Shanghaiist: Union Jack flown upside down at meeting with China

Buck Rogerz

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 13:00:22 +0800

^^^ this is to say that the flag could either be turned vertically or laterally -- but not rotationally -- and appear as photographed. However, it is almost certainly turned vertically because the flag likely has a loop that fastens to the post, which means that it could not be attached were it rotated either laterally or rotationally. Glad we straightened that out!

Buck Rogerz

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 06:38:16 +0800

Displaced vertically over 180 degrees, it is not symmetrical. Displaced laterally over 180 degrees, it is not symmetrical. Displaced rotationally over 180 degrees, it is symmetrical.

Elcheecho

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 03:52:51 +0800

can't be both (upside down and rotationally symmetrical)

James Creegan

Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:39:46 +0800

Buck's right! It's flying the flag backwards, not really upside down. Three pedant points for Buck.

Buck Rogerz

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 13:21:29 +0800

Actually, I take that back: it could be backwards or upside down depending on how you turn it -- in all likelihood upside down. However, the Union Jack is rotationally symmetrical, so there!

tanh1980

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 12:43:54 +0800

Get over it, it's not like anyone threw a shoe at....oh yeah...

xiaoerjing

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:39:53 +0800

I wouldn't have noticed what the exact problem was but it does look pretty awkward.

Flashback

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:27:02 +0800

I'm British and I wouldn't know which was up was right; it's a pretty minor difference. Now, if the US or China's flag was upside down, it would be a pretty major error. Saw Mandelson in John Lewis on Oxford Street at Xmas, he was as lizard-like as he appears in that picture.

Buck Rogerz

Thu, 05 Feb 2009 10:55:18 +0800

I believe it's backwards (the front-side is attached to the pole), not upside-down.