How to Periodize History: 2020 and the Decade Dilemma

https://typesandtimes.net/2020/01/decade-dilemma

by jsnell • 6 years ago

7 5 6 years ago

ache7• 6 years ago

It reminds the index of the first element in an array in different programming languages. Some use one-based indexing, others use zero. Which causes problems (bugs) when porting the program to a language with different indexing.

zeroimpl• 6 years ago

A decade is a time interval, so by that definition a new decade is being started and ended at every single instant of time.

The important question is not when a decade has started, but rather to know what time period people are talking about when they refer to "the 20s". I think most people would consider 2020 (or 1920) to be a member of that set, but 2030 (and 1930) are not.

Open question: When people refer to "the 1900s", does that include the year 2000?

bookmarkable• 6 years ago

Your first birthday is also the day you were born, so your 21st birthday is really the day you turn 20.

qubex• 6 years ago

Your 21st birthday is the day Earth is back in the angular position it was in when the event originally occurred for the twentieth time.

mlok• 6 years ago

If you're born at 11pm then it is your birthnight :)

(In French we don't say birthday but "anniversaire" so the day you are born cannot be counted in. You have only one birth day.)

How to Periodize History: 2020 and the Decade Dilemma

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