On Sep 19, 1:20?pm, Bill wrote:
Will you next declare that all or most pirates had missing eyes,
wooden legs, and kept parrots as pets? :-)

Hey Chuck I'll put in my two cents here. many pirates did have
missing limbs because battle was a way of life along with poor medical
facilities. Navy personnel had much of the same problem but not as
bad as the pirates. Pirate articles or contracts would often include
a bonus for anyone that lost a limb in service to the ship and/or
crew. This would not have been there had it rarely happened. This,
coincidentally was not commonly given to regular navy sailors. Not all
of them of course.

And I most definitely agree. What gets to be a bit much is the
Hollywood stereotype of a fellow blind in one eye and balancing
awkwardly on a wooden leg single-handedly slaying wave after wave of
attackers in battle. :-)

For all of its flaws, Stevenson's "Treasure Island" fairly
realistically portrayed that a crippled seaman was more likely to
retire to life ashore (where Long John Silver was first introduced,
cooking in a waterfront pub) than expected to continue carrying his
weight in a boarding.





As for parrots, from what I've read exotic pets were not uncommon for
any sailing vessel but apparently it was more commonly monkeys and
cats.

You are right also that pirates would talk in whatever manner most
sailors would have but with less refinement due to lack of education
and formality.

But this is supposed to be fun. So HAPPY TALK LIKE A PIRATE DAY.

And Happy TLAPD to you as well.