USA & The Metric System

[Sibirsky]

You do realise that the IMPERIAL system you are using at the moment has a bit of a telling name, don't you?
You know, as in "British Imperialism"?

Except the US doesn't use Imperial Measurements.

Could have fooled me :

The United States customary system of units of measurement (also called the English, Imperial or American) is the most commonly used system of measurement in the United States...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_customary_units

That's precisely why. The Brits founded this place and established colonies. The founders were Brits and used the English system of measurement. Shocker.

[Dumb Ideologies]

I don't mind, so long as you dastardly Americans convert to metricity.

For those who don't know, in this system the standard electric chair voltage equates to 100 metric volts, and the amperage above which the body of a criminal will begin to cook (I believe this is somewhere around five imperial amps) converts to 10 metric amps.

Resistance? That's just futile. You don't find that funny? Fine, I'll go ohm.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

Could have fooled me :

It shares *some* units. But it's a different system. Not all the similar named units are the same either. The US gallon and pint are smaller. The Imperial system doesn't have quarts &c. USCS doesn't have the stone - just uses pounds. The tonnes are different.

And technically - though the difference is hardly noticeable - the inches, yards and miles are all very slightly different, with the Imperial measurements being slightly larger.

(And I'm not sure, but I don't think Imperial uses the peck, rather fluid Oz. for measurement of dry volume).

Edit: The cwt is different too.

That seems like an even stronger argument to go metric. I read on wikipedia that many countries used to use the same names for very different measurements. In some countries, a 'mile' could be as much as five US miles. That's useful information to know before running a marathon.

Edit: BTW: My children will primarily learn and visualize measurements in metric. I'm doing this because I prefer metrics and because it will add to the confusion of those around them later in life.

[Lacadaemon]

Essentially, none of these points change the fact that the system was taken over from the British Imperial system. So to claim that you don't want to take on the Metric System because it's just European Imperialism as that poster did is just, well, bollocks.

The system wasn't taken over from the British Imperial system. The Imperial system didn't exist until many years after the US gained its independence and by that time the US was well on its way to defining its own system. Hence all the differences. Apart from the common history in English measurements, the Imperial system has nothing to do with USCS. (Indeed, had it never come into being, the US would most likely still have the system it has).

And I think the other poster is worried about European cultural imperialism, which isn't exactly an unfair charge.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

Essentially, none of these points change the fact that the system was taken over from the British Imperial system. So to claim that you don't want to take on the Metric System because it's just European Imperialism as that poster did is just, well, bollocks.

The system wasn't taken over from the British Imperial system. The Imperial system didn't exist until many years after the US gained its independence and by that time the US was well on its way to defining its own system. Hence all the differences. Apart from the common history in English measurements, the Imperial system has nothing to do with USCS. (Indeed, had it never come into being, the US would most likely still have the system it has).

And I think the other poster is worried about European cultural imperialism, which isn't exactly an unfair charge.

Well considering that the only three countries in the world that don't use primarily or exclusively the metric system are the US, Myanmar and Liberia, it's kind of hard to call it 'European Cultural Imperialism'. But if it is, I think they won.

[Lacadaemon]

That seems like an even stronger argument to go metric. I read on wikipedia that many countries used to use the same names for very different measurements. In some countries, a 'mile' could be as much as five US miles. That's useful information to know before running a marathon.

Edit: BTW: My children will primarily learn and visualize measurements in metric. I'm doing this because I prefer metrics and because it will add to the confusion of those around them later in life.

Counterpoint: Footlong hotdogs.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

That seems like an even stronger argument to go metric. I read on wikipedia that many countries used to use the same names for very different measurements. In some countries, a 'mile' could be as much as five US miles. That's useful information to know before running a marathon.

Edit: BTW: My children will primarily learn and visualize measurements in metric. I'm doing this because I prefer metrics and because it will add to the confusion of those around them later in life.

Counterpoint: Footlong hotdogs.

meterlong hotdogs > footlong hotdogs.

[Lacadaemon]

Well considering that the only three countries in the world that don't use primarily or exclusively the metric system are the US, Myanmar and Liberia, it's kind of hard to call it 'European Cultural Imperialism'. But if it is, I think they won.

They have been very successful with it, no doubt because it's a well thought out system and uses base ten. But I'm against this manic drive to get everyone to measure things the same way. I'm a little surprised you are too. I would have thought you would have wanted a measurement system based on prime numbers or somesuch.

[Lacadaemon]

meterlong hotdogs > footlong hotdogs.

Not practical when you are driving.

[Dumb Ideologies]

meterlong hotdogs > footlong hotdogs.

Not practical when you are driving.

Neither is a bouncy castle in the front seat allowing you to jump up through the sunroof while traveling at high speed. Two reasons why driving sucks.

[Tiesabre]

Eh. Just forcing a conversion isn't going to work and would only result in millions of hopelessly confused Americans. We've been slowly but surely converting over.

The solution I see isn't in completely getting rid of the US standard but teaching it in school along side the metric system. Everybody wins and we American assimilate like everybody seems to wants us too while keeping the US standard as well.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

Well considering that the only three countries in the world that don't use primarily or exclusively the metric system are the US, Myanmar and Liberia, it's kind of hard to call it 'European Cultural Imperialism'. But if it is, I think they won.

They have been very successful with it, no doubt because it's a well thought out system and uses base ten. But I'm against this manic drive to get everyone to measure things the same way. I'm a little surprised you are too. I would have thought you would have wanted a measurement system based on prime numbers or somesuch.

Much like my opinion of time, I believe if one is going to set an arbitrary linear value for a non-linear construct, the least one can do is apply it accurately. Besides, my plan to adopt the smoot as the standard unit of length has fallen on deaf ears, so the physiccy side of me pushed the metric system instead.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

meterlong hotdogs > footlong hotdogs.

Not practical when you are driving.

Neither is a bouncy castle in the front seat allowing you to jump up through the sunroof while traveling at high speed. Two reasons why driving sucks.

I'm not prepared to give up on either quite yet. ANy volunteers for another round of experiments?

[Tiesabre]

I'm not prepared to give up on either quite yet. ANy volunteers for another round of experiments?

Is it true your experiments have a high mortality rate?

[Cabra West]

meterlong hotdogs > footlong hotdogs.

Not practical when you are driving.

Half a meter, so. Still beats a foot

[Lunatic Goofballs]

I'm not prepared to give up on either quite yet. ANy volunteers for another round of experiments?

Is it true your experiments have a high mortality rate?

On the contrary, I haven't died once.

[Tiesabre]

On the contrary, I haven't died once.

In that case sign me up!

[Lunatic Goofballs]

On the contrary, I haven't died once.

In that case sign me up!

Sure, just sign right here on the contract, the liability waiver and the million dollar life insurance policy naming me the sole beneficiary.

[Issas]

Change would be good. But I just can't get metric temperature lol.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

Change would be good. But I just can't get metric temperature lol.

Really? That always struck me as one of the easiest. My only real complaint about it is that Fahrenheit can measure more sensitively without resorting to another decimal place because there are 180 graduations between the freezing and boiling points of water instead of only 100.

[Tiesabre]

On the contrary, I haven't died once.

In that case sign me up!

Sure, just sign right here on the contract, the liability waiver and the million dollar life insurance policy naming me the sole beneficiary.

-signs-

[Swazderland]

Converting would be a nightmare, it's much easier to stay.

no it isnt (cause your measurements are screwed up)

[Eternal Mysteries]

Yes I am on something ! It is called "I don't have to believe or live by any system of measurement that slave nations use to validate existence and liquidity to prove you are in control, and not in denial "that you are in mortal fear of your lives"! Go ahead, set yourself up for the ultimate *** reaming, and don't cry if it you take it dry.

[Lunatic Goofballs]

Yes I am on something ! It is called "I don't have to believe or live by any system of measurement that slave nations use to validate existence and liquidity to prove you are in control, and not in denial "that you are in mortal fear of your lives"! Go ahead, set yourself up for the ultimate *** reaming, and don't cry if it you take it dry.

I like you. You're silly.

[Eternal Mysteries]

Silly is a silly does.

Do you know how?