Living in the year 12,003

[Drifterman]

As a student of Chinese history, I find myself increasingly infuriated by the conventional western calendar that gives us the current year as 2003. Of course, the Chinese system is no better.

Aside from its religious origin of the current system (which has been addressed by using C.E. and B.C.E.), its eurocentricity is a distraction when dealing with other cultures. It pervades our unconscious pre-conceptions of what is ancient and what is modern.

I therefore propose that all dates A.D. should have 10,000 added on to them. Thus making the current year 12,003 H.E. (Human Era or Historical Era - because this is the era when humankind has begun to significantly shape the world, and also covers the entirety of recorded human history).

All current B.C. dates would be considered negative, and have 10,001 added to them (to compensate for the lack of a year 0).
This would give us a birthdate for Confucius as 9,450, Siddhartha Gautama's as c9,435, and 9,997 for Jesus.

This would also place the year 1 H.E. at a point in time soon after the end of the last ice-age (or the beginning of the current inter-glacial period:))

OK, so the 10,000 is arbitrary (it could just as easily have been 8,765) - but it is convenient.

I believe this would go some way to integrating our notions of civilisation, and remove an unwarranted emphasis on a particular Jewish rabbi executed by the Romans.

It might be good for our sense of historical perspective. Or else you might all think that is is a nonsensical waste of time!

I welcome any and all comments.

[Regnad Kcin]

Well, considering that any calendar is arbitrary* it makes no difference to me.

Actually, shouldn't we date everything from the Big Bang? (Try writing those zeros on your cheques though.)

*This is why I was always slightly amused at the hysterics over the recent turn of the century/millenium. Hey folks, it's just a number!

[Drifterman]

Regnad Kcin originally posted:
Actually, shouldn't we date everything from the Big Bang? (Try writing those zeros on your cheques though.)

Agreed

But the date of the BB has not yet been nailed down quite as precisely as many of the events in human history! (I believe there is a margin of error of several billion years)

Plus, if we are talking about *human history* as opposed to universal history, I think the 12,000 year limit makes sense. The proximity of the last ice-age makes it a convenient cut-off point.

[DragonLady]

Do you work for Microsoft? That would be one helluva patch! ;)

I know my computer isn't ready for it, but otherwise it makes no difference to me.

[arcticpenguin]

I have a great idea: let's count dates down to the end of the world!

[Ladewig]

It does not make a difference to me, but when you introduce it to the general public, be prepared to be called everything from anarchist to godless humanist/satanist.

[Frostbite]

Screw all that. I declare this year to be Year 1, and today July 5th will be New Year's day for the following years.

[crocodile deathroll]

12,003 years may seem like a period so far in the future we can barely imagine, but when you campare 12,003 years to the overall history of the universe, it is just but the blink of an eye.

[Questioninggeller]

Originally posted by Regnad Kcin
Well, considering that any calendar is arbitrary* it makes no difference to me.

Actually, shouldn't we date everything from the Big Bang? (Try writing those zeros on your cheques though.)
!

I agree, practically speaking that isn't possible writting all those zeros would be a pain. We could claim to start "the A.D." year at any religious point; Why don;t the Greek civilization or the Egpytian era?

It's the same thing not matter what we call it. I purpose we call it AAAAAAA000000000033333300303030303032003: (which will mean 2003).

[Craig]

Originally posted by Questioninggeller
It's the same thing not matter what we call it. I purpose we call it AAAAAAA000000000033333300303030303032003: (which will mean 2003).

Catchy. I like it!

[shemp]

Why don't we just go back to the Big Bang and add 15 billion to the number? So this is the year 15,000,002,003. That oughta piss off the fundies.

[Drifterman]

Irritating fundies is an admirable goal, but as Regnad Kcin said:

(Try writing those zeros on your cheques though.)

I think that a change in perspective would be useful - less emphasis on the Nazarene. The 10,000 is quite arbitrary, but also easy (most times it just involves adding a 1 at the beginning of existing dates.

Plus, it covers the entirety of human civilisation.

That fundies would get annoyed is but a side benefit.

[Checkmite]

Originally posted by Drifterman

Aside from its religious origin of the current system (which has been addressed by using C.E. and B.C.E.), its eurocentricity is a distraction when dealing with other cultures. It pervades our unconscious pre-conceptions of what is ancient and what is modern.

The Chinese and Judaism have their own unique methods of dating which are still in use; to attempt to eliminate eurocentricity by rearranging the western calendar is noble but pointless given that particular premise. The Chinese and Jewish calendars, both also religiously based, would not change; thus, rearranging the western calendars would have zero effect on intercultural relations.

The only thing that's left, then, is the wish to eliminate the religious aspect - something that the Common Era designation does well enough.

[Drifterman]

Well, it is not the purpose to convert the Chinese to using our way of doing things, it is merely to allow a more intuitive grasp of the ebb and flow of civilisations for our own youngsters.

The focus on the birth of the Nazarene does more harm than good!

[Checkmite]

Originally posted by Drifterman


The focus on the birth of the Nazarene does more harm than good!

In what way? Surely it can be taught that such association is only a cultural relic. And even if the focus is to discourage religion, that shouldn't entail destruction of concepts or cultural relics (such as the date system) which have religious references or bases.

[NoZed Avenger]

I am surprised that no one has suggested using the birth of Elvis as the key point. Years would be designated B.E. and A.E., respecticely.

[arcticpenguin]

Whatever system we use should have a year 0 (zero) to make the math easier.

[Lurker]

Originally posted by Frostbite
Screw all that. I declare this year to be Year 1, and today July 5th will be New Year's day for the following years.

Dammit, I didn't get my new years day vacation today. bummer.

Lurker