Why do Americans do the date differently?

[Chainsaw_Chuck]

I find that it makes more sense when said month/day/year. It dosen't roll off the toung quite as well when said 1 January, 2011 (reading it as First January, 2011), where as saying January 1, 2011 (January First, 2011) sounds better because it implies that January possesses the day in question and makes the sentence flow better. Unless you phrase it as First of January, 2011, then it makes sense. But that's just a humble Canadian's opinion on the subject.

 

[Jewrean]

They enjoy making things feel like their own. They do it with language too. Make minor changes so they can feel like they're not just copying a country most of them see as their own personal ***** nation.

1+

Although it more applies to when the nation was being formed as to differentiate themselves from their British overlords.

I will admit that ordering by M/D/Y actually puts it in order when you order your computer files by name. It's still far more logical to do D/M/Y though.

 

[CiB42]

I dunno. Why do the people doing it the other way do it that way?

Thats how it's said over here- today is "the second of January two thousand and eleven."

I'm in Scotland. It's part of the UK. The UK is the nation that some ignorant people call "England". Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and England are in fact culturally diverse places, and quite often people from one of those places don't like it when you just refer to them as "English" or say "England did" stufff that actually the UK did.)

Last I checked (shoo Sealand) every country past and present wants everyone to see everything their way, and anyone who says they aren't is living in a dream world to make themselves seem more enlightened.

I call bollocks on this statement. I don't believe that any culture is any better than any other. I am well aware that the parts of my culture that I love dearly were the result of many cultures all influencing each other- not people forcing each other to see things their way, but people recognising that they didn't and not having it bother them. This "dream world" to which you refer happens- get your eyes away from the crap parts of the world for a few minutes and you'll see it as well.

You're just mad because England couldn't hold on to it's colonies. Next time bring more soldiers.

I think you meant "UK" not "England", which also explains why you don't know that the next time we brought less soldiers. It went quite well to. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burning_of_Washington)

 

[higgs20]

Maybe it's to bring it in line with (what might be) the most common way Americans say it. "Today is January first, of two thousand eleven."

that's a really good point,I've never though about it before but I'm British and I would always say "today is the 1st of January" presumably since that's how we write it down.

 

[SUPA FRANKY]

I hate to be a follower, but does it really matter all that much?

 

[joemegson94]

The same reason they use z's in their words when they don't need to and mis-spell colour: they're just trying to be different for the sake of it.

Or, it could be a big conspiracy created by the secret reptile government of America. I don't know.

 

[FalloutJack]

Whoa snip!

I know my geography, lad. An Irishman my heritage be. It's just I was born and raised over here in the states. And yeah, the United Kingdom isn't just England. However, by and by, it IS a significant chunk.

 

[rokkolpo]

To be difficult on purpose...I suppose that's the correct answer.

Otherwise they'd go with the metric system aswell.

 

[TomLikesGuitar]

I can't believe this turned into a full-fledged* argument.

Neither way is "better" and you're all a bunch of nationalistic assholes.

*: edited for clarity

 

[MARKMCMARCUS]

I really have no idea, it's something I've wondered my entire life.

 

[thylasos]

Ah, I thought this was about dating. The comment would've largely consisted of a behavioural comparison, in that mostly due to a lack of British reserve the Americans tend not to wait until they're absolutely plastered to confess to their feelings for each other. I reply that getting absolutely plastered is a British tradition, and I won't have it slagged off.

 

[Xojins]

I don't know, why do people in England drive on the wrong side of the road?

 

[ENKC]

I find this system impractical and frustrating whenever I run into it. After all, the day is usually the first priority. It's just much easier to read and write as DD/MM/YYYY.

 

[internetzealot1]

Because that's the order people say it. January 1st, 2010. Month Day Year.

Some of guys are really getting up in arms over this.

 

[duchaked]

honestly...idk

but really kids...don't think too much into it

 

[Tsunimo]

Im pretty sure it is for the same reason we drive on the wrong side of the road, or why we don't use the metric system.
We want everyone to know we are not a colony of the british, we are our own nation.

Yeah... It's a pretty stupid reason.

 

[Aur0ra145]

It's how we say the date, that's why it's ordered that way.

"Mr. Sanderson your doctor's appointment is on January 8, 2011 at 5 pm."

I personally write my date like this 8JAN11, no confusion and very easy/quick to write.

 

[Souplex]

Because it makes sense.
That's how people say dates. For example; you wouldn't say first January, 2010. You would say January first.
The real question is why is the rest of the world wrong?

 

[klaynexas3]

i don't know, we just do, and it's the way i was taught, so i do it too. i don't see harm in doing it differently, so why change?