Please help resolve a really dumb question

[ratatosk]

Today's question is about what counts as a "nice round number". Don't ask me what that is supposed to mean -- that's what's in dispute in the first place. I am only asking about the number that came up in conversation, since testing this exhaustively would tax the attention span of most people.

First, answer the general question:

Poll Nice Round Numbers

Comments

[sovay]

I tend to think of nice round numbers as rather larger; say, after you've run out of fingers.

[ratatosk]

after you've run out of fingers

Usually at that point I go to the grocery store and get more. They keep pretty well in the freezer.

[beckitypuff]

You are one sick twisted person. I like 3 for a round number. It has nice curves.

[ultimatepsi]

Seven is a nice round number if you're talking about days or another base seven system.

However, in your context I think the more relevant piece of information about seven is that it is the most common choice if you ask people to pick a random number between one and ten.

[42itous]

I usually pick pi.

[ultimatepsi]

I prefer tau. I guess I'll have to pick tau next time someone asks be for a number between 1 and 10.

[42itous]

Seven is too pointy to be a round number.

I think seven is too high a number to arbitrarily choose as the number of people someone might be dating. If you're picking something totally arbitrary, you want a number that's well within the range of normal -- and since from context I gather that polyness is assumed, I would choose either two or three. If someone is dating more than three people, I tend to think of them as an overachiever, a braggart, or poly as a hobby (as opposed to a lifestyle).

[chanaleh]

Or their definitions of "dating" are looser/more fluid than yours (though maybe that falls into your third "hobbyist" category).

[42itous]

Yes, that is another possibility. I think that a Relationship requires a certain level of time/energy commitment, but I have met (and dated, sigh) people who think a lower level is sufficient.