• Optional@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        No, “half” sounds like half. 500 of something sounds like more than half of something. (Yes, trillion > billion, we’re not debating the actual facts - which are the same either way - just the way it’s perceived in a headline)

        Half of dinners. 500 meals. Half a car. 500 auto parts. Half of all dealerships. 500 independent dealers. etc.

      • Optional@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        I think it’s the opposite. We’re all used to “a billion” now, even thought we can’t really concieve of it the way we can, say $100. But a trillion is just space money. Just make it a gazillion.

        500 Billion has real competitive traction - people are billionaires, this is more than them, etc. A trillion is something you have nanoparticles of, something very small.

        • Hobbes_Dent@lemmy.world
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          4 days ago

          “Billion”, sadly, is a term that nowadays conjures an individual human or corporate level figure.

          “Trillion” is an economy level figure and suitably conjures an idea of how fucked up you all are.

          IMHO.

      • adarza@lemmy.ca
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        4 days ago

        it’s the direction the figure is no-doubt going. in six weeks, that estimate will be a lot higher.

        ‘half a trillion’ now is a very fair choice of wording.