[r-t] What is a 'regular' method

[Philip Earis]

Graham:
"The term 'regular method' is used frequently in ringing publications, but it is not defined in the CC decisions. Is there an accepted definition of it? A simple definition might be..."

I'm rather sceptical about the need for a standard definition here.  

Conceptually, it seems to be a march down the "proscriptive" rather than "descriptive" route, especially with the pejorative word "regular". It confers a certain "approved" status that I thought (and hoped) people were moving away from.

What would the advantage of having a formal definition be?  The risk is that it would encourage a mindset where people only ring "regular" methods, or at least regard them as intrinsically superior.  And we've seen how easily blurred the boundaries between concepts like "regular", "compliant, "legitimate" and "acceptable" can be, especially over time.

On a practical point of view, your proposals classify 99+% of rung doubles methods as irregular, indeed nearly everything that is rung at odd stages.  This is a nice irony.


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