• JamesTBagg@lemmy.world
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    2 months ago

    Because back in my (our) day Pluto was number, so Planet X worked. Planet VIIII doesn’t look as good.

      • Klear@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        That means “Boy who is not able to satisfactorily explain what a Hrung is, nor why it should choose to collapse on Betelgeuse Seven”. I don’t see how that applies here.

      • Gabu@lemmy.world
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        2 months ago

        VIIII is a valid way to write 9, though antiquated. If you look at very old clocks, you’ll see they all use this notation.

        • swim@slrpnk.net
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          2 months ago

          Didn’t realize homie was an antiquated clock. (Assumed the usage of Roman numerals, like in the references being made, in which case I don’t believe the clumsy VIIII only used on old clocks would really be valid.)

        • Opisek@lemmy.world
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          2 months ago

          The reason clocks use it, is to not make it look visually unbalanced. Most often they write 4 as IIII. I find it infuriating to break such a simple rule though.

          But also, I’ve never ever seen VIIII.

          • Gabu@lemmy.world
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            2 months ago

            Julius Caesar’s memoir of war in Gaul makes use of VIIII, for instance. You’re right that it’s much rarer, but was still used contemporarily and in modern times.