[Gllug] Any doubts about the EU (I know its off subject - but

[Bruce Richardson]

On Wed, Jan 07, 2004 at 03:57:36PM +0000, Andrew wrote:
> > 
> > Another one to file alongside bendy bananas, straight cucumbers and the
> > banning of swings, then.
> 
> BANNING SWINGS?!

Nobody banned swings, that's the point; they're all euromyths.  In the
case of the swings, there's a standardisation committee that tries to
agree standard sizes/weights/voltages/whatever for different products,
with the aim of making it easier to order goods from any part of Europe
and have them work with whatevery you already have.  These standards are
*entirely optional*.

This committee came up with a standard for the height of swings (minimum
aned maximum heights, standard seat widths etc).  Several European
nations, including Britain, have adopted it as part of their own
standards.  All it means is that local councils have more choice in
where they source swings for their schools and parks.  However, the
Express gets hold of it and it becomes:

"You could just swing for them!  EU officials shut playtime favourite
---------------------------------------------------------------------
A village has been ordered to pull down its playground swings because
they are too tall. An edict from Brussels states that the height of
childrens swings must be no more than three metres."

Which is a complete, deliberate fabrication.  The Express isn't ever
going to retract it and people on mailing lists will circulate it as a
fact forever, it seems.

-- 
Bruce

I object to intellect without discipline.  I object to power without
constructive purpose. -- Spock
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