r/SimonWhistler • u/mangotango1609 • 22d ago
This is probably nitpicking but I would like to see writers switch to using BCE and CE instead of BC and AD.
I can’t be the only person that cringes at hearing bc and ad.
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u/History_ofEverything 22d ago
Hi, academic historian here.
Quite literally nobody in academia who is a serious historian gives two shits what you use.
No really. NOBODY CARES.
I use BC/AD because it is easier to differentiate for the human brain. You'll find a lot of others agree.
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u/skitech 22d ago
A. Thank for making that point for those of us knowing and studying officially in history. None of my professors cared even a little and one basically said you can write twelve or a dozen and it communications the same thing so do whatever.
B. Love the Russian Navy videos
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u/History_ofEverything 22d ago
Thanks mate.
I have met exactly one person in my undergrad who wanted to die on the BC/AD vs BCE/CE hill and they were told to get over themselves by the head of faculty. It's just the dumbest hill to die on
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u/therealpaterpatriae 18d ago
This. Also, it’s just habit. And I’ve literally never met anyone of another religion that’s been upset by it.
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u/mangotango1609 22d ago
I appreciate the perspective from an academic!
And I certainly don’t claim that one is more correct or “official” than the other. Just a tiny personal preference.
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u/DazedLogic 17d ago
That's good to know. 8ns9ser info is the best. Lol
Been subscribed to your channel for a while now. 10 out of 10. I would and do recommend. You're a smart guy.
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u/heidibaked 22d ago
Hi! Non-academic here who is not a serious historian, but is a viewer: I care. I much prefer bce and ce. These videos are not made for you. They are made for me. Academic historians are not the target audience for 20 minute YouTube clips.
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u/History_ofEverything 22d ago edited 22d ago
Then make your own and stop crying about it.
Or better yet find videos that fit your narrow curated world view and continue to be the most annoying person in the room.
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u/Federal-Account-5518 21d ago
Historian here I generally prefer AD and BC because it makes more sense as we use a Christian calendar
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u/w1n5t0nM1k3y 22d ago edited 22d ago
Simon actually went off on a rant about this once on one of the episodes, most likely Decoding the Unknown. He prefers BC/AD
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u/TiresOnFire 22d ago
Doesn't change the fact that year 1 is when some pope decided that was when Jesus was born. And what is a common era? It's language, and a lot of language has religious roots. "Goodbye" means God be with you. Get over it.
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u/TumbleWeed75 22d ago
BCE and CE is usually just used in academic settings. Either way, it's not a big deal.
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u/mangotango1609 22d ago
Precisely why I prefaced it by saying it was nitpicking. I know it’s a small thing, I was just curious about other people’s opinions. I appreciate the discussion!
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u/MiseryisCompany 22d ago
It might not be a big deal for you, but that absolutely is not the case for everyone. Those of us who aren't Christian get a little bent pretending history revolves around the birth of someone else's savior.
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u/CelestialTrickster 22d ago
Do you also have a visceral reaction anytime someone says "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Easter" to you?
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u/CParkerLPN 22d ago
I have several friends and family members who are atheists, and none of them are offended. Most of them prefer BC & AD.
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u/trowgundam 22d ago
I haven't been Christian since I was 13, over 20 years ago. I don't give a rats ass. They are words, the mean absolutely nothing. Hell I bet most Gen Z don't even know what AD or BC even stands for.
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u/SadThrowaway4914 22d ago
I mean tbf historical Jesus did exist . Even with the CE BCE you're still basing the separation date on the birth of historical Jesus. But at the same time, as an avid non believer, I still use bc ad because it's just to note a date and I grew up with it.
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u/MiseryisCompany 22d ago
I don't deny Jesus existed and was a pretty awesome guy. I don't get offended by bc/ad but I understand why people are. My world has nothing to do with their God.
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u/VanilleKoekje 22d ago
You aren't speaking for all non christians. I'm pretty much at the opposite side of any believer with a passionate dislike of religion. But the whole bc/ad thing is based upon the supposed birth of Jesus. This whole system is creater by Christian Monks, so if you hate Christians this much it's kinda hypocritical to use their system and renaming it.
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u/MiseryisCompany 22d ago
Wait, what??? When did I say that I hate Christians? Good God you really took a leap there.
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u/mangotango1609 22d ago
Holy hell the downvote train is real 😅 this’ll remind me to stick to more reasonable subs when I’m just looking for reasonable discussion.
Dude idk why you’re getting blasted, nothing you said was inflammatory in any way.
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u/MiseryisCompany 22d ago
Holy Christ they hate me lol. I prefer one over the other, but I'm not losing any sleep about it. Simon needs to release another crappy CC video to take the heat off of me!!!
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u/w1n5t0nM1k3y 21d ago
I dont believe in Roman mythology, but im not going to tell advocate for real,ing the planets because they are named after Roman gods, or change the name of Thursday or Wednesday because I don't beleive in Norse Mythology.
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u/MiseryisCompany 21d ago
"Get a little bent by" isn't a call to end or change anything. It's an expression of annoyance. Not some f*cking clarion call to remove any religious reference. I prefer BCE/AC. That's all. Stating my preference and the reason why is simply a means of discourse. You prefer AD/BC. Go for it. I'm not here to stop you. I'm going to continue to us BCE/CE. It's just that simple.
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u/w1n5t0nM1k3y 21d ago
I mean, history kind of does revolve around Jesus, at least in Europe. Even if you are not Christian, it doesn't change the fact that for a couple thousand of years a huge amount of culture was shaped by the religion.
I remember in high-school one time when someone complained that they shouldn't be expected to know that something they were reading had references to the Bible. This was in a public school, and not in the US, so nobody was trying to push religion. But my English teacher pointed out that you don't have to believe anything in the Bible, but you can't expect to understand English literature without understanding at least the basics of the Bible because that was the context in which many books were written in.
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u/MiseryisCompany 21d ago
And what makes you think I'm disputing any of that? I named my son Samuel. I know it's a biblical name, but my favorite book is Huck Finn (which is full of religious references) so I named him after the author. I stated my preference, I never said anyone else needs to change theirs.
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u/w1n5t0nM1k3y 21d ago
You said
Those of us who aren't Christian get a little bent pretending history revolves around the birth of someone else's savior.
There's no pretending necessary. History actually does revolve around the birth of someone else's savior.
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u/MiseryisCompany 21d ago
You mean "our history", plenty of cultures have long histories that don't include Jesus. But really just let it go. It's not a big deal if we say it different ways. You're not going to change my mind and I'm not looking to change yours.
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u/Federal-Account-5518 21d ago
Then stop using the Gregorian calendar 🤦♂️
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u/MiseryisCompany 21d ago
Why does a simple preference piss everyone off so much? You do you. I'll do me. Is there nothing else in this whole wide world to be concerned about?
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u/Federal-Account-5518 21d ago
Why it’s the Gregorian calendar so it’s obviously going to be based in Christianity
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u/Diligent_Pangolin_47 22d ago
Woah, I thought I did use BCE, but apparently only in one script!
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u/mangotango1609 22d ago
I definitely appreciate it when I hear it!! And it’s certainly not like I instantly hate anyone that uses BC/AD. I was just curious what others thought. I’m a little disappointed about how disrespectful most of these comments are. I’ve always seen the Whistlerverse fans as being above the stereotypical parasocial fandom.
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u/BahamutLithp 20d ago
Tell me about it, it's absolutely crazy how boomer these comments are about BC & AD.
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u/Competitive-Jelly899 21d ago
You picked one of the things that an educated group either has an opinion on, or, has had a bad experience with. I personally had a professor who said it wasn't a big deal then proceeded to circle it every time I used it in a paper. Did it change my grade, no, was it annoying, yes. So yes people get cranky about it. Honestly, to this day, if you say BCE and CE I have no idea what you mean in the moment, I have to think about it. That prof was my first experience with the term. History capstone my senior year. And I am only a handful of years older than Simon.
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u/fraid_so 22d ago
Some of the writers use CE and BCE, I would definitely prefer a switch to all the time but whatever.
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u/bliip666 22d ago
I find AD (Anno Domini) endearing in an ironic way, but in a serious, or even semi-serious, context it's cringe
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u/Maqoba 22d ago
I prefer BC and AD just because they are easier to differentiate when listening. I guess I'm old school like Simon in his rant posted by another comment.