Bothersome Question - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ks · 01-18-2003, 09:32 PM

Ok, this is something that hit me a week or so ago, and I just thought I'd throw it out there. I may be going crazy, but what else is new...?

Anyway,

Why is it that when someone has done like a complete turn around with their life or something, people say "they've done a complete 360?" I mean, I understand what they're saying, but if you do a 360 your back to where to started. That just makes no sense to me, and it was just said on TV so I got to thinking about it again. Shouldn't it be a 180 if you've changed your ways?

...I'm confused!

...off to my hole to ponder

ks

Mossopp · 01-18-2003, 09:37 PM

I've never really thought about it before but you are right KS. Saying that someone has done a 360 would imply that they are right back where they started.
Odd.

AllIWantIsYourClutch · 01-18-2003, 09:40 PM

Hmmmm well that makes sense.

TV Favorites · 01-18-2003, 09:43 PM

You should say 180. 360 would be conveying the wrong message.

ks · 01-18-2003, 09:54 PM

Whew, ok, I'm glad I'm not the only who sees that. I mean, if you do a 360 you're back to where you started from...odd.

ks

Janice · 01-18-2003, 10:20 PM

Perhaps doing a 360 means coming around 'full circle', so to speak. It could imply that a person has been through it all and gained experience which made them wiser.
They may have ended up where they started, which is really 'home' symbolically speaking, yet they're home with more knowledge which helped turned their lives around.
Or....
It could be a saying that just makes no sense and 180 would work better. What do I know.

dawsongirl · 01-18-2003, 11:53 PM

It was probably first said by the same people that say, "It's Deja Vu all over again." Um...that's what deja vu means.

Rhiannon · 01-19-2003, 12:19 AM

hehe good question

Kitt · 01-19-2003, 12:37 AM

It should be a180. You wouldn't say that someone did a complete aboutfaceaboutface. You'd say that they did an about face. It's the same kind of confused sentence as "I could care less" Instead of "I couldn't care less--no way, no how!"

KerriBerri687 · 01-19-2003, 12:39 AM

hmmm....interesting jo..cant say ive ever thought about it that way...but ur rite!!!! for once..ur actually rite

¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ · 01-19-2003, 01:29 AM

360??? That makes no sense to me @ all/ Ive always said complete 180. Funny, I was just thinking about this not that long ago LOl.

Kay Scarpetta · 01-19-2003, 10:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ks
Whew, ok, I'm glad I'm not the only who sees that. I mean, if you do a 360 you're back to where you started from...odd.

Ya I see it too....

ks · 01-19-2003, 05:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Blair n' Jo Rock
hmmm....interesting jo..cant say ive ever thought about it that way...but ur rite!!!! for once..ur actually rite

Why thank you, Blair. Perhaps one day you will experience the same thing

ks

Janice · 01-19-2003, 06:05 PM

I think the term "They've done a complete 360 with their life" is meant to be taken figuratively and not in the literal sense.
However, even if we interpret it literally, we can examine the definitions and see how they fit into a sentence.

Definitions

1.) A full circle is 360 degrees. This is a "complete turnaround".

2.) A half circle is 180 degrees. This is a "half turn".

Here are the definitions used in a sentence:

*He did a 'complete 360' with his life.
means:
*He did a 'complete turnaround' with his life.

*He did a 'complete 180' with his life.
means:
*He did a 'half turn' with his life.

As for ending up where you started, I think the person who coined the phrase, "They've done a complete 360 with their life", assumed the person would be making positive changes as they transformed themselves and arrived full circle.
To make a complete turnaround in your life, you have to turn all the way around...360 degrees.

*Melissa* · 01-19-2003, 08:25 PM

I thought of that before. You're right, it makes no sense. In fact, I stopped saying "360" and replaced it with "180" because it just didn't make any sense to me with 360. After all, if you do a 180, you're at the opposite side...

01-18-2003, 09:32 PM	#1
ks Certifiably Insane Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 21, 2000 Location: I live in my hole... Posts: 5,501	Bothersome Question Ok, this is something that hit me a week or so ago, and I just thought I'd throw it out there. I may be going crazy, but what else is new...? Anyway, Why is it that when someone has done like a complete turn around with their life or something, people say "they've done a complete 360?" I mean, I understand what they're saying, but if you do a 360 your back to where to started. That just makes no sense to me, and it was just said on TV so I got to thinking about it again. Shouldn't it be a 180 if you've changed your ways? ...I'm confused! ...off to my hole to ponder ks
	__________________ "Ya gotta have a little faith." C.D. DeLerenzo

01-18-2003, 09:37 PM	#2
Mossopp asleep at the wheel Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 30, 2000 Location: Helensburgh, Scotland Posts: 3,726	I've never really thought about it before but you are right KS. Saying that someone has done a 360 would imply that they are right back where they started. Odd.
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01-18-2003, 09:43 PM	#4
TV Favorites Star of Family Feud Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 19, 2001 Location: United States of America Posts: 3,153	You should say 180. 360 would be conveying the wrong message.
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01-19-2003, 12:19 AM	#8
Rhiannon oh, snap! Forum Fanatic Join Date: Jul 19, 2002 Location: middle of nowhere Posts: 11,097	hehe good question
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01-19-2003, 12:39 AM	#10
KerriBerri687 defying gravity Senior Member Join Date: Jan 13, 2001 Location: you'll find me in Emerald City...I'm the green one with the flying monkeys Posts: 2,869	hmmm....interesting jo..cant say ive ever thought about it that way...but ur rite!!!! for once..ur actually rite
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01-18-2003, 09:40 PM	#3
AllIWantIsYourClutch peaceout. Forum Icon Join Date: Aug 02, 2001 Location: Illinois. Posts: 53,424	Hmmmm well that makes sense.

01-18-2003, 09:54 PM	#5
ks Certifiably Insane Forum Veteran Join Date: Dec 21, 2000 Location: I live in my hole... Posts: 5,501	Whew, ok, I'm glad I'm not the only who sees that. I mean, if you do a 360 you're back to where you started from...odd. ks

01-18-2003, 10:20 PM	#6
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	Perhaps doing a 360 means coming around 'full circle', so to speak. It could imply that a person has been through it all and gained experience which made them wiser. They may have ended up where they started, which is really 'home' symbolically speaking, yet they're home with more knowledge which helped turned their lives around. Or.... It could be a saying that just makes no sense and 180 would work better. What do I know.

01-18-2003, 11:53 PM	#7
dawsongirl Member Forum Icon Join Date: Jan 04, 2001 Posts: 53,140	It was probably first said by the same people that say, "It's Deja Vu all over again." Um...that's what deja vu means.

01-19-2003, 12:37 AM	#9
Kitt James Dean Forum Veteran Join Date: Aug 16, 2001 Location: California Dreamin' Posts: 6,115	It should be a180. You wouldn't say that someone did a complete aboutfaceaboutface. You'd say that they did an about face. It's the same kind of confused sentence as "I could care less" Instead of "I couldn't care less--no way, no how!"

01-19-2003, 01:29 AM	#11
¤I Love Clay Aiken¤ MISS APRIL Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 19, 2001 Location: Parsonsfield ME Shaws - Screwing my way up the employment ladder! Posts: 68,780	360??? That makes no sense to me @ all/ Ive always said complete 180. Funny, I was just thinking about this not that long ago LOl.
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01-19-2003, 06:05 PM	#14
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I think the term "They've done a complete 360 with their life" is meant to be taken figuratively and not in the literal sense. However, even if we interpret it literally, we can examine the definitions and see how they fit into a sentence. Definitions 1.) A full circle is 360 degrees. This is a "complete turnaround". 2.) A half circle is 180 degrees. This is a "half turn". Here are the definitions used in a sentence: He did a 'complete 360' with his life. means: He did a 'complete turnaround' with his life. He did a 'complete 180' with his life. means: He did a 'half turn' with his life. As for ending up where you started, I think the person who coined the phrase, "They've done a complete 360 with their life", assumed the person would be making positive changes as they transformed themselves and arrived full circle. To make a complete turnaround in your life, you have to turn all the way around...360 degrees.

01-19-2003, 08:25 PM	#15
Melissa Slayer Faith Senior Member Join Date: Oct 24, 2000 Location: I'll let you know when I find out... Posts: 1,820	I thought of that before. You're right, it makes no sense. In fact, I stopped saying "360" and replaced it with "180" because it just didn't make any sense to me with 360. After all, if you do a 180, you're at the opposite side...