And for some, the mere fact that most people will celebrate in 2000 is reason enough to insist that the real millennium begins in 2001. With One, Not Zero When you count on your fingers, you begin with one. It does not surprise me in the least that millennial purists count on their fingers. Timekeeping , on the other hand, starts with zero. You don't begin timing a race at one second, but at zero.
Computers also begin counting with zero.
Using an extra digit to code one lousy number is pretty wasteful, whereas the range 0-255 can be coded using only eight binary digits, and every number is represented. If you disagree, name one. It begins whenever we decide it does. Calendars are made to serve people, not the other way around. Our present dating system is a Christian year numbering system grafted onto a Roman calendar.