• @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    286 months ago

    It’s the language we use.

    The right way is to say “30th presidential administration” not “30th president”

    When you leave office the administration ends. Doesn’t matter if that takes one term or two, or for FDR even more.

    If that same person wins election after a gap, it’s the same president, but a different administration.

    • @[email protected]OP
      link
      fedilink
      English
      66 months ago

      That’s not even accurate either, since most if not all presidents have made changes to Cabinet officials and other key positions after being reelected.

        • @[email protected]OP
          link
          fedilink
          English
          5
          edit-2
          6 months ago

          Nope, but that’s a false analogy since the only part of the presidential “car” that’s always the same in the second (or third or fourth) term is the driver.

          Some presidents have replaced what amounts to most of the motor and the body for their subsequent terms, making it the second car for that driver but not a different driver.

          • @[email protected]
            link
            fedilink
            English
            86 months ago

            You’re treating this like an argument, so I don’t see any point in trying to help you with this or anything else.

            • @[email protected]OP
              link
              fedilink
              English
              6
              edit-2
              6 months ago

              All you’ve done is try to argue that it makes perfect sense using false logic. If you think that’s you somehow “helping me” and not an argument, I agree that there’s no point in continuing.

              Disagreement ≠ lack of knowledge or understanding.

        • @Anyolduser
          link
          English
          16 months ago

          Probably not related, but I tell people I got a new car when it was definitely certified pre-owned.

      • @[email protected]
        link
        fedilink
        English
        76 months ago

        The joy of language…

        If something sounds stupid and doesn’t make sense how we use it, chances are because at some point everyone just shortened something because “everyone knows what I’m talking about”.

        Like, I’m sure there’s already kids that don’t know what LOL actually stands for, just that it means something is funny.

        Etc and e.g. are already there.

        No one does it better than the Brits tho. Cockney rhyming slang is just the most etymological fascinating shit ever. Like half the words in a sentence sound like random gibberish, but that’s the entire point of it.

        They do it because they don’t want anyone to know what they’re talking about, unless they already know what they’re talking about.

        At the end of the day, words just represent what we agree they represent.

        But especially in English, that rarely makes logical sense when just looking at present usage.

        • @[email protected]
          link
          fedilink
          English
          26 months ago

          Like, I’m sure there’s already kids that don’t know what LOL actually stands for

          I don’t even play it and I know that stands for League of Legends. Sheesh!

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    136 months ago

    Dang you better resolve this one quickly as 45 prepares to become 47.

    But you’re right, that’s just one president twice.

    • @[email protected]OP
      link
      fedilink
      English
      66 months ago

      I’ve long since given up on the powers that be ever listening to sense on this one, but that doesn’t mean I don’t reserve the right to grumpily complain every time someone perpetuates it in my presence 🤷

  • @[email protected]
    link
    fedilink
    English
    76 months ago

    I think term years also applies here. #45’s term was 2017-2021, if he…god forbid wins again #47’s term years are 2025-2028.

    • @[email protected]OP
      link
      fedilink
      English
      36 months ago

      Nope, he was #44 and if Biden fucks it up, he’ll still be the 44th president.

      If it was once per term, Obama would be counted twice as well and FDR would be counted as FOUR presidents.

    • @[email protected]OP
      link
      fedilink
      English
      26 months ago

      I care about logic and things making sense.

      Hundreds of millions of people perpetuating the same obvious mistake and even DEFENDING it using spurious arguments is how things such as the filibuster, carceral slavery, and Donald Trump are still inflicted on the world.