Dear Luc, John, Chris, and All,
See notes below.
<snip>
>> We had to write our answers on a piece of paper, and I made the educated
>> (and rather good) guess of 11000m. In due time the quiz master announced
>> that the correct answer was 36195ft or 11033m and then, as I prepared to
>> collect the expected prize on behalf of my team, he announced that a rival
>> team had won with an answer of 36000ft. Naturally I made an official
>> objection immediately, only for the quizmaster to rule that he didn't know
>> which was closer and that he had given out the prize anyway!
>>
>> I think that even Mr Thoburn would feel that he has had it pretty easy if
> he
>> were to hear my tale of woe. Does this make me the Imperial Martyr
>>
>> Luc
>>
>> NB. Shouldn't it be the other way round, am I not the Metric Martyr and
>> Thoburn the Imperial Martyr?
You are certainly correct - you are more the metric martyr than Steven
Thoburn. Unfortunately the media became so fascinated by the alliteration of
the words 'metric martyr' that none of them noticed their error of using
completely the wrong words.
To illustrate this point let's look at another example. If a christian man
was attacked and killed in an islamic nation; would he ever be referred to
as a 'muslim martyr'. I suspect that he would simply be known as a
'christian martyr'. Please note that I am leaving aside the question of
whether the title 'martyr' is awarded posthumously!
Returning to the example of yourself and Steven Thoburn it might be better
to refer to him as an 'Imperial Imbecile' to give another (delightful)
element of alliteration.
--
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
CAMS - Certified Advanced Metrication Specialist
- United States Metric Association
ASM - Accredited Speaking Member
- National Speakers Association of Australia
Member, International Federation for Professional Speakers
