• swim
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    2225 days ago

    Uh, you mean “IX”?

    • @Klear@lemmy.world
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      925 days 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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      25 days 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
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        625 days 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.)

        • @Gabu@lemmy.world
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          125 days ago

          VIIII wasn’t exclusive to clocks, that’s the only long-lasting example we still have access to.

          • swim
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            25 days ago

            Your point is that VIIII was ever used in history? Happily conceded.

      • @Opisek@lemmy.world
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        24 days 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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          224 days 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.