Amusing to Canadians
So I'm doing the switchboard today which I hate because there are so many stupid people that call. Today I got one, which I think won't translate well in type unless you're Canadian.
Caller: "Hi, I'd like the spelling of Sally's last name please"
Me: It's spelled M-A-C-O-I-C-Z
Caller: Zed? What's that? You mean like Z-D?
Me: No...I mean Z..as in the letter Z.
Caller: ...
Me: *sigh* I'm Canadian...we don't say ZEE. We say ZED.
Caller: OH!
ROzbeans
18 years ago
You say ZED? Why?
Xandare
18 years ago
Yeah I talk to people from all over.. I dunno why but they have always said Zed to me too..
Whut's this Zed thing all Aboot Canada, eh?
Whut's this Zed thing all Aboot Canada, eh?
Mileron
18 years ago
I guess they figure Zed is easier than trying to think of something else to phonetically name it.
Viriu
18 years ago
They say zed in the UK too! ...and other Euro countries...
ROzbeans
18 years ago
Crazy euros!
Den
18 years ago
via Wikipedia:
the letter Z, pronounced /zed/ in much of the English-speaking world outside of the United States, where it is pronounced "zee"
the letter Z, pronounced /zed/ in much of the English-speaking world outside of the United States, where it is pronounced "zee"
Mirabela
18 years ago
pronounced z- eh - ta in spanish
Viriu
18 years ago
Course here we are still not on the metric system too....
Mirabela
18 years ago
metric system rules!
Vebran
18 years ago
Actually I think that this is more amusing to Americans, because knowing that you work in Chicago you answered a phone and used the Canadian way of phonetically spelling something out to an American. This kinda reminds me of Farva asking for a liter of cola in Super Troopers.
I'd also be interested in the what exactly makes the metric system so much better. Other than using the "everyone else in the world uses it" rationale.
I'd also be interested in the what exactly makes the metric system so much better. Other than using the "everyone else in the world uses it" rationale.
Cobert
18 years ago
its easier. fractions fucking suck. Reading inches and fractions of inches suck.
Simplicty and ease of use >>
Simplicty and ease of use >>
Cobert
18 years ago
Everyone on ventrilo says I sound Canadian, but I swear I sound like everyone else, aside from the americans with thick southern accents
Vebran
18 years ago
I don't buy that. I would if, for example, tape measures only came in 1 inch increments and didn't tell you what the 3/4 of an inch was.
Also saying that is easier way too subjective. That is like saying that riding a bike is easier than driving a car. There is no real way that you can quantify that.
Elvaiz
its easier. fractions fucking suck. Reading inches and fractions of inches suck.
Simplicty and ease of use >>
I don't buy that. I would if, for example, tape measures only came in 1 inch increments and didn't tell you what the 3/4 of an inch was.
Also saying that is easier way too subjective. That is like saying that riding a bike is easier than driving a car. There is no real way that you can quantify that.
Calimaryn
18 years ago
Having lived in North Dakota for 4 years I heard a lot of Canadian and funky accents. It was cute until Angel picked it up. Of course I then moved her to Tennessee where she began sounding southern. So I dont think I have helped her any. lol
Metric is based on 10. It is logical in a more mathmatical way instead of having to memorize what equals what. It would be easier to teach kids the metric system in schools because it makes sense. Why we have to be different, I dont know.
Metric is based on 10. It is logical in a more mathmatical way instead of having to memorize what equals what. It would be easier to teach kids the metric system in schools because it makes sense. Why we have to be different, I dont know.
Mirabela
18 years ago
10 mm = 1 cm 100 cm = 1 meter 1000m = 1km
vs.
12in=1 ft 3ft = 1 yard 5280 ft = 1 mile
in the former case and conversions it is a matter of sliding the decimal in the latter we have to do some multiplying and divinding for conversions, granted not diificult still something that can not be done in your head as easily as sliding a decimal.
vs.
12in=1 ft 3ft = 1 yard 5280 ft = 1 mile
in the former case and conversions it is a matter of sliding the decimal in the latter we have to do some multiplying and divinding for conversions, granted not diificult still something that can not be done in your head as easily as sliding a decimal.
ROzbeans
18 years ago
No habla.
Mirabela
10 mm = 1 cm 100 cm = 1 meter 1000m = 1km
vs.
12in=1 ft 3ft = 1 yard 5280 ft = 1 mile
in the former case and conversions it is a matter of sliding the decimal in the latter we have to do some multiplying and divinding for conversions, granted not diificult still something that can not be done in your head as easily as sliding a decimal.
No habla.
Cobert
18 years ago
Only now did I just understand why it was so odd for him to ask for a liter of cola.
Vebran
Actually I think that this is more amusing to Americans, because knowing that you work in Chicago you answered a phone and used the Canadian way of phonetically spelling something out to an American. This kinda reminds me of Farva asking for a liter of cola in Super Troopers.
I'd also be interested in the what exactly makes the metric system so much better. Other than using the "everyone else in the world uses it" rationale.
Only now did I just understand why it was so odd for him to ask for a liter of cola.
ROzbeans
18 years ago
Oh now I understand this part in 'Shaun of the dead':
'Any zombies out there?'
'Don't say that.'
'Say what?'
'That. The "zed" word.'
Weirdo euros.
'Any zombies out there?'
'Don't say that.'
'Say what?'
'That. The "zed" word.'
Weirdo euros.
blazyn
18 years ago
they say zed on a spice girls song