• JamesTBagg@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      11
      arrow-down
      2
      ·
      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
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          9
          ·
          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
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          4
          arrow-down
          1
          ·
          edit-2
          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
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            6
            ·
            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
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            1
            ·
            edit-2
            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
              link
              fedilink
              arrow-up
              3
              arrow-down
              1
              ·
              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.

    • FenrirIII@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      2 months ago

      I remember that from my childhood! My mother convinced me it was probably a bad science fiction movie