I would rely on Quinnion at World Wide Words. See:
http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-rul1.htm
-Don.
Annette Taylor, Ph. D. wrote:
Well, a quick google, snopes, etc. search shows that there is much
controversy
over this origin of the phrase rule of thumb (size of stick you can
legally
beat a woman with), I could not find any definitive origin for the
phrase :(
Debunking the wife beating source is good; but I wish had a
replacement source.
The two others that are suggested are equally weak: using the thumb to
measure
how many hops to add to beer (would easily contaminate the batch and
it would
fail to ferment properly); and using the thumb as a woodworker's measure.
Anyone have some knowledge of it's source?
Annette
Quoting Paul Okami <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>:
While we're at it, let's put to rest the "'rule of thumb' stems from
English
common law regarding how savagely a husband is permitted to beat his
wife"
myth, and then start on the rest of the domestic violence architecture.
Actually, I hesitate to use the term "myth" only because I find that
this
word is so often used to describe inconvenient facts (except when I
use it
:-)). However, some things simply can't be described as well by any
other
word I suppose, and Super Bowl Sunday and Rule of Thumb are clearly
among
them.
Paul Okami
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rick Froman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" <[email protected]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 12:45 PM
Subject: RE: student's question
It is false. See: http://www.snopes.com/crime/statistics/superbowl.asp.
Rick
Dr. Rick Froman
Psychology Department
Box 3055
x7295
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Proverbs 14:15 "A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives
thought to his steps."
-----Original Message-----
From: michael sylvester [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Wednesday, February 01, 2006 10:05 AM
To: Teaching in the Psychological Sciences
Subject: student's question
is it true that spousal abuse increases on superbowl sunday?
Michael Sylvester,PhD
Daytona Beach,Florida
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Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph. D.
Department of Psychology
University of San Diego
5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA 92110
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Langara College
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