Comments on: Rules of Thumb website http://boingboing.net/2008/01/08/rules-of-thumb-websi.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:41:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: vanderleun http://boingboing.net/2008/01/08/rules-of-thumb-websi.html#comment-102404 vanderleun Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-102404 Super site. Just super. I was Tom Parker's editor for his three books of Rules of Thumb back in the 80s and I'm glad to see they made it to the web and, I hope, will thrive there. For the record, there were indeed three books: Rules of Thumb Rules of Thumb II and Never Trust a Calm Dog All super titles that are worth the money if you can hunt them down and find them today. Super site. Just super. I was Tom Parker’s editor for his three books of Rules of Thumb back in the 80s and I’m glad to see they made it to the web and, I hope, will thrive there.

For the record, there were indeed three books:
Rules of Thumb
Rules of Thumb II
and
Never Trust a Calm Dog

All super titles that are worth the money if you can hunt them down and find them today.

]]> By: help i cant comfirm my username themelonbread http://boingboing.net/2008/01/08/rules-of-thumb-websi.html#comment-102406 help i cant comfirm my username themelonbread Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-102406 The only reason why I wanted to comment on this was the folk-etymology of the term, but I guess that another reader of straight dope's got it covered :). The only reason why I wanted to comment on this was the folk-etymology of the term, but I guess that another reader of straight dope’s got it covered :).

]]> By: Mark Frauenfelder http://boingboing.net/2008/01/08/rules-of-thumb-websi.html#comment-102442 Mark Frauenfelder Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-102442 That you, boswell? That you, boswell?

]]> By: slightly ridiculous http://boingboing.net/2008/01/08/rules-of-thumb-websi.html#comment-102450 slightly ridiculous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-102450 Really enjoyed this in print when I discovered it in the early 90's. This looks fun! Really enjoyed this in print when I discovered it in the early 90′s. This looks fun!

]]> By: slightly ridiculous http://boingboing.net/2008/01/08/rules-of-thumb-websi.html#comment-102452 slightly ridiculous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-102452 Really enjoyed this in print when I discovered it in the early 90's. This looks fun! Really enjoyed this in print when I discovered it in the early 90′s. This looks fun!

]]> By: Jeff http://boingboing.net/2008/01/08/rules-of-thumb-websi.html#comment-102264 Jeff Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-102264 It seems interesting. I'd like to partake, just to see what kind of rules emerge. Rules of thumb should tap into core experiences, I would think. How does giving someone a good rating end up rating me? Woofie for your rules? It seems interesting. I’d like to partake, just to see what kind of rules emerge. Rules of thumb should tap into core experiences, I would think. How does giving someone a good rating end up rating me? Woofie for your rules?

]]> By: fastveg http://boingboing.net/2008/01/08/rules-of-thumb-websi.html#comment-102274 fastveg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-102274 See "The Bookdock Saints" for the etymology of the phrase "Rule of Thumb." See “The Bookdock Saints” for the etymology of the phrase “Rule of Thumb.”

]]> By: fastveg http://boingboing.net/2008/01/08/rules-of-thumb-websi.html#comment-102282 fastveg Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-102282 The Boondock Saints, even. ;) The Boondock Saints, even. ;)

]]> By: Gemma http://boingboing.net/2008/01/08/rules-of-thumb-websi.html#comment-102313 Gemma Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-102313 Or you could check The Straight Dope who debunk the above etymology: http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000512.html Or you could check The Straight Dope who debunk the above etymology:
http://www.straightdope.com/columns/000512.html

]]> By: simplehuman http://boingboing.net/2008/01/08/rules-of-thumb-websi.html#comment-102315 simplehuman Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-102315 Actually the whole "stick you can beat your wife with" explanation mainly a myth. Seems it comes from fencing, not spousal abuse. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thumb#Origin_of_the_phrase Interesting idea for a site. Actually the whole “stick you can beat your wife with” explanation mainly a myth. Seems it comes from fencing, not spousal abuse.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_thumb#Origin_of_the_phrase

Interesting idea for a site.

]]> By: O3 http://boingboing.net/2008/01/08/rules-of-thumb-websi.html#comment-102351 O3 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-102351 No no, only the earliest citation comes, by chance, from a fencing book. The idiom is in no way fencing-related. I wondered how quickly this site would spur an etymological debate! :) No no, only the earliest citation comes, by chance, from a fencing book. The idiom is in no way fencing-related.

I wondered how quickly this site would spur an etymological debate! :)

]]> By: Tom http://boingboing.net/2008/01/08/rules-of-thumb-websi.html#comment-102373 Tom Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-102373 Perusing the links, there is no debate. The facts are: 1) There are in fact legal citations indicating that a husband might at one time have been permitted to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb. 2) This fact has nothing to do with the phrase "rule of thumb", and no citation from the legal literature has ever been brought forward that refers to the fact 1) above as a "rule of thumb". 3) Anyone who has worked in carpentry has used their thumb as a (rough) measure at one time or another. This is a plausible but unproven alternative etymology, so we can't just accept the legal story by default due to lack of plausible alternatives. The weird thing is that people think affirming or denying the existence of a legal standard allowing a husband to beat his wife is by itself sufficient to justify their beliefs about the etymology of "rule of thumb", whereas what matters is whether or not anyone can find a reference to such a legal standard being called a "rule of thumb." Thus far, they cannot. Perusing the links, there is no debate. The facts are:

1) There are in fact legal citations indicating that a husband might at one time have been permitted to beat his wife with a stick no thicker than his thumb.

2) This fact has nothing to do with the phrase “rule of thumb”, and no citation from the legal literature has ever been brought forward that refers to the fact 1) above as a “rule of thumb”.

3) Anyone who has worked in carpentry has used their thumb as a (rough) measure at one time or another. This is a plausible but unproven alternative etymology, so we can’t just accept the legal story by default due to lack of plausible alternatives.

The weird thing is that people think affirming or denying the existence of a legal standard allowing a husband to beat his wife is by itself sufficient to justify their beliefs about the etymology of “rule of thumb”, whereas what matters is whether or not anyone can find a reference to such a legal standard being called a “rule of thumb.” Thus far, they cannot.

]]> By: jessamyn http://boingboing.net/2008/01/08/rules-of-thumb-websi.html#comment-102383 jessamyn Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-102383 This is great news. I have loved the book and its illustrations since I was a kid. I'm curious of the weeding really will improve value as opposed to "interestingness" which may be a different metric. This is great news. I have loved the book and its illustrations since I was a kid. I’m curious of the weeding really will improve value as opposed to “interestingness” which may be a different metric.

]]> By: Stacyj http://boingboing.net/2008/01/08/rules-of-thumb-websi.html#comment-102650 Stacyj Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-102650 Very neat idea for a site, although I do wish there were a way to read what you want (from the 'Main Rules Collecion') in a single-column format rather than having it share the screen with that other 'New Rules Pending' column. The rules are brief enough that it doesn't get -too- annoying or require too much scrolling, but it still looks a little more cluttered than is really necessary, to me. Regardless, though, it's a cool site and my day has just been made by discovering the following tidbit of information: "There are approximately 250 mice to the gallon." If THAT won't come in handy I don't know what will! Very neat idea for a site, although I do wish there were a way to read what you want (from the ‘Main Rules Collecion’) in a single-column format rather than having it share the screen with that other ‘New Rules Pending’ column. The rules are brief enough that it doesn’t get -too- annoying or require too much scrolling, but it still looks a little more cluttered than is really necessary, to me.

Regardless, though, it’s a cool site and my day has just been made by discovering the following tidbit of information: “There are approximately 250 mice to the gallon.”

If THAT won’t come in handy I don’t know what will!

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