#Street names or pubs?
21 messages in this thread
#Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=(none), resolved parent_id points to #(none)
I just read in a book on VRML that "Brits navigate through space not by street
names, as Americans do, but by the names of pubs."
Just wondering if you could verify this? 🙂
— James — Choreo Motion —
#196224-Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=196224, resolved parent_id points to #196224
James:
The reason is that pub signs are much more prominant and more frequent than
street signs — at least in London! IF there is a street sign, instead of
being on a pole at the intersection, it is located on the side of a building,
usually about 15-20' in the air, and covered with black diesel-droppings!<g>
Another reason it's MUCH easier to navigate by landmarks than signs, at least
in London, is that addresses don't really mean much. Perhaps Martin or another
of our British friends can correct me if I'm mistaken, but I believe that
addesses are (or were for a long time) assigned in a sort of chronological
order as businesses/buildings went in, as opposed to the numerical grid method
used in the States. So 15 Charring Cross Rd. may be adjacent to 561 Charring
Cross Rd.
Tube stations are also popularly used as landmarks.
Dave
#196285-#Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=196285, resolved parent_id points to #196285
Pubs signs are more prominent that street signs? Whoa. What a town London
must be!
As for the street numbering system, that's no surprise. It goes right along
with the foolish system of measures they gave us. Of what cosmic significance
are the numbers 16, 12, 3, 1760, and 5280? Good grief! Let's hope ISO 9000
forces America (and everybody else) to go Metric!
— James — Choreo Motion —
#196305-#Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=196305, resolved parent_id points to #196305
So, you're a fan of the metric system, eh? I live in Canada and we have to deal
with the metric system everyday. But the system isn't perfect. Lets face it,
how tall are you? How tall am I? I'm 6 ft tall, or am I 1 meter and some odd
centimeters (70 or something, I don't even know). The foot and inch might be
strange beasts, but they measure lengths that are reasonable. They should have
taken the foot and divided it into 10 instead of 12, that would be a useful
metric system.
– Neil
#196339-#Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=196339, resolved parent_id points to #196339
Hi Neil,
> The foot and inch might be strange beasts, but they measure lengths that are
reasonable. <
Well, you've got me on the height question. But I have grown quite accustomed
to temperature in oC. I wonder if it has more to do with habit than anything
else. I think sometimes we learn one way of doing things, and other ways seem
strange. I think if we had learned metrics from birth, the English measures
would seem quite awkward.
— James — Choreo Motion —
#196427-Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=196427, resolved parent_id points to #196427
James,
I agree, the system is drilled into us from birth, but I think our heights will
remain in Feet for millenia to come. I learned Farenheit first, which is really
funny when everyone around me speaks in Celcius. I've freaked out so many
people telling them its 32 degrees outside when it's really 0 degrees C. 🙂
– Neil
#196305-#Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=196305, resolved parent_id points to #196305
Don't forget there is more to England than just London! (Lord knows a lot of
people here do <g>).
Here in York pub signs are the preferred means of navigation though our streets
are well sign-posted. After all, there is only one "Whip-ma-whop-ma gate" and
the Golden Fleece, the closest pub, isn't quite on it. We're a bit spoilt with
other subtle landmarks such as the Minster, Clifford's Tower and the city wall
so navigation generally isn't too much of a problem.
In terms of numbering I can't really speak for the south, but in the north
numbers tend either to be sequential or follow a "U" shaped pattern (for
example, buildings would be numbered 1 to 10 down the road on the left side,
and numbered 11 to 20 back up the road on the right side so that number 1 is
across the street from number 20). Some do find that a bit off-putting.
>> Of what cosmic significance are the numbers 16, 12, 3, 1760, and
>> 5280? Good grief!
Certainly you must agree that all stones weigh 14 pounds <g>.
Cheers, John
#196401-#Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=196401, resolved parent_id points to #196401
> Certainly you must agree that all stones weigh 14 pounds <g>. <
Yep. Isn't that equal to a half a slug? <g>
— James — Choreo Motion —
#196467-Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=196467, resolved parent_id points to #196467
>> Isn't that equal to a half a slug? <g>
😉
— John
#196401-#Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=196401, resolved parent_id points to #196401
>> Certainly you must agree that all stones weigh 14 pounds <g>. <<
So I guess that 800 "pound" Gorilla really only weighs 57 Stones..<g>
Murph'
#197169-Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=197169, resolved parent_id points to #197169
>> So I guess that 800 "pound" Gorilla really only weighs 57 Stones..<g>
And you all complain that it is a stupid, archaic system! <g>
–John
#196224-#Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=196224, resolved parent_id points to #196224
Jim,
>> Brits navigate …. by the names of pubs. <<
It's probably true – pubs make better landmarks than physical addresses in
England. "Walk down here, turn left at "the Red Lion", right at "the Dickens",
and about 100 yards down the street is "the Patch and Polygon", yer can't miss
it" <g>. I think the pub culture is the thing I miss the most about England,
and the social life in general. To have a great pub within walking distance is
bliss indeed. The one downside is that I've become pretty intolerant of smoke
and most young, pub-going Brits seem to smoke unfortunately and non-smoking
areas in pubs are probably just a twinkle in some activists eye.
DaveR seems to know as much about this as me – and I think he's spot on in many
respects. Churchs in England make great landmarks too, with their tall steeples
or towers they can be seen from quite a distance and used for navigation.
Ah, nostalgia … it ain't what it used to be <g>. I'd love the Brits who still
live in GB to chip in here and give is some more current info – as you may know
I left 10 years ago.
Martin
#196303-Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=196303, resolved parent_id points to #196303
I see. Pubs . . . and churches. I think I'm coming to a whole new
understanding of Brits! 😉
— James — Choreo Motion —
#196303-Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=196303, resolved parent_id points to #196303
>>intolerant of smoke….
Aye, and <to generalize and stereotype> Brits smoke like chimneys! At least, a
great quantity do, especially when sitting in otherwise charming pubs! But
then about half the smokers are drinking Bud long-necks instead of fine ales,
bitters and stouts, too! I should think that this would be enough to get one
exiled, eh? <Not saying that's what happened to _you_, Martin…:)>
Dave
#196619-Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=196619, resolved parent_id points to #196619
David,
>> But then about half the smokers are drinking Bud long-necks instead of fine
ales, bitters and stouts, too! <<
I used to drink German beers mainly and cider (alcoholic variety) when I was in
England. Now in America, I mainly drink English and Dutch beer.
>> I should think that this would be enough to get one exiled, eh? <<
no way! The English can tolerate a little experimentation <g>.
#196303-Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=196303, resolved parent_id points to #196303
Hey Martin,
I think all you yanks (sorry Martin, after 10 years you also
qualify in my books! :>) are pretty spot on.
Pubs, Underground stations and of course..McDonalds!
I personally never leave home without my trusty A-Z!!
Andy Roberts
BITS
#196661-Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=196661, resolved parent_id points to #196661
>>my trusty A-Z
Andy:
They issue those things to each of you at birth, don't they? 🙂
Dave
#196661-Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=196661, resolved parent_id points to #196661
Andy,
>> I think all you yanks (sorry Martin, after 10 years you also
qualify in my books! :>) <<
aargh! Oh no, I'm depressed now. Alien to all cultures 🙁
just kidding <G>
#196224-#Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=196224, resolved parent_id points to #196224
The reason for navigating by Pubs, shops, cinemas etc. is that as an old
country we have honed our perception of our surroundings to the items of
importance.
Roads are named for far away place, old battles and corrupt politicians so they
have little significance. By memorising places of use and true worth we have a
world view which reflects our value system.
And if you believe that then maybe I can interest you in this old bridge we
have lying around.
And another thing STOP calling them _English_ units we have not used them for
_2_ decades plus, it can be a real pain that _American_ software defaults to
them.
bcnu
Grahame
#197204-#Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=197204, resolved parent_id points to #197204
> [pubs] places of use and true worth <
<BG>
> STOP calling them _English_ units <
Huh?! You had 'em first! I suppose you won't take credit for British Thermal
Units either? 🙂 Then again, I suppose your government is now using the
Royal Family Joules. <GD&R>
— James — Choreo Motion —
#197278-Street names or pubs? — declared parent_msg_num=197278, resolved parent_id points to #197278
<<using the Royal Family Joules.>>
"It's a disease! He just can't help himself! We've tried, oh, Lord, how we've
tried! But the doctors say it's incurable, and he
just_won't_take_his_medication!"
<BG>
SCL