- last post: 01.01.0001 12:00 AM PDT
Posted by: Recon Number 54
Meh, all measurements are subjective and based on ego-centricity.
* Light year? Based on how long it takes our planet to orbit our sun. Biased.
* AU? Based on the distance from our planet to our sun. Biased.
* Meter? Originally based on the circumference of the Earth and Base 10 math. Biased.
* Time? Based on the rotation of our planet. Biased.
* Degrees of arc? Based on the orbit of our planet around the sun. Biased.
* Imperial measurements? Based on the size of the King's foot, his arm, or the size of baskets. Biased.
* Base 10 math? Based on the number of digits on the human hand. Biased.
How is this on-topic? Well dear readers, it actually is.
Just like the above measurements are simply labels that people put on something to help it to make sense, so are rules on social interaction. Sure, they are the utter definition of bias, subjectivity and arbitrary. But people agree to use them in order to rise above chaos. Until a standard is agreed on (no matter how irrational that standard may or may not appear to others), nothing can be accomplished.
So the rules are there, some think they are too harsh, others think not stringent enough. Some have problems with how liberally they are enforced, others want them to be enforced with no interpretation or leeway at all.
Despite that, they exist and the vast majority know them, understand them, use them and take them as "constants". Just like any of those horribly biased systems of measurement that are listed above.
You have the most thought out posts out of anyone on B-net.