this post was submitted on 12 Jun 2024
331 points (93.7% liked)
Showerthoughts
30035 readers
680 users here now
A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.
Rules
- All posts must be showerthoughts
- The entire showerthought must be in the title
- Avoid politics
- 3.1) NEW RULE as of 5 Nov 2024, trying it out
- 3.2) Political posts often end up being circle jerks (not offering unique perspective) or enflaming (too much work for mods).
- 3.3) Try c/politicaldiscussion, volunteer as a mod here, or start your own community.
- Posts must be original/unique
- Adhere to Lemmy's Code of Conduct
founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
2024, June 12.
Why isn't the long form like this as well? Especially since the year is the most important info anyway when it comes to things like studying history.
Actually, on second thought, computers would organize things by alphabetical order this way which would seem weird.
Because precise dates are used much more commonly contemporaneously than they are for historical purposes. This is so true that the year is commonly omitted, as it is assumed and understood by all parties without mention.
Got it.
You don't need the comma when you write it this way. The comma in June 12, 2024, is there exactly because it's the wrong order.
It's basically "I wrote the date. Oops, forgot the year!"
Computers order it correctly in that format because that's the correct format. In the same way a computer will order any other correctly formatted numbers in the correct order - and incorrectly formatted numbers in the incorrect order - it shouldn't be surprising that they order correctly formatted dates in the correct order.
Interesting information.
I figure it's because the year can be seen as an optional appendage if you're talking about dates from the current year. Like, I can say "that happened on May 5th," or "I'll be there June 18th," and you can reasonably assume I mean in 2024 unless I specify "June 18th, 2063."
Now, as for why you can say "I'm going on the 18th," but Americans don't say 18th of June, 2024, I haven't a clue. We really only seem to have logical explanations for the way we do things about half of the time.
Got it.
April 5th, 2063, Bozeman, Montana
I will be there.