BS: Why are plates normally round?

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Bert
Date: 12 May 11 - 03:45 PM

...Sorry, Alan, if a joke has to be explained, it ain't worth telling...

If one speaks English then the joke doesn't need explaining. (London English being Standard English, of course.)

Actually you turn your bike over to fix the chain then you can stand on the pavement (sidewalk).

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 12 May 11 - 03:01 PM

Les - they revise the history too, over the years. Annie Ingham asked why the orlop deck was no longer painted red, and was told that there was no historical evidence it had been painted red in 1805, and the contemporary paintings showed the floor as unpainted wood...

It wasn't a rating giving our tour, though - because it was a special occasion we got the CPO.

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: DMcG
Date: 12 May 11 - 08:36 AM

"They are serving naval ratings who are given a highly dubious script to learn"

I remember going round the Victory some twenty years ago where the rating was clearly tired at the end of a long day. On our tour he gave us an entirely accurate description of completely the wrong room...

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Les from Hull
Date: 12 May 11 - 08:02 AM

Kitty: Don't believe everything they tell you on HMS Victory. While I have nothing but admiration for the Royal Navy and its marvelous history and traditions, they are not naval historians on the Victory. They are serving naval ratings who are given a highly dubious script to learn. I was disgusted with the tour 20 years ago and it seams that they are still spouting the same old nonsense. You can read more about it here.

(old joke alert)
There's a raised brass plate on the quarterdeck indicating where Nelson fell. I'm not surprised - I nearly tripped over it myself.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 May 11 - 07:43 AM

If there is one Manitas :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 12 May 11 - 05:44 AM

I think you're meant to put the bike on the pavement (footpath) and fix it there...

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 12 May 11 - 03:14 AM

English Gurney.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 12 May 11 - 02:58 AM

Oh yes I remember the days of riding side saddle, ho ho!

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Gurney
Date: 12 May 11 - 02:58 AM

Arthur itus, you are obviously a Pom/Aussie/Kiwi. The rest of the world can remount their chains in safety.

This is a deliberate policy. If someone is so unmechanical that their chain is likely to jump off, then the following accident will improve the statistical mechanical ability of the whole country!
Who knows where this will lead? Why, in only about 2000 generations Britain may....wait.
The Japanese drive on that side, too.   Ahh so.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Gurney
Date: 12 May 11 - 02:50 AM

Patsy, bicycles are the sexiest vehicles ever, because they are the only ones with genders...
The reason that they have gender is that the original bicycles were always made for gentlemen, who wear trousers/pants. When ladies clamoured to join in with this craze, the frames were modified to allow them to be ridden, and mounted, by people wearing long skirts.

Surely, no gentlewoman would DREAM of wearing anything but a long skirt.

They will be demanding to vote, next!

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Genie
Date: 11 May 11 - 10:28 PM

Why are dessert plates round when pi r square?

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 11 May 11 - 12:52 PM

"why is the chain usually on the right-hand side of a bicycle"

So that if it comes off, you stand with your backside sticking out into the traffic, trying to put it back on. The idea being that you then get run over.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 11 May 11 - 12:49 PM

...besides, when you raise the square plate up to your mouth, to slurp up the gravy, the gravy, on the square plate would run all over your clothes...... AND, the round one works with just a minimal schlurping noise!..and if you're going to raise up your plate to slurp up the gravy, don't you at least, want to do it with a little class?
That's why some of you still have to eat over the sink!
Bobert does!

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 11 May 11 - 10:57 AM

Who decided to make bicycles different for girls and yet we can both ride scooters and motorbikes the same hmmm?

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: frogprince
Date: 11 May 11 - 10:33 AM

"why is the chain usually on the right-hand side of a bicycle"

Good grief. of all the stupid questions; it's because that's the side the sprockets are on, of course!

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: harmonic miner
Date: 11 May 11 - 10:29 AM

why is the chain usually on the right-hand side of a bicycle

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: olddude
Date: 11 May 11 - 09:53 AM

so the peas won't roll off :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: GUEST,Alan Whittle
Date: 11 May 11 - 09:09 AM

I knew a man with thoughts profound
Who wondered why his plates were round.
I know not why he seemed to care
The reason that his plates weren't square.
His reasoning was not unsound,
But it didn't make his plates less round.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 May 11 - 08:24 AM

When it comes to stacking plates after washing, square or hexagon shaped plates are far more space efficient than round ones, and less likely to rattle in place.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: GUEST,Patsy
Date: 11 May 11 - 05:10 AM

To prevent gravy from spilling over the sides (although this has never prevented my sons from doing this in practise).

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 11 May 11 - 04:55 AM

"HMS Victory and what the sailors on Victory used in lieu of bog roll, and cleansing arrangements therefor...."

Is that the one where they insert their fingers in the holes on the wall and the person behind the wall hits them with a hammer.....

The rest you probably know. :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Gurney
Date: 11 May 11 - 02:06 AM

Just to add confusion about toerags.
The Victory preservation definition as quoted by Kitty.
The other definition quoted by me.
and two more lesser-known definitions; a rag to wash feet, and Tuareg, the North-African tribe.
And that's only on the first two pages of Google.

You have to love the English language!



I still have trouble imagining the Navy allowing lines to be dragged in the water from the eyes or aftercastle, though.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: GUEST,Guest from Sanity
Date: 10 May 11 - 11:07 PM

Make sure you get enough square plates to go round!

GfS

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 10 May 11 - 06:55 PM

I thought it was toe rag too, until I heard today about the toilet arrangements (heads) on HMS Victory and what the sailors on Victory used in lieu of bog roll, and cleansing arrangements therefor....

Kitty

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Gurney
Date: 10 May 11 - 06:45 PM

Tow rag, Kitty? I thought it was toe rag, a kind of prototype stocking.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Herga Kitty
Date: 10 May 11 - 05:41 PM

Why does Q allege that square RN plates are mythology? Only asking because square plates featured in our tour of HMS Victory in the Plymouth Historic Dockyard today.

Kitty

PS I found out on the same tour where the expression tow rag comes from...

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Charley Noble
Date: 10 May 11 - 03:55 PM

And when one was paying for "room and board" the "board" part was a seat at the table and meals.

Now when my brother and I were raised at Robinhood Farm, we got our meals poured into a trough. Times was hard back then and several of my little brothers and sisters didn't survive the intense competition for food. Even today I find it hard to wait in line for my share of the pot luck.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Gurney
Date: 10 May 11 - 03:29 PM

McGrath, even stranger than 'square meal:'

"From the four corners of the globe comes the idea that a globe has corners."   Les Barker.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: GUEST,999--from a google of square meal, ori
Date: 10 May 11 - 02:40 PM

Square Meal - Bed & Board explained

In Medieval times and later periods meals were often served on square wooden plates called Trenchers or platters, commonly known as a board.
They were usually made out of a hardwood like maplewood so they didn't absorb the gravy & taint the next meal. There was a round groove lathe-cut into the centre of the board to hold the stew or gravy & often a small round groove drilled at the side of the platter to hold salt. You ate your meal with a knife & spoon, dipping meat into the salt.
Where poor people may go without a meal often, sitting down to a proper meal on a board, (or 'square meal'), was a good thing - if you were getting your 3 square meals a day, you were doing very well for yourself.
Just to confuse things, board also meant the dining table.
There are naval links as well, square wooden trencher plates were used on-board ships as they didn't slide around as easily as circular plates, for sailors & press-ganged men they would have looked forward to a good square meal between their watches.
If you went to an Inn for somewhere to sleep and food, you'd ask for 'bed & board'.
Trencher is thought to originate from the French language where 'trancher' meant to cut, you'd cut the meat on your board.
Before wooden trenchers came into common use, the trencher was made of bread, so that gravy soaked into the bread & you ate the plate as well, certainly saved on the washing up!

See what they looked like at;
http://www.keeleyhire.co.uk/item.php?id=3582


Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_origin_of_the_phrase_'square_meal'#ixzz1LyarBdrf

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 May 11 - 02:30 PM

The odd thing is that we talk about "square meals".   Why?

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 10 May 11 - 01:09 PM

Obviously some posters here are square pegs in round holes.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: GUEST,999
Date: 10 May 11 - 11:08 AM

"Why are plates normally round?"

Makes them easier to play frisbee with.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 10 May 11 - 08:07 AM

I suppose square plates do not make good hubcaps on car wheels.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Darowyn
Date: 10 May 11 - 03:28 AM

"The "board" was literally that:   a board or trencher."
Bed and board does mean accomodation and meals, but the 'board' is the table itself, not the tableware placed on it.
C/F 'Sideboard' originally a side table from which the food was served.
Cheers
Dave

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: frogprince
Date: 09 May 11 - 11:17 PM

And if you wanta use a plate for a frisbee, a square one wouldn't fly worth nothin'.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Gurney
Date: 09 May 11 - 09:05 PM

Thinking about it, modern plates would be stamped from moulds, called dies, I should think. A set of dies would be easier by far to turn up on a lathe than to employ a pattern-maker to make dies for square plates. Very much cheaper.

Round plates don't jam into the side of the microwave.
Round plates don't hurt as much when they hit you, are less likely to pierce the skin and introduce infection. (She's never thrown a plate at you? Lucky man!)
Another round plate is a much better fit over the top of your dinner when you are late.

The only good reason for square plates? Leftovers fit in the frig better.

Just musing.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 09 May 11 - 05:34 PM

It's turned out to be very interesting. Can't remember ever seeing that question asked before.

I am only going to have square Plates from now on though.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Don Firth
Date: 09 May 11 - 05:24 PM

Most of my research is already covered, but wotthehell!

A trencher (from Old French tranchier; "to cut") is a type of tableware, commonly used in medieval cuisine. A trencher was originally a piece of stale bread, cut into a square shape, and used as a plate, upon which the food could be placed before being eaten. At the end of the meal, the trencher could be eaten with sauce, but was more frequently given as alms to the poor.

A "gluttonous trencherman" was a very hearty eater.

Later the trencher evolved into a small plate of metal or, more commonly, wood. They were usually square or rectangular, basically a short length sawn from a board, and if one so desired, with a shallow depression dug into it to keep sauces and such from running off the sides.

Early on those who opened their houses to lodgers, complete with meals, would offer "room and board." The "board" was literally that:   a board or trencher."

Ain't etymology fun!??

Don Firth

P. S. Oh! Why are plates normally round? Ceramic bowls and such were (and still are) thrown on a potter's wheel, and plates were (and may still be) made the same way, because a plate is merely a very shallow bowl, n'est-ce pas?

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Ed T
Date: 09 May 11 - 05:16 PM

So they fit in your mouth better?

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 09 May 11 - 04:53 PM

Because if they were abnormally round they could be square?

:D tG

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: gnu
Date: 09 May 11 - 04:10 PM

froogy... you got that right... fire was used long ago and is still in general use for ensuring safe eats.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: frogprince
Date: 09 May 11 - 03:23 PM

postscript to postscript: sushi it BAIT! serving it for human consumption is rediculous.   : )

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: gnu
Date: 09 May 11 - 03:23 PM

Thanks all. I like Spaw's answer best.

And, I agree that the washing up would be quicker for anyone who dislikes "doing dishes".

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 May 11 - 03:18 PM

Postscript- rolled sushi is largely a North American invention.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 May 11 - 03:14 PM

Plates and chargers in ancient China and Japan were round. Square is fairly recent in popularity.
Suchi was originally fermented fish and rice, Tang Dynasty, China. Hiroshige, Edo Period, illustrated it in a round bowl.
Modern suchi seems to have been invented by Hanaya Yohei (1799-1858).
See Wikipedia article on suchi.

The 'Royal Navy' square plate (wooden or otherwise) is folk
mythology.

Some ancient square dinnerware is known fron the middle east.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Newport Boy
Date: 09 May 11 - 03:09 PM

It would be much harder for the music hall artist to spin square plates on bamboo sticks

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: frogprince
Date: 09 May 11 - 01:19 PM

Plates wouldn't tend to be abnormally round unless the potter's wheel was wobbly.

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 09 May 11 - 12:40 PM

Try again!

plates of meat =   ....................

Sorry, Alan, if a joke has to be explained, it ain't worth telling.

(it made me smile, though, even without the explanation)


DC

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 09 May 11 - 12:15 PM

I suppose round plates are better for Pizza's

Subject: RE: BS: Why are plates normally round?
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 May 11 - 12:05 PM

When you go out to eat after a drinking binge, round plates, the shape of your face, are smoother to fall into face first...........


Spaw