I can't help but think of the USA's reluctance to adopt the metric system. The admirable sense of individualism and autonomy that so characterises the USian national identity seems to be something of an obstacle when it comes to adopting international standards.

I expect in practice there is relatively little difference in performance, especially under emergency lighting conditions, but the running man is just such a beautifully elegant symbol that I can't help but favour it. I find the international ideals that have driven pictographic communication rather moving; It's the same feeling I get scanning the departure board in an international railway station and seeing all the myriad places, peoples and cultures that are all joined up by modernity.

Running? How do we know he's not skating or dancing?