Preface:
I just want to say (to whichever poor soul it is that is actually reading this) that its been a long time since my last post, and I guarantee less time will pass between this and my next.
The 13th Floor:
I live on the 14th floor of my building. No, I don't. But thats what the leasing office says. This is a 15-story building with 16 floors, without a 13th floor that is.
I understand the whole 'superstitious' aspect of not having a 13th floor, and I'm all for it. As I guy, I understand and encourage superstitions (namely with supporting sports teams, but if you really want to group civil engineering with athletics, who am I to stop you?).
However, what I cannot abide with is just skipping an entire number. Little kids in school aren't taught to count from 10 to 15 by going 'ten eleven twelve fourteen fifteen'. Similarly, civil engineers can't just go 'tenth floor eleventh floor twelfth floor fourteenth floor fifteenth floor'. You have to have a thirteenth floor.
As I previously said, I'm all for stereotypes, and as such, am not suggesting to actually put apartment units on a thirteenth floor unless thats what you really want to do.
Instead, what you do need to do is at least build a thirteenth floor instead of just calling the thirteenth floor something else. Make it an inch high. But a thirteenth floor needs to exist before you can build a fourteenth floor on top of it. Thats how math works, thats how civil engineering should work, and I think it'll make everyone happier in the end.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
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