Letter: Millennial doubters

Sir, Your correspondents could go further in debunking the millennium myth (letters, 18 December).

We evolved the decimal system by counting on our fingers. If man had been given four digits per hand, he would have counted in eights, and celebrated his year 2000 in our year 1024. With six digits per hand, his year 2000 would still be mercifully far off.

One correspondent sees 2000 as symbolic and magical. Another likes it because it is a big round figure. Well, 2000 is always a round figure, and, depending on the base, it may be a big one, but magical or symbolic? I just don't see it.

E A BARBER

London E4