Should the US switch to the metric system?

[Maurepas]

I want a third option here. I'm definitely for a switchover to the Metric System, but I'm not so definite on fully "abandoning" the Imperial system either. I'd like us to move closer to the UK in that regard. They're definitely on the Metric system, but you can still buy a Pint.

You can't really. You can buy a 500ml glass of beer that's called a pint.

The Brexit finally makes sense,

[Socialist Tera]

There is no good reason why imperial is still use in America.

[Thermodolia]

There is no good reason why imperial is still use in America.

I agree the metric system is much much more enjoyable to add, subtract, multiply, and divide with than the current system. God how I hate it.

[Teemant]

I see no reason not to but it's up to the people of US to decide. But I think that they should.

[Thermodolia]

I see no reason not to but it's up to the people of US to decide. But I think that they should.

As a people of the US we need to switch over now!!

[Unified Heartless States]

American measurements are freest measurements around.

[Valaran]

meh.

be annoying and costly to change it

[Ifreann]

I see no reason not to but it's up to the people of US to decide. But I think that they should.

"The Congress shall have Power...To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;" Article 1, Section 8, US Constitution.

So, not really "up to the people".

[The first Galactic Republic]

I see no reason not to but it's up to the people of US to decide. But I think that they should.

"The Congress shall have Power...To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;" Article 1, Section 8, US Constitution.

So, not really "up to the people".

People could vote for a Congressmen who promised to switch, but there's better things to campaign on.

[Socialist Nordia]

"The Congress shall have Power...To coin Money, regulate the Value thereof, and of foreign Coin, and fix the Standard of Weights and Measures;" Article 1, Section 8, US Constitution.

So, not really "up to the people".

People could vote for a Congressmen who promised to switch, but there's better things to campaign on.

I would vote for someone who promised to attemp a metric switch. That would be great.

[Socialist Nordia]

American measurements are freest measurements around.

Oh really?
http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/201 ... study-says
http://www.heritage.org/index/ranking
http://www.cato.org/human-freedom-index

[The Two Jerseys]

Because the unit of measure shouldn't be dependent on whether the abbreviation is written in uppercase or lowercase.

You need to help me there. Can you give me an example, where uppercase or lowercase would make a difference and where the US wouldn't already have the same problem? Just asking, since I can't think of a single one right now.

"1 s" = "1 second" (measurement of time); "1 S" = "1 siemens" (measurement of electrical conductance)

"1 T" = "1 tesla" (magnetic flux density); "1 t" = "1 tonne" (mass)

"1 mg" = 0.001 gram; "1 Mg" = 1,000,000 grams

But in English units, "1 ft" = "1 Ft" = "1 FT" = "1 foot".

[Pope Joan]

Industry already uses ISO standards in engineering and manufacture. That's where metric is most needed.

Hey, we buy our soda pop by the litre now, too.

But I like fueling up my vehicles with gallons, it's easier to follow. I always thought that when Canada went from the Imperial gallon to litres at the gas stations that it was just a sneaky way to raise prices.

Which is what happened, right at that time.

[Uxupox]

Industry already uses ISO standards in engineering and manufacture. That's where metric is most needed.

Hey, we buy our soda pop by the litre now, too.

But I like fueling up my vehicles with gallons, it's easier to follow. I always thought that when Canada went from the Imperial gallon to litres at the gas stations that it was just a sneaky way to raise prices.

Which is what happened, right at that time.

Yes.

[Galaian Alliance]

You need to help me there. Can you give me an example, where uppercase or lowercase would make a difference and where the US wouldn't already have the same problem? Just asking, since I can't think of a single one right now.

"1 s" = "1 second" (measurement of time); "1 S" = "1 siemens" (measurement of electrical conductance)

"1 T" = "1 tesla" (magnetic flux density); "1 t" = "1 tonne" (mass)

"1 mg" = 0.001 gram; "1 Mg" = 1,000,000 grams

But in English units, "1 ft" = "1 Ft" = "1 FT" = "1 foot".

Note that I said "where the US wouldn't already have the same problem". I'm not too familiar with US units of measure, but afaik they use second, siemens, tesla and ton as well. So fully changing to the metric system wouldn't change anything here. But correct me if I'm mistaken.

As far as mg vs Mg is concerned ... well, Mg doesn't exists. That's a t. In theory it should exist according to the rules of the metric system, but IRL many of those prefixes like "mega-" or "giga-" only work with a few units like "watt". 1 Gm for example doesn't exist either, nobody uses that. That's 1.000.000 km or 10^6 km or 10^9 m.

Also - and again a US citizen should please correct me if I'm wrong - I believe that the only correct abbreviation for foot is ft. FT and Ft would be wrong.

[Ifreann]

You need to help me there. Can you give me an example, where uppercase or lowercase would make a difference and where the US wouldn't already have the same problem? Just asking, since I can't think of a single one right now.

"1 s" = "1 second" (measurement of time); "1 S" = "1 siemens" (measurement of electrical conductance)

"1 T" = "1 tesla" (magnetic flux density); "1 t" = "1 tonne" (mass)

"1 mg" = 0.001 gram; "1 Mg" = 1,000,000 grams

But in English units, "1 ft" = "1 Ft" = "1 FT" = "1 foot".

In what context would one ever mistake those units? And who uses megagrams?

[Immoren]

"1 s" = "1 second" (measurement of time); "1 S" = "1 siemens" (measurement of electrical conductance)

"1 T" = "1 tesla" (magnetic flux density); "1 t" = "1 tonne" (mass)

"1 mg" = 0.001 gram; "1 Mg" = 1,000,000 grams

But in English units, "1 ft" = "1 Ft" = "1 FT" = "1 foot".

Note that I said "where the US wouldn't already have the same problem". I'm not too familiar with US units of measure, but afaik they use second, siemens, tesla and ton as well. So fully changing to the metric system wouldn't change anything here. But correct me if I'm mistaken.

As far as mg vs Mg is concerned ... well, Mg doesn't exists. That's a t. In theory it should exist according to the rules of the metric system, but IRL many of those prefixes like "mega-" or "giga-" only work with a few units like "watt". 1 Gm for example doesn't exist either, nobody uses that. That's 1.000.000 km or 10^6 km or 10^9 m.

Also - and again a US citizen should please correct me if I'm wrong - I believe that the only correct abbreviation for foot is ft. FT and Ft would be wrong.

Not using≠ not existing.

"1 s" = "1 second" (measurement of time); "1 S" = "1 siemens" (measurement of electrical conductance)

"1 T" = "1 tesla" (magnetic flux density); "1 t" = "1 tonne" (mass)

"1 mg" = 0.001 gram; "1 Mg" = 1,000,000 grams

But in English units, "1 ft" = "1 Ft" = "1 FT" = "1 foot".

In what context would one ever mistake those units? And who uses megagrams?

I think there's at least one NS user whom insists on that.

[Prussia-Steinbach]

Hmmmmm.

Nah, I'm good.

Moving on from the thirtieth-odd time I've seen this thread.

[Appalatchia]

The thing is it would have to be a very gradual change. Many adults would never be able to adapt to metric fully. Just instinctively I can't quickly calculate in my head how far 100 kilometers is or how long it would take to drive that distance the way I can with miles. Celsius is even harder for me to figure out, I always have to convert it.

But as people have mentioned, America is already using metric for science, which is where it's most important. I guess the biggest benefit of switching would be that it would make it a bit easier for Americans to travel to foreign countries and vice-versa. But I don't see it as any kind of a critical need.

[Corunia and Mironor]

As an American myself I say a trillion times ＹＥＳ

The imperial system is stupid and arbitrary and conversion issues have caused a lot of harm over the years. America should definitely switch to metric

[Galaian Alliance]

Note that I said "where the US wouldn't already have the same problem". I'm not too familiar with US units of measure, but afaik they use second, siemens, tesla and ton as well. So fully changing to the metric system wouldn't change anything here. But correct me if I'm mistaken.

As far as mg vs Mg is concerned ... well, Mg doesn't exists. That's a t. In theory it should exist according to the rules of the metric system, but IRL many of those prefixes like "mega-" or "giga-" only work with a few units like "watt". 1 Gm for example doesn't exist either, nobody uses that. That's 1.000.000 km or 10^6 km or 10^9 m.

Also - and again a US citizen should please correct me if I'm wrong - I believe that the only correct abbreviation for foot is ft. FT and Ft would be wrong.

Not using≠ not existing.

Hmm ... since it is a linguistic sign, couldn't you actually argue that not using = not existing?


Btw, can we also agree that the US should change its date format from MDY to DMY (the most common convention in the world) or YMD (ISO 8601)? This has a lot of potential to cause economic damage in international trade and I actually personally know of a case where it did.

[Ifreann]

Hmmmmm.

Nah, I'm good.

Moving on from the thirtieth-odd time I've seen this thread.

Don't go too far, it'll be back again before long.

[The Westenian Union]

No, because we're 'Merica. On a more serious note, on some things like in science, they use the metric system already. And, I believe this was mentioned, but on most products in the US they show both. I don't see a real need for the switch.

[Immoren]

Hmmmmm.

Nah, I'm good.

Moving on from the thirtieth-odd time I've seen this thread.

Don't go too far, it'll be back again before long.

Just like JoJo.
Or Halley's comet.

[The Last Abode of Pando]

The metric system is so organised, and uniform. Each unit goes into the next largest unit 10 times. In the customary system, 12 inches go into a foot, 3 feet go into a yard, 1760 yards go into a mile.

Oh. It's way more than that.
1000 thous go into an inch, 12 inches go into a foot, 3 feet go into a yard, 22 yards go into a chain, 8 chains go into a furlong, 10 furlongs go into a mile, and 3 miles go into a league

So, in other words, the US should switch to the metric system.