-26
How come we say counterclockwise and not earthwise?
(sh.itjust.works)
A loosely moderated place to ask open-ended questions
Search asklemmy ๐
If your post meets the following criteria, it's welcome here!
Looking for support?
Looking for a community?
~Icon~ ~by~ ~@Double_A@discuss.tchncs.de~
Well, for starters, that depends on which way you're looking at the earth.
OK well then by that logic it depends on which way your looking as a clock. A see-through clock would cause chaos by your logic.
The terms for "clockwise" and "Counterclockwise" originated long before clocks. Clockwise was originally called "Sunwise" and followed the movement of the shadow around a sundial.
Counterclockwise was "widdershins", from a Middle Low German phrase meaning "against the way."
We don't use "earthwise" because from our perspective, the earth doesn't rotate.
Thank you for an actual answer. I really do appreciate it.
You know after thinking about this for a while, it actually just makes me want to call it earthwise more.
And maybe I just have a diffent perspective, but I look up a lot and notice the stars moving while out on walk woth my dogs. Not in real time for anyone trying to start lol. But It's continously in my mind that we're on a spinning rock. And I've played enough NMS to realize that a planet can take perspective from space, but compasses go north and south. And if we're going to debate on which way I would consider which to be right or wrong its moot, because whatever clockwise is earthwise will be opposite. So I just don't get how I'm so wrong.
That's eurocentric. For someone in the south hemisphere the earth actually rotates clockwise.
Yes and people in Australia live upside down
How many see-through clocks do you own? I own none.
Hey so, I just got back from a walk with my dogs and I remembered that I 100% own a see through clock. It also has Roman numerals so it would be extra confusing. It's in storage but when I wake up tomorrow I'll go grab it just to take a picture for this moment.
Behold! The Clock of Chaos![Clock of Chaos](https://sh.itjust.works/pictrs/image/e1e6e189-6952-4a58-95b6-d3798179ac21.webp)
Edit: I held it the correct way so you idiots could realize it's actually a clock
How many maps do you own that focus on the south pole? I own none.
How many maps do you own that focus on the north pole? I own none.
??
Literally every map. The north pole is the focus of the cardinal direction. Are you just being dumb now?
Edit: I meant compass rose. How dumb yall are being is dragging me down with you
he just owns no map mate
I genuinely didn't think that way and just busted out laughing
It probably would actually. Imagine if Big Ben was a transparent circle with clock hands at the top.
Well yeah, but I was trying to get across that we have established rules for how we view the world and it's pretty set in stone that the earth turns in a leftward direction just as much as a clock turns in a rightward one.