Something I've been wanting to do for a while is start semi-recurring collection of what I call "The real questions." These are questions that get at amusingly specific or abnormal topics, rather than the typical kind of general history question. Stuff that when I see it asked, it makes me say "Finally, someone is asking the real questions!"

This isn't a super formalized or methodological process at the moment, so I don't have a big collection, but this week I want to shout out /u/platypuskeeper for their question "What's history's best pencil sharpener?" on the Friday Free-for-All. This is more of a discussion then a question, so I don't think it'll be representative of future entrants, but it's the one that caught my eye from this week.

Some previous winners that I've collected over the last few months:

• "How significant was ass in the beauty or sexual standard of ancient Rome? What was the average size?"

• "When did people begin to realize that Italy looked like a boot?"

• "I am Louis XIV and am about to have sex with my wife or mistress, do I leave my wig on or take it off?" (This is the one that inspired this category.)

Is this a worthwhile project? Should I keep going with it?

Welcome back to another brilliant edition of the Sunday Digest! Hundreds of fantastic history threads and compiled and kept in one easy to find place. Have a browse through, enjoy the amazing writing, and don’t forget to thank the authors!

• We’ve got an awesome new AskHistorians Podcast Episode 150 - "Church, State and Colonialism in Southeastern Congo" with Reuben Loffman

• Then check out the second last of our current Floating Feature series! The Resistance and Anti-Colonial Histories Floating Feature: An open thread to highlight the stories and histories of resistance and anti-colonial opposition

• There’s a great Tuesday Trivia post on Celebrities and fame.

• Check out the Thursday Reading and Rec thread.

• Tons of fun and discussion in the Friday Free For All.

• /u/Klesk_vs_Xaero continues to rock the Saturday Showcase.

• META time! are the majority of posts/answers hidden in this sub?

And thus we come to a close for another week. Keep it classy out there reddit, and I’ll see you next Sunday!

Spare a thought for the interesting yet overlooked post that still hope for an expert’s answer. Perhaps they’ll catch someone’s eye, or inspire some new fascinating questions.

• /u/miputaexistencia asked Was Francisco Franco an fascist dictator or just an authoritarian one?

• /u/Xterrian asked How were common ancient Egyptians buried? Were they also mummyfied and buried with their possessions?

• /u/Hyper_Threaded asked After the US won the American Revolutionary War, Did England take any actions to change tax laws/codes at home?

Shameless shilling of my answer here:

• Were Africans responsible for bringing Europe out of the Dark Ages during the Renaissance?

"Muslims saving European [white] civilization" is a pretty common myth that is usually debunked by asserting that Europe didn't really have a Dark Ages. My answer shows how that response is just as much of a problem as the initial myth is.

/u/qed1 didn't write a top-level answer in the thread, but their replies to my answer make a parallel argument to mine that also overturns both dangerous myths--don't miss those posts!

Enjoy!