what is a mile?

from Doug S:

1 mile = 5280 feet = 1760 yards = 8 furlongs = 320 rods.

Unless it's a nautical mile, which is 1852 meters (precisely), 6076.115 ft, or quite close to 1 minute of longitude at the equator (its original definition).

Every once in awhile I'm tempted to reflect (another perfectly fine English language word ruined by edu-texts) upon the fact that I have spent the last 2 1/2 years hanging out with people who know what a nautical mile is and whether it's longer or shorter than a regular mile and by how much.

Doesn't this imply that somebody took a wrong turn somewhere back in the mists of time?

Like, say, in my high school math courses?

So every once in awhile I'm tempted to make meaning out of all this.

Then the feeling passes.