Did you not read the rest of the paragraph?

> Do you not adapt because you cannot conceptualize faster than the enemy’s adaptation? (Darwin has a pretty good theory about the outcome for those who cannot adapt to changing circumstance — in the information age things can change rather abruptly and at warp speed, especially the moral high ground which our regimented thinkers cede far too quickly in our recent fights.)

Its an article about books about war.

Have you read any good books from 6,000 years ago lately?

Except he doesn't say "we've been recording fighting for 5,000 years," he says "we've been fighting for 5,000 years." There's no ambiguity there, unless you're delusional.

Today I learned: even allegedly smart posters on HN can be unable to understand context.

There is an odd phenomenon prevalent on the 'net: the presumption that a short blurb written with a small audience and particular point in mind should, somehow, contain encyclopedic completeness to every conceivable objection any twit may conjure up, no matter how ill-informed or tenuously applicable.

That´s why sometimes silence is the only viable option, any other one only receives mental onanism as a response, the conversations ends in the same place but with the OP mentally exhausted.

Fighting wars? or just fighting? His context was about fighting wars, not just a couple guys running into each other and throwing a few punches.

There's always ambiguity there, unless you're so delusional as to think you knew exactly what they were thinking and meant, and the exact context.

Pretty sure it was just a figure of speech...

Um, when a general says "we've been fighting for 5,000 years," he's referring to organized conflict, i.e. WAR. It's pretty hard for war to exist without civilization, so, yeah, around 5000 years, give or take, is the accepted number. Part of that is because writing was invented at about that time.

Now you could argue this number, but before you do, ask yourself: do you actually have any experience in this area, or are you just being a pedantic douche? The answer to that question will determine if you should reply.

I also think the guy who asked about books written 5,000 years ago is pretty funny. Well, actually, there is writing dating back to 3,200 BC. If you're going to be a pedant, at least get it right.