Measurement Oddity

[dwn]

During my pre-ToM re-read, I noticed that my sizing visualization of things seemed off. WoT uses the 'pace' to measure many lengths, but apparently the WoT definition of 'pace' doesn't match the real-world Roman pace of 5 feet. According to the Guide, 2000 WoT paces equal one mile, which makes 1 WoT pace equal 1/2 a Roman pace (or 1 Byzantine pace, according to Wikipedia).

 

(I was wondering why Rand was whining about a 10x15' cell in Far Madding.)

 

Just one of those curious things that was bugging me.

 

-- dwn

[Sid]

10 inches = 1 foot

3 feet = 1 pace

 

So yeah, 2.5 feet in the US. Would make his cell 5' x 7.5', rather uncomfortable.

[TalonSpiritCat]

Rand would also be whining due to his claustrophobia of small enclosed spaces. Post LoC box punishment. I seem to recall him getting antsy while seated on the Sea Folk ship at Cairhein and ripping the arm off to get out.

[OptimusPrime]

Rand would also be whining due to his claustrophobia of small enclosed spaces. Post LoC box punishment. I seem to recall him getting antsy while seated on the Sea Folk ship at Cairhein and ripping the arm off to get out.

 

Yeah also at one point he had to remind himself that he wasnt in the box, and he notes that it isnt so bad if he can see the sky

[drewk]

Rand would complain about being in a box if he was forced to stay inside a palace. The main problem he has isn't with the size of the cell. He is afraid of a situation where he can't "move", whether that is making his own decisions or physically moving. Throughout the entire series he has made a big deal out of not being on Aes Sedai strings, and this fear, while remaining on the back burner for most of the first half of the series, was given a physical representation during his time in the actual box. The fear of being imprisoned is definitely real, but it has a psychological counterpart as well.

 

OT: This definitions of measurement really didn't leave me wondering at all. I just assumed "pace" was the length of a step a man could take, or ~3 feet. I had never heard the definition of the Roman pace before, nor does it make any sense calling that a pace. That length in WoT is a span.

[dwn]

My point was that 10' by 15' is pretty large for any cell, not that Rand was wrong to feel claustrophobic in it. Perrin's tent also seemed a bit on the grand size, but it's the cell description that finally got me to dig up the measurement definitions.

 

A Roman pace is measured between footfalls of the same foot, hence five feet.

 

-- dwn

[Barid Bel Medar]

My point was that 10' by 15' is pretty large for any cell, not that Rand was wrong to feel claustrophobic in it. Perrin's tent also seemed a bit on the grand size, but it's the cell description that finally got me to dig up the measurement definitions.

 

A Roman pace is measured between footfalls of the same foot, hence five feet.

 

-- dwn

 

well, i suspect RJ didnt want to use real measurements. Just as he didnt have Tar Valon Marks in US$. And its not like even the real world has a universal system. (of course, the most sensible is the metric, but some countries remain stubborn.)

 

anyway, as for the cell being large. He is the Dragon Reborn. Cell does not exactly mean no room to move. In fact, I would say that the cells would be bigger than our modern ones. For nobility, even under arrest they would be granted a fairly good cell.

 

As to Rand being claustrophobic, as you said, its plausible. He freaked out on the Sea Folk ship, thats not all that small. I dont think we can actually describe it as claustrophobic though. The commmon claustrophobia is a random fear of enclosed spaces. People get it for no reason. But when you were tied up in a box for some time, being beaten every day, id say it trancends mere claustrophobia.

[Beer Rot]

Two natural steps is a pace. Someone tall and long legged like Rand will have a longer pace than a woman/shorter man.

 

I would guess the roman pace is based upon the average pace of a legion marching, much easier to set a standard that way. But when translating it to Randland, it may be off.

 

I have heard of one single step being called a pace before, I guess RJ did too.

[username13]

If it helps at all, wasn't there a character on Dawson's Creek called Pace or Pacey or something like that... maybe he was just stuck in a cell with alot of them...

[didymos]

People get it for no reason.

 

No known or universally accepted reason, but various explanations have been proposed. It's certainly not generally believed to be random. In fact, incidents not unlike Rand-in-a-box are thought to cause a lot of cases.

 

But when you were tied up in a box for some time, being beaten every day, id say it trancends mere claustrophobia.

 

There is no "mere" claustrophobia. There are degrees of severity, and people with more severe cases commonly have panic attacks in triggering situations. Panic attacks: not fun. More like "utterly terrifying". Rand is pretty much a classic case.

[Barid Bel Medar]

People get it for no reason.

 

No known or universally accepted reason, but various explanations have been proposed. It's certainly not generally believed to be random. In fact, incidents not unlike Rand-in-a-box are thought to cause a lot of cases.

 

But when you were tied up in a box for some time, being beaten every day, id say it trancends mere claustrophobia.

 

There is no "mere" claustrophobia. There are degrees of severity, and people with more severe cases commonly have panic attacks in triggering situations. Panic attacks: not fun. More like "utterly terrifying". Rand is pretty much a classic case.

 

I know panic attacks. It is not at all fun.

 

But there is a difference between being afraid of closed spaces in daily life, when nothing really happened to you. Its just an irational fear.

 

But Rand's case is different. I am not saying claustrophobia isnt a bad thing, but it doesnt compare with Rand's case. Rand's is 100x worse.