The Briefing Room

General Category => World News => Topic started by: jmyrlefuller on June 04, 2013, 10:41:23 am

Title: Canada Town Bans 'Unlucky' 4 From Addresses
Post by: jmyrlefuller on June 04, 2013, 10:41:23 am
http://m.newser.com/story/168886/canada-town-bans-unlucky-4-from-addresses.html

by Rob Quinn
June 3, 2013

A Toronto suburb that has long catered to the superstitious by skipping 13 when giving out new addresses has decided to do away with the number four as well. Four is considered unlucky by speakers of Cantonese and Mandarin because it sounds like the word "death," and while Richmond Hill has a large Chinese population, residents say it's not only Asians who are turned off by the number, the Toronto Star reports.

"It's funny, I had young Italian couple and they were worried about the number four on their property," a property broker says. "They heard four is no good. It’s really not a big deal, but some people know a bit, and all of a sudden it becomes stigmatized." Numbers like 14 and 24 will still be used for new addresses, and people who currently have a four in their address can petition to have a suffix added to make it into the somewhat less unlucky 4A or 4B.

Title: Re: Canada Town Bans 'Unlucky' 4 From Addresses
Post by: mountaineer on June 04, 2013, 01:44:54 pm
Quote
A Toronto suburb that has long catered to the superstitious ...
**nononono* How silly.
Title: Re: Canada Town Bans 'Unlucky' 4 From Addresses
Post by: Oceander on June 05, 2013, 03:55:11 am
yeesh.  I still see elevators all the time with "13" missing from the buttons - doesn't mean there isn't a thirteenth floor, though.
Title: Re: Canada Town Bans 'Unlucky' 4 From Addresses
Post by: ABX on June 05, 2013, 04:00:55 am
yeesh.  I still see elevators all the time with "13" missing from the buttons - doesn't mean there isn't a thirteenth floor, though.

I've noticed this pretty often. Mostly in NY and Chicago, not as much in the South. Even the Trump International Chicago was missing the 13th.

(http://file.shotsharing.com/photo/997402410/mid/Buttons-in-service-elevator,Trump-International-Hotel-&-Tower,-Chicago.jpg)
Title: Re: Canada Town Bans 'Unlucky' 4 From Addresses
Post by: Oceander on June 05, 2013, 04:07:38 am
I've noticed this pretty often. Mostly in NY and Chicago, not as much in the South. Even the Trump International Chicago was missing the 13th.

(http://file.shotsharing.com/photo/997402410/mid/Buttons-in-service-elevator,Trump-International-Hotel-&-Tower,-Chicago.jpg)

A lot of elevators in NYC - including brand new buildings.