SB: Rule of Thumb

[Hank Carr <hank@dna.ca>]

From: Commentary: Domestic Violence, Folk Etymologies, & "Rule of Thumb"

Jennifer Freyd and JQ Johnson
University of Oregon

Copyright, 1998, Jennifer J. Freyd, jjf@dynamic.uoregon.edu

"The Oxford English Dictionary indicates that the phrase has been used
for about 300 years to refer to measurements that are based on
experience instead of exact science."

"We caution readers to use restraint in judging others harshly for
either their use of the phrase "rule of thumb" or for their pain in
hearing the phrase used and believing it refers to domestic violence.
Keep in mind that folk etymologies are very often incorrect, and
deriding people for a false belief in this area serves little purpose.
Most importantly, the problem of domestic violence is truly severe, and
our energy is best spent on understanding and preventing domestic
violence."

Please see: http://dynamic.uoregon.edu/~jjf/essays/ruleofthumb.html for
the full essay.

Hank.

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