snail mail

I like "sneakernet"! Where I work, the "intercom" is me yelling up the stairs. We also have live humans answering the phone rather than voicemail.

So we use a lot of "sneakernet" type solutions. I never knew it had a name!

sneakernet - my new favourite term.

I think the English still call runners sneakers. Either that or they call them trainers, I'm sure it's one or the other...

They were trainers when I lived in England but I can't say what they are these days.

But sneakers is an older term in the US? I didn't know that. They're sneakers to me and everyone I know. I can't think of a time I have heard otherwise, unless maybe someone is a specialized athlete and specifically wears tennis shoes or something.

fear_rua: last time I was in England (1996, I think) they still called them trainers. In Canada we called them sneakers until the athletic shoe craze caught on, but actually, I'm not sure what we call them here now. I don't buy 'em personally, so I haven't paid attention.

I just checked my Sears Catalogue Fall Sale supplement: they're "athletic shoes" in Canada now. Unless they're walkers or runners. But, I dunno, "athletic shoe-net" just isn't the same as "sneakernet."

Edited by: Turnipseed - just because I wanted to see how it worked. Simple minds, simple pleasures!

They were definitely Trainers when I lived in the UK in 2005.

I call them sneakers :) I love my sneakers. I have many many pairs.

My mother remembers them when, in NZ, they were called Sandshoes. No, i truly have no idea why.

I call them all sneakers too. And on an old British ship, would messages be delivered by plimsollnet?

Update on what we call those shoes in Canada now: last week our bookkeeper was into our office, she's originally from the US but lives in BC now, and she calls them runners. She works in them almost year-round to work with her horses, on her farm, etc., until the weather would require a switch to boots. So in a case like that, something more user-friendly than "athletic shoe" is needed.

When I was in elementary school 40 years ago, they were sneakers. By the time I was in high school there was a distinction made between sneakers, which have very flat soles and no support, and runners, which were what we'd call athletic shoes now, thicker soles, arch support, a certain amount of ergonomic design to prevent pronation or ankle twisting. Most kids I went to high school with wore runners as their regular footwear, and switched to something more specifically designed for sports when it came time for athletic classes or gym. They were also known by their brand names.