Upcoming downtime - 10/3 (and American vs. European date notation) - Page 2

Scoville · 10-09-2006, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trumgottist

So, you're trying to argue about what makes sense? I can see the logic behind two orderings.

Going from the large to the small:
1978-11-10 (I'm born in November)

Going from small to large:
16/7-1981 (I have a sister born in July.)

Here's the difference in our reasonings: you are basing the logic of the ordering on theoretical concepts (day is the smallest increment of time, year the longest), while I am basing it on practical relevence (month is the most important, year the least). Both have logic behind them. A practical system seems much better in my eyes as it is more convenient for use in every day life. And that's the whole point, isn't it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trumgottist

Also note the different use of separator characters in my two examples. x/y typically means x of y. In the above case, the 16th of the seventh. Using that character backwards is what seems the most wrong to me about the American system. Do you have an explanation for that? (That last question is out of interest, not intended as a provocation.)

10/21/37? Nah. Looks wrong.

No provocation taken. The use of slashes in the American dating system is a purely visual element. It is simply a slash, not a fraction bar. It can be, and often is, replaced with a dash or a period. Saying 10/21/37 does not imply 10 of 21 parts which in turn are only 21 of 37 parts. It just distinguishes the digits as three two-digit numbers rather than one six-digit number. If it looks like a fraction to you, that is only because you are unaccustomed to the style. No one who grew up in America would ever see "10/21/37" and think it was a fraction, just as no one who grew up writing "21-10-37" would think that referred to subtraction.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AFGNCAAP

Scoville, so you argue that the house number is more important than the street name in the US?

I never said I agreed with the sequence of addresses in the US.

Trumgottist · 10-10-2006, 02:23 AM

Ah, now it's in Chit-chat, so we no longer have to feel guilty about derailing the thread.

You base your practical argument on how you say the dates, but what we're discussing is the written dates. That's not the same, so we might as well go with the theoretical system.

Also, if you're worried about what people will hear, it's a mistake to say the most important thing first. That's the part most likely to be missed as that's when people are only starting to listen - or realize you're talking about a date.

RLacey · 10-10-2006, 03:34 AM

I don't understand the argument that the month is more important than the day within that month. Unless, that is, you only do one or two things a month. As someone who almost always has something that I need to go and do, I'm rarely looking more than a month ahead anyway, and so can pretty safely ignore all numbers after the first one. So long as the day comes first.

Jelena · 10-10-2006, 03:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RLacey

I don't understand the argument that the month is more important than the day within that month.

I agree. Both year and month are most often known, but I tend to mix up days sometimes. Very rarely do I mix up what month I'm supposed to do something.
I think the logic reasoning that trumgottist explained proves to be most valuable since it obviously is debatable whether day or month is most important in a date.

AFGNCAAP · 10-10-2006, 04:02 AM

...furthermore, when we are talking about past dates, usually either the year feels the most important or all three parts of the date equally so. If somebody asks "When did the WW2 start?", "September" is probably not the answer he is looking for.

SSH · 10-10-2006, 04:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlpw

I cannot say anything about crazy Americans. We invented the metric system then refused to use it. go figure

Are you French?

RLacey · 10-10-2006, 04:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSH

Are you French?

Don't be silly... the Americans invented everything

.

SSH · 10-10-2006, 07:01 AM

I remember going of a tour of the Kennedy Space Center and the guide telling us that Velco was invented as part of the space program. Which must have been a surprise for Swiss Engineer Georges de Mestral

Jazhara7 · 10-10-2006, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlpw

I cannot say anything about crazy Americans. We invented the metric system then refused to use it. go figure

Actually, the US officially agreed, to switch to and use the metric system.

But they're not keeping their word, it seems.

-

Giligan · 10-10-2006, 07:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jazhara7

Actually, the US officially agreed, to switch to and use the metric system.

But they're not keeping their word, it seems.

-

We like our pounds, gallons and feet, thank you very much.

Intrepid Homoludens · 10-10-2006, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SSH

Quote:

Originally Posted by rlpw

I cannot say anything about crazy Americans. We invented the metric system then refused to use it. go figure

Are you French?

No. He's part of that group that saved the French's butts in the war.

RLacey · 10-10-2006, 08:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

No. He's part of that group that saved the French's butts in the war.

...if only to stop the Russians from liberating Europe all on their own...

Intrepid Homoludens · 10-10-2006, 08:25 AM

Yes.

Lucien21 · 10-10-2006, 09:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

No. He's part of that group that saved the French's butts in the war.

He's British then.

Squinky · 10-10-2006, 09:12 AM

Why all this fighting? Just blame Canada, like everyone else always does!

Intrepid Homoludens · 10-10-2006, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucien

He's British then.

Nope. He's part of that group across the pond who got pissed off and ganged up with the Brits.

Lucien21 · 10-10-2006, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squinky

Why all this fighting? Just blame Canada, like everyone else always does!

With all their beady little eyes,
their flapping heads so full of lies
Blame Canada!

Giligan · 10-10-2006, 09:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RLacey

...if only to stop the Russians from liberating Europe all on their own...

......Which they did with our M3 tanks, P-39 fighters, and military trucks.....

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squinky

Why all this fighting? Just blame Canada, like everyone else always does!

Quite.

*Melanie68* · 10-10-2006, 10:16 AM

I use the metric system!

I write the dates both ways.

Also, if you put 10/9 (meaning Oct. 9) into an Excel spreadsheet cell, it automatically converts it to 9-Oct.

Can't we all just get along (and blame Canada together?).

Jatsie · 10-10-2006, 10:25 AM

This will not end until you capitulate!

10-10-2006, 02:23 AM	#22
Trumgottist Game Creator Hobbyist Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Stockholm (or Gotland) Posts: 2,609	Ah, now it's in Chit-chat, so we no longer have to feel guilty about derailing the thread. You base your practical argument on how you say the dates, but what we're discussing is the written dates. That's not the same, so we might as well go with the theoretical system. Also, if you're worried about what people will hear, it's a mistake to say the most important thing first. That's the part most likely to be missed as that's when people are only starting to listen - or realize you're talking about a date. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Play my game: Frasse and the Peas of Kejick. The Special Edition is now available! (Mac OS X or Windows.)

10-10-2006, 03:34 AM	#23
RLacey The Thread™ will die. Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 22,542	I don't understand the argument that the month is more important than the day within that month. Unless, that is, you only do one or two things a month. As someone who almost always has something that I need to go and do, I'm rarely looking more than a month ahead anyway, and so can pretty safely ignore all numbers after the first one. So long as the day comes first. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ RLacey \| Killer of the Thread™ I do not change to be perfect. Perfect changes to be me.

10-10-2006, 04:02 AM	#25
AFGNCAAP Dungeon Master Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Poland Posts: 4,152	...furthermore, when we are talking about past dates, usually either the year feels the most important or all three parts of the date equally so. If somebody asks "When did the WW2 start?", "September" is probably not the answer he is looking for. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ What's happening? Wh... Where am I?

10-10-2006, 07:01 AM	#28
SSH Super Scottish Hero Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Edinburgh, UK Posts: 2,872	I remember going of a tour of the Kennedy Space Center and the guide telling us that Velco was invented as part of the space program. Which must have been a surprise for Swiss Engineer Georges de Mestral Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ SSH's AGS blog "SSH is the best we have" - Pablo Bullian, IP Security expert

10-10-2006, 08:25 AM	#33
Intrepid Homoludens merely human Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 22,309	Yes. Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ platform: laptop, iPhone 3Gs \| gaming: x360, PS3, psp, iPhone, wii \| blog: a space alien \| book: the moral landscape: how science can determine human values by sam harris \| games: l.a.noire, portal 2, brink, dragon age 2, heavy rain \| sites: NPR, skeptoid, gaygamer \| music: ray lamontagne, adele, washed out, james blake \| twitter: a_space_alien

10-10-2006, 09:12 AM	#35
Squinky Unreliable Narrator Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Le Canada Posts: 9,873	Why all this fighting? Just blame Canada, like everyone else always does! Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ Squinky is always right, but only for certain values of "always" and "right".

10-10-2006, 10:16 AM	#39
Melanie68 Super Moderator Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ohio Posts: 8,907	I use the metric system! I write the dates both ways. Also, if you put 10/9 (meaning Oct. 9) into an Excel spreadsheet cell, it automatically converts it to 9-Oct. Can't we all just get along (and blame Canada together?). Share Share this post on Twitter

10-10-2006, 10:25 AM	#40
Jatsie Lovable rogue Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Great Britain Posts: 6,378	This will not end until you capitulate! Share Share this post on Twitter __________________ "Jatsie is amazing." - Jazhara "My mental image of Jat is a gentleman sitting in a leather armchair, wearing a robe. The light in the room is dim and strangely he's not sitting in front of a computer, but next to a small, round table with a box of cigars on." - Jelena Gay-Nerds.com

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