Falsehoods Programmers Believe About Weather
falsehoods programming · 8 comments · 300 words · Viewed ~203 times.
(Mostly written in response to this issue on the Awesome Falsehoods list)
For those new to the format, there is a popular meme about things which computer programmers erroneously believe. This isn't intended to shame anyone - just to point out things which may not be immediately obvious to the neophyte.
There's nothing us Brits love more than moaning talking about the weather. And, just as Inuit speakers have hundreds of words for snow, so English speakers have hundreds of words for rain.
What's cold for you is not cold for me
I've visited countries where I was sweating as soon as I stepped off the plane while the locals were dressed in layers and shivering.
Similarly, I'm sure you've visited a blustery northern English town at night and worried that the hoards of teenagers on the lash are going to catch a chill.
It doesn't always snow at Christmas
A few years ago, I had the delightful experience of enjoying Xmas in the southern hemisphere. The weather was blazing hot - and several stores had artificial snow in the windows for a "festive" look.
There are plenty of calendars which have snowy motifs for December, even on the side of the planet where the Moon is upside down.
℃ ℉ °K
Perhaps the most obvious one. 100° may either be delightfully warm or fatal, depending on what system you use.
There are, of course, many different temperature scales. I recommend Hasok Chang's Inventing Temperature for more information.
And more?
Feel free to add your favourites in the comment box.
Ryan says:
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