Union Flag

[denis567]

Just been watching the news coverage from the G8 meeting in France and I noticed that the Union flag was being flown upside down. Did anyone else notice it?

[Buenchico]

Flying a flag upside down is a recognised sign of distress, so perhaps it reflects the state of the UK economy?
;-)

[factor-fiction]

Sorry denis, I'm a pedant on most things but on this topic (which seems to crop up from time to time on AB), I'm afraid I don't see what the fuss is about.

[modeller]

Being as 90% of the general public doesn't know or care which is the right way up, does it matter?

[mike11111]

I don't want to start a debate, and I couldn't care less, but since to my poor eyesight the Union Flag (Jack) seems to have rotational symmetry of order 4 I am curious to know how anyone can tell. Please don't hurry to reply.

[DTCwordfan]

It is a sign of distress, certainly at sea..........The Brazilian Navy had a ship in here at Famouth and were flying it upside down last year. Many red faces on the Ship apparently and it wasn't the Caipirinha.

[hc4361]

The top left white strip should be thick. If it is thin, it is upside down.

[hc4361]

Top left white stripe, not strip.

[DTCwordfan]

still includes putting the Queen'shead on a postage stamp upside down on an envelope apparently......

[Buenchico]

>>>rotational symmetry of order 4????

Unless mathematics has changed greatly since I used to teach it, that means that the flag must be SQUARE!

While the flag does have rotational symmetry of order 2,
http://www.cs.bath.ac...he_United_Kingdom.png
anyone flying it upside down won't have rotated it (because it can only be attached at one edge). It will have been reflected along a horizontal axis, resulting in this:
http://www.woodlands-...raphy/unionjack7.html

[ChuckFickens]

I'm waiting for the people to say it's an insult!

While it may be incorrect anyone that feels insulted by it IMO has a similar mindset to the nutters that think a cartoon of a prophet is an insult.... I'd say to all of them get a life!

[mike11111]

Well, that's me told.

However, if you forced me to stand staring at the two versions for 4 hours, all the time poking my bare buttocks with red-hot irons, I would still not be able to tell the difference, nor understand what effect it would have on the common weal of the United Kingdom, beneficial or otherwise.

[Buenchico]

You've created some interesting (if somewhat disturbing!) pictures in my mind there, Mike ;-)

[DTCwordfan]

the red and white I can understand, but short of massive flagellation (and I just do not want to know), how on earth do you get big blue triangles on your rear globes?

[hc4361]

It was drummed in to me at school.
I am quite shocked that some people don't know what their own flag should look like.

[Ric.ror]

I remember that happening once when the late pope John Paul 2 visited the EU headquarters Ian Paisley kicked up a real old fuss
He was lucky enough to receive a blessing from the holy father though

[bazwillrun]

"I am quite shocked that some people don't know what their own flag should look like. "

they do know what it looks like, they just cant distinguish which way up it is !

[Ankou]

how can you tell its upside down ?

http://www.thejakarta...20110527014007141.jpg