The palindrome was very cool— 0-1-0-2-2-0-1-0.
But yesterday is over. And the issues remain.
Like: what do we call the decade that just ended?
V suggested the Dec-O’s (Deck-Oh’s)– which I like better than the “Aughts”. (?)
How do we start a new decade when we don’t know the name of the old one?
Can’t name it; can’t say it.
Is this two-thousand ten? Twenty–ten? Two-oh-one-oh?
Saying the date is tricky; writing it is worse. Maybe that’s because I keep starting with 19–.
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Elizabeth Sheppard says
Many people (including TV talking heads today) are talking about the failure to name the past decade. Some are saying that the reason is because so many unpleasant things (think: 9-11/terrorism, an endless war, and economic hardship) happened then. In fact, it was suggested on a CBS Face the Nation story today we call it the Post-9-11 Decade.
I agree about the Aughts… that is just too old-fashioned and belongs to the earlier aughts, like 19 aught six. But who knows. I like to think it will just happen, the naming of the past 10 year period. Some lucky person will coin a new term perhaps.
Can we just forget about this past decade and just move on? Maybe that is what is behind our questions. Can we just skip the whole period in our minds some by never naming it? Would this help us deal with the problems after 9-11 and the way the world seems to have changed?
I have issues with this, too. Thanks for the great posting and food for thought!
Marla Wentner says
The grammar kings and queens (whoever they are, and wherever they got their credentials?) are insisting that we call this year twenty ten, mainly because it has less syllables than two thousand ten, and it’ll be easier to keep up that pattern when we get to twenty twenty one and beyond. So I am going that route, because it is easier off the tongue. I kind of like it. The last decade should really be called the “naughts” not the “oughts”.
Happy Twenty Ten to you and yours.
Jessica (@ It's my life...) says
Maybe the decade was so bad we should call it the zeros. But then again, it was a good one for me (I know, so selfish!) that I’m a bit saddened by that.
The name will emerge, something always does.
And you’re a step ahead of me. I keep wanting to write 198. Which, considering I was kid back then is just odd.
Happy New Year Darryle! May the chocolate flow abundantly ALL year!
Darryle Pollack says
Thank u for the comments and help–and Happy New Year!
Elizabeth, didn’t see any talking heads discussing this but I think they would be all over V’s name, the Dec-O’s.
I’m going to listen to Marla and try to get used to saying Twenty something. Although somehow it just feels….funny. Maybe because when I was a kid and thought about 2000 it seemed so far, and I’d be SO OLD …..
Though the last decade wasn’t a good one in the big picture–I’m with you Jessica- it was a good one for me—largely because I’m HERE to see the next one. So if you’re reading this, it means the Dec-O’s were good for you too.
Mark Geduldig-Yatrofsky says
We have another year to decide what to call the decade, because, as the man said, “it ain’t over ’til it’s over.” Just like the premature announcement of the end of the millennium in 2000, the decade doesn’t end until the next year ending in “1” (i. e., 2011) begins. For the mathematically challenged, this is because we had no year 0! And I don’t care how many other people agree with me on this: facts are not decided by referendum, and reality, not perception, is the only reality.
Susan @ 2KoP says
I disagree with Mark — perception is everything. You can argue numbers until you’re blue in the face, but to most of us, 2000 felt like a new decade, as does 2010. Calendars themselves are manmade devices designed to help us track time, and have been changed and restarted throughout history, so the “reality” of demarcating the decade on the ones is completely artificial.
Perhaps, like the Chinese, we should start counting at 1 instead of 0, but then I would already be 50, so I think I’ll stick with our Western ways.
Darryle Pollack says
Funny that I just wrote about my issues with numbers today. Susan and Mark, you’re both way over my head.