Are you “Team Zero” or “Team One?”

[Rajun Gardener]

When does the new decade start?

Does January 1st start a new decade or does it start January 1st 2021?

"Many argue there was no year “0,” so naturally the new decade starts 2021. Experts at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) say it’s a matter of how you look at it.

NIST, based in Maryland, measures time, specifically the second, and is the official source of time of day. They say they don’t have an official position on the debate, but still offer some scientific input.

“We can point out that the term decade refers to any ten-year period. Culturally, people have referred to a decade as a period starting with a 0 and ending with a 9 (1970-1979),” NIST stated. “That said, if someone counted the number of decades on the modern calendar, it could make sense to start at year 1 and say that 1991 started the 200th decade.”" https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/decade.html

I'm on Team "0". If you start a stopwatch, the time doesn't start on 1, it starts at "0".

[jmsieglaff]

Ha! My wife and I talked about this last night. Definitely team zero. We refer to the 90s or roaring 20s, so to me it is X0-X9.

[worth1]

We would have to go back to the big bang to settle the argument.
But whenever time started it started at 0 which wasn't thought of when time started.
The numeral 0 is a relatively new idea in mathematical numbers.
Used and or invented twice they know of in the history of man.
But has always been here we just didn't know it.

In my opinion from what I just said the new decade starts now at 0 and ends at the end of the last second of 2029 at the stroke of midnight in your area.
But that isn't even accurate, thus the reason for leap year of which we have this year and the reason Christmas is on Friday not Thursday next year.

[arnorrian]

I prefer Ab urbe condita years, so happy new 2773!

[bower]

Team Zero, without a doubt. Keep it simple!

[mikestuff49]

When does the new decade start?

Does January 1st start a new decade or does it start January 1st 2021?

"Many argue there was no year “0,” so naturally the new decade starts 2021. Experts at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) say it’s a matter of how you look at it.

NIST, based in Maryland, measures time, specifically the second, and is the official source of time of day. They say they don’t have an official position on the debate, but still offer some scientific input.

“We can point out that the term decade refers to any ten-year period. Culturally, people have referred to a decade as a period starting with a 0 and ending with a 9 (1970-1979),” NIST stated. “That said, if someone counted the number of decades on the modern calendar, it could make sense to start at year 1 and say that 1991 started the 200th decade.”" https://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/decade.html

I'm on Team "0". If you start a stopwatch, the time doesn't start on 1, it starts at "0".

This makes my head hurt

[Rockandrollin]

My thinking aligns with team 0, but I'm not wild about the name....

My opinion is that 1/1/10 started year 1 and 12/31/19 ended year 10.

It would be intriguing to hear from a team 1 person.

[Nan6b]

The math works out to favor the "ones" but the "zero" feels better to me. I use the Zero but know that the One is technically right.

[arnorrian]

When we conclude this we can move to how many continents there are.

[Rajun Gardener]

I don't think we can solve that but it would be fun to see the responses and reasoning.

[Spike]

When does the new decade start?

Does January 1st start a new decade or does it start January 1st 2021?

WOW! I only know that it is Wed cause it is a holiday. To deep for me!

[Paulf]

I go with the second from the last digit as the definition of the decade. Not 2019+1 but 2020.

[Shule]

I'm of the opinion that the new decade starts today.

[Shule]

There are ten years in a decade, and decades are referenced by such as the 80's. So, it makes sense. 1990 shouldn't be in the 80's, IMO, simply because there is no 8 in it.

[Shule]

I think the fact that there is no year zero has no relevance on what decade it is, because a decade is pretty much a relative concept anyway (relative to our thinking/usage). We're already using it one way. Why change it? The only thing set in stone is the ten years.

[Tormahto]

I'm on any team, even current team 5779.

[goodloe]

I figure that since the 3rd number in "2020" is "2", then it's a new decade...