Stop using B.C.E. and C.E. you cretins!

[Winner]

Nobody who regularly reads this forum will mistake me for a Christian, but I absolutely can't stand this B.C.E./C.E. crap. If people really want a secular calendar then they should make one. Move the 0 date to something of secular significance like the moon landing or the invention of the printing press, but don't ******** me by using the Christian date with a new label hastily scrawled on it with a permanent marker.

Agreed. Our calendar is based on a Christian reckoning, it's a fact and using a different abbreviation doesn't change that. Deal with it, people.

EDIT1: Fun fact: in Czech, we say "před naším letopočtem", abbreviated p.n.l. and "našeho letopočtu", n.l., both written after the date. It means literally "before our year-count" and "of our year-count". "Před Kristem" (before Christ) and "Po Kristu" (after Christ) is commonly used in spoken language alongside it.

EDIT2: As for moving the year zero - that would never stick. What benefit would there be in having to learn all historical dates all over again, reprinting textbooks, etc., aside from making a moot point?

EDIT3: I'd much rather move the official start of a new calendar year. I mean, why is it in the middle of winter, splitting it between two years? It makes no sense. A new year should start on the 1st of March.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Nah, I'm too used to it to change it.

This is why the United States still use the english system of units.

 

[Dachs]

I kind of like calling BCE/CE the Christian Era, not the Common Era. It fits in better with other era naming systems (the Seleukid Era, the Saka Era, the Vikrama Era, the Buddhist Era, the Republican Era).

I don't really care which name is used, but I strongly oppose the idea of switching to another calendar.

 

[bhsup]

Actually, I wouldn't be opposed to a calender with July 4, 1776 as the starting point. Kinda suspect the rest of the world might be opposed to it, though.

 

[Antilogic]

Actually, I wouldn't be opposed to a calender with July 4, 1776 as the starting point. Kinda suspect the rest of the world might be opposed to it, though.

But you are skipping the siege of Boston!

Date of ratification of the US constitution in 1789 is an excellent if more obscure reference point.

 

[bhsup]

How about August 10th, 1821? (I'll be impressed if you get that one)

EDIT: @Leoreth. Hey, at least we don't weigh people in stones!

 

[Leoreth]

Actually, I wouldn't be opposed to a calender with July 4, 1776 as the starting point. Kinda suspect the rest of the world might be opposed to it, though.

When has the opinion of the rest of the world ever stopped you from using silly systems of measurement?

 

[Dachs]

How about August 10th, 1821? (I'll be impressed if you get that one)

I used to live there.

Potentially even better: December 16, 1811.

 

[bhsup]

That's um...massively obcsure, Dachs! I had to look that up. Yeah, the moment I saw what it referenced I got it, but I sure didn't have that date memorized.

 

[Archbob]

This is why the United States still use the english system of units.

But there's a benefit to changing to metric(it makes more sense and is easier because of powers of ten), there's no benefit of changing the year 0.

 

[hobbsyoyo]

But there's a benefit to changing to metric(it makes more sense and is easier because of powers of ten), there's no benefit of changing the year 0.

Oh I'm with you 100%! I'm just saying it is the exact same reasoning is all.

 

[Oruc]

Nope!

 

[Angst]

I've said it before, but I'll say it again.

We should use ABY and BBY for our dating.

srsly most ridiculous thing in star wars lore

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

I'm just surprised how purple the OP was at two letters. Don't really care either way, I understand what both means.

 

[warpus]

If humanity ever unites politically - that would be a perfect time to reset the calendar to 0.

Picking another arbitrary date to be the new year 0? Nah, that's silly. Let's do it when humanity reaches some sort of milestone.. Nothing that's happened in the past. Something that changes us to an extent that it'd warrant calling it a new "age" and a new calendar

 

[hobbsyoyo]

If humanity ever unites politically - that would be a perfect time to reset the calendar to 0.

Picking another arbitrary date to be the new year 0? Nah, that's silly. Let's do it when humanity reaches some sort of milestone.. Nothing that's happened in the past. Something that changes us to an extent that it'd warrant calling it a new "age" and a new calendar

So opening the solar system up for exploration, exploitation and eventual colonization doesn't count as a new age?

 

[Archbob]

We need an evil alien overlord to come and oppress us and demand sexual favors from everyone. Then when we drive him out and win independence, that can be year 0.

 

[Borachio]

How about the Modern Olympic Era?

 

[hobbsyoyo]

We need an evil alien overlord to come and oppress us and demand sexual favors from everyone. Then when we drive him out and win independence, that can be year 0.

I'm sorry, why would we want to drive out such an overlord?

How about the Modern Olympic Era?

Hey that's a really good idea too.

 

[El_Machinae]

I'll switch once we have the big bang nailed down. Till then, I prefer the common era system