Is it a mistake to focus on social distancing of 2m?

Super Steve Earle · Mar 23, 2020

I'm in my 60's and feet and inches still comes to me more naturally than metres. This morning in the supermarket, I was trying to keep away from the elderly guy behind me in the checkout queue, but he kept closing the gap. Eventually, I jokily told him I was trying to keep my distance and he said 'what is 2m? I don't know - is it 3ft or 4ft?'. I seriously think this is an issue that anyone under maybe 55 will not understand. Everytime they say 2m, I think it would help if they added 6ft (as a round figure) for older folks.

Goring-by-Seagull · Mar 23, 2020

Sorry but surely most people know that 1m = ~3ft?

m@goo · Mar 23, 2020

1m on average is the span of your arms held out shoulder height.

Yoda · Mar 23, 2020

A harsh(ish) one I saw on Facebook was the length of a coffin.

Triggaaar · Mar 23, 2020

Yoda said:
A harsh(ish) one I saw on Facebook was the length of a coffin.

You say harsh, but we are trying to remind people what's at stake here. I think coffin length is a great guide.

spongy · Mar 23, 2020

m@goo said:
1m on average is the span of your arms held out shoulder height.

It's not your arm span, that's near enough your height. A metre is roughly from an outstretched hand to the opposite shoulder.

Like Usain Bolts pose, from the end of his hand to the other shoulder. That's how we used to measure lengths when data cabling. Not exact but not far off if your 5'10" ish.

matumaini · Mar 23, 2020

Goring-by-Seagull said:
Sorry but surely most people know that 1m = ~3ft?

Judging by the demonstration of people not listening to guidance over the weekend - nah[emoji34]

Sent from my Power using Tapatalk

Super Steve Earle · Mar 23, 2020

Plooks said:
**** me, seriously!? The meter has been around since the 1700s! The most recent definition was in the 1980s. Honestly astounded people have such a piss poor grasp of basics.

Over 300 years and you can't even spell it - that's what I call a really piss poor grasp of basics!

GREASED WEASEL · Mar 23, 2020

Plooks said:
**** me, seriously!? The meter has been around since the 1700s! The most recent definition was in the 1980s. Honestly astounded people have such a piss poor grasp of basics.

really,depends how old you are I suppose

youngsters really wouldn't understand old money though would they

I still use the imperial system for measurements and weight and I'm only in my late 50's

m@goo · Mar 23, 2020

spongy said:
It's not your arm span, that's near enough your height. A metre is roughly from an outstretched hand to the opposite shoulder.

Like Usain Bolts pose, from the end of his hand to the other shoulder. That's how we used to measure lengths when data cabling. Not exact but not far off if your 5'10" ish.

Knew it was something like that. My version is safer

spongy · Mar 23, 2020

m@goo said:
Knew it was something like that. My version is safer

It is yes, the further the better! It was the pedant in me that made me comment

GREASED WEASEL · Mar 23, 2020

Plooks said:
No they probably wouldn't you are right. The difference being that one is how we measure things today and have done for decades, the other is a monetary system that has not been used for decades. One is history, the other isn't.

well I'm 5ft 9in and weigh 11 stone 2lb

what that is in metric I have know idea

drew · Mar 23, 2020

Goring-by-Seagull said:
Sorry but surely most people know that 1m = ~3ft?

1m = 3' 3". Thought everyone knew that. Just get a 6'6" friend who's had covid-19 and get them to lie on the floor between you and anyone you see.

Blue Valkyrie · Mar 23, 2020

Triggaaar said:
You say harsh, but we are trying to remind people what's at stake here. I think coffin length is a great guide.

While they are at it, they should always refer to the virus as 'the killer virus'.

Triggaaar · Mar 23, 2020

Blue Valkyrie said:
While they are at it, they should always refer to the virus as 'the killer virus'.

Or in Trump's case, the 'Chinese killer virus'

Thunder Bolt · Mar 23, 2020

Super Steve Earle said:
I'm in my 60's and feet and inches still comes to me more naturally than metres. This morning in the supermarket, I was trying to keep away from the elderly guy behind me in the checkout queue, but he kept closing the gap. Eventually, I jokily told him I was trying to keep my distance and he said 'what is 2m? I don't know - is it 3ft or 4ft?'. I seriously think this is an issue that anyone under maybe 55 will not understand. Everytime they say 2m, I think it would help if they added 6ft (as a round figure) for older folks.

Aged 71 I know it’s a bit longer than a yard.

Hove Lagoonery · Mar 24, 2020

Thunder Bolt said:
Aged 71 I know it’s a bit longer than a yard.

A metre measures three foot three
It's longer than a yard you see.

marlowe · Mar 24, 2020

On one programme a couple of days ago, I think it was a local news programme they tried to be helpful by describing it as the length of Peter Crouch lying on the floor which I thought was a strange example to use given that most people have only seen Crouch on the tv so wouldn't be able to make that accurate a comparison. There are also those who wouldn't have a clue who Peter Crouch was.
Surely it's better to simply say 2m or 6ft as I doubt the additional six inches are going to make much difference.

Me and my Monkey · Mar 24, 2020

drew said:
1m = 3' 3". Thought everyone knew that. Just get a 6'6" friend who's had covid-19 and get them to lie on the floor between you and anyone you see.

In or out of coffin?

drew · Mar 24, 2020

Me and my Monkey said:
In or out of coffin?

If rigour mortis has set in then outside. Otherwise, if using a coffin, the friend can be a bit shorter depending on thickness of the wood!!

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