You're watching the news. A massive factory fire: Over 40 people killed.
Pearl Harbour: More than 2000 killed.
Why does the media say "over 40 people killed"? Is that easier than saying, "43 people killed"?
We know the exact number of people that died as a result of Pearl Harbour. 2,403. It's not in dispute.
Newscasters love rounding off numbers of dead people to the nearest even number. It makes sense, since even numbers are nice numbers. They're round and soft and fluffy and easy to digest, just like the news you're watching.
Odd numbers wreak havoc with our sense of balance and harmony. After all, we want to enjoy dinner while finding out how many dead there are.
Maybe it's more dramatic. "Over 40 people killed" means that maybe (drum roll, please) a grand total of 49 people were killed. You never know…stay tuned.
Imagine being the "over" dead person – The one that so selfishly spills the number to over 40.
Coroner's office:
"I'm here to identify my loved one."
"Was he an over?"
"Yes, unfortunately."
"You'll have to wait a while."
We're told to respect the dead. Maybe we should also respect the dead that become a rounding error.
My advice. If you die in a large group, make sure you are among the first to be found. You'll make the news.
