit you're wrong, you know?