USA & The Metric System

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

I think she's referring to the conversions from metric to American...

How exactly does that make the metric system itself confusing? That same logic would make the imperial system confusing as well, wouldn't it?

[Dyakovo]

The conversions. They're fucking confusing.

Sliding the decimal point is confusing, but multiplying by arbitrary factors like 3 and 12 and 5280 isn't?

I do it naturally. I grew up with the American system. It works. Why must we change it?

It's not really a matter of we must, just that the metric system, once you are accustomed to it is much simpler.

[Minnas]

It's not really a matter of we must, just that the metric system, once you are accustomed to it is much simpler.

I don't find it simple, but fine.

[Dyakovo]

I think she's referring to the conversions from metric to American...

How exactly does that make the metric system itself confusing? That same logic would make the imperial system confusing as well, wouldn't it?

It makes about as much sense as this:

RIRLP: The metric system sucks.
Me: Why?
RIRLP: I can't picture how big a kilometer is.

(Abridged version of an actual conversation I've had)

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

It makes about as much sense as this:

RIRLP: The metric system sucks.
Me: Why?
RIRLP: I can't picture how big a kilometer is.

(Abridged version of an actual conversation I've had)

A meter is about the length of the average sword.

[Dyakovo]

It's not really a matter of we must, just that the metric system, once you are accustomed to it is much simpler.

I don't find it simple, but fine.

Because you aren't used to it...

If you had grown up using it, or had started using it at a young age you wouldn't find it confusing.

[Ircania]

This poll should have different options for people from the USA and those from elsewhere.

Something like this:

USA: Yes
USA: No
Not-From-USA: Yes
Not-From-USA: No
I hate polls, and will post something else (this better be good).

Full Acknowledge.

But it's hard to chat or talk with american people whose allways use their inches. Even worse are cubic measurements as "oz" and "pints" (?).

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

The funny thing is is that we are already indirectly using the SI system, because all Imperial units are defined in terms of SI units. For example, the inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimeters.

[Geniasis]

While I am willing to admit that the metric system would be far easier to use, I vastly prefer the unit names of the Imperial System. I vastly prefer the sound of "miles" to the sound of "kilometers". Surely a compromise could be reached?

[Dyakovo]

The funny thing is is that we are already indirectly using the SI system, because all Imperial units are defined in terms of SI units. For example, the inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimeters.

Nonsense...

For example a foot is defined as being exactly as long as my foot in shoes, and a hand as the exact width of my hand...

OK, OK, they're not defined as such, but they do happen to match said criteria...

[The Future Kingdom]

metric system fails end of story

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

metric system fails end of story

Why?

[Gopferdammi]

Now, my grandfather was fluent in 5 different languages: Italian, French, German, English, and Swiss.

Huh. I wasn't even aware that we got our own unified language now...Well, the more you know

[Charlotte Ryberg]

The selection of units of measurement would depend of familiarity, ease and of course the Internations Standard units. So America should adopt metric system, but keep the existing and let the people choose.

[Aelosia]

You know, as an American, I'm getting tired of hearing that.

I mean, America is the only country that stomps around the world telling all the other countries that it is the greatest country on earth.

Imagine if you worked in an office, and there was a guy that came in every day and shouted "I'm the greatest motherfucker here!!! The rest of you guys are shit!" By the end of the week, you would have killed him.

Exactly my problem. I hate supremacists of any kind.

When I went to Europe, we went there to visit family over in Italy (Sicily). We did go into Italy. The second time over there, soon as we crossed over into Southern France, we stopped by a small restaurant in a small city. When we went in to be seated, the seating person told us in a very unkind manner that they do not serve Americans here. Now, my grandfather was fluent in 5 different languages: Italian, French, German, English, and Swiss. So he started speaking to the guy in French, explaining that he was Italian, and moved to American. The guy said that was even worse. Eventually he ran to get the maitre d. He comes in, threatening to call the police if we didn;t leave. Now, come on! How RUDE, and IGNORANT is that? Sorry, but I say that's even worse than any old foolish redneck our country can come up with. At least American rednecks are truly ignorant, with very little in the way of any sort of education. This was clearly a nice/respectable restaurant, and anyone who is able to run such a place is hardly uneducated.

Sicily is not even close to Southern France...I mean, but not even a little bit, and you don't have to pass through France to go to Sicily.

How is the Swiss language? Never heard of it before. I went to Switzerland and everyone was talking french and german. Heck, I had a swiss lover and he didn't speak swiss.

However, in Europe, that thing about the client always being right doesn't work. I can understand it is a cultural shock with citizens of the US.

[Gopferdammi]

How is the Swiss language? Never heard of it before. I went to Switzerland and everyone was talking french and german. Heck, I had a swiss lover and he didn't speak swiss.

Holy hell, I sincerely hope you never told a Swiss-German that you think that they speak german

[Hawkryl]

Honstly IMO the best thing would be to teach both in schools and use the appropiate one for each situation.
Imperial is IMO better for cooking and height measurements, SI is definitly better for Science and Engineering.

Using both wouldn't really be that hard.

[Lacadaemon]

The funny thing is is that we are already indirectly using the SI system, because all Imperial units are defined in terms of SI units. For example, the inch is defined as exactly 2.54 centimeters.

Taht is teh international inch. For the most part things in the US are still measured using US survey inches. (Not that any normal person would ever notice the difference).

And if you are doing high precision science stuffs, obviously you use SI these days.

[Pope Joan]

The first time I drove on the QEW in Hamilton, I was ecstatic.

"Woo hoo! Look at that, speed limit 100!" as I floor it.

"Um, honey, that's 100 kilomtres per hour? Less than 65 mph"

What a comedown.

[New Mitanni]

Money being wasted on conversions? Really? I didn;t know it costs a ton of money for someone to use a calculator once in a while....

No, it does not cost anything....not anything significant. Most engineers, and physicists already can measure in both directions. And if they need an EXACT measurement from one system to another, there are charts for that. It takes what? All of about 2 seconds to glance at a chart, or to use a calculator? Sorry, but that argument is not really all that convincing.

It would cost a great deal to change labeling, road signs, maps, product packaging and sizing, and a large number of other products and services that presently employ U.S. units.

When I went to Europe, we went there to visit family over in Italy (Sicily). We did go into Italy. The second time over there, soon as we crossed over into Southern France, we stopped by a small restaurant in a small city. When we went in to be seated, the seating person told us in a very unkind manner that they do not serve Americans here. Now, my grandfather was fluent in 5 different languages: Italian, French, German, English, and Swiss. So he started speaking to the guy in French, explaining that he was Italian, and moved to American. The guy said that was even worse. Eventually he ran to get the maitre d. He comes in, threatening to call the police if we didn;t leave. Now, come on! How RUDE, and IGNORANT is that? Sorry, but I say that's even worse than any old foolish redneck our country can come up with. At least American rednecks are truly ignorant, with very little in the way of any sort of education. This was clearly a nice/respectable restaurant, and anyone who is able to run such a place is hardly uneducated.

Rude and ignorant don't begin to describe it. They probably did you a favor, though, by keeping you from giving any of your hard-earned money to them.

However, if I had been in your situation, I would have thanked the owners for their hospitality, then left the premises. And on the way out, I would have, with any luck, left an SBD that would have permanently removed the paint from the crumbling walls of their fly-trap of a restaurant.

[Maurepas]

No, I like where its at right now, If you want the measurements in Metric, its there, if you want it in Standard, its there as well...

I think having both of them is one of our Cultural things, Im pretty sure they still do the same on some of the products in the UK for the same reason, IIRC...

[Terraliberty]

I'm loving that EVERYONE is saying 'the American system'. It's called Imperial!

It'll have to change eventually but the middle of a global recession is probably not the right time. The switch inevitably leads to hidden price rises.

BTW... what do gun nuts taste like?

[UnhealthyTruthseeker]

I'm loving that EVERYONE is saying 'the American system'. It's called Imperial!

It'll have to change eventually but the middle of a global recession is probably not the right time. The switch inevitably leads to hidden price rises.

BTW... what do gun nuts taste like?

Probably metally just like other nuts taste.

[Ifreann]

Money being wasted on conversions? Really? I didn;t know it costs a ton of money for someone to use a calculator once in a while....

In fact I said it was a tiny cost.

What, precisely, is the cost?

I have no idea.

---

metric system fails end of story

And what's your opinion on capitalisation? Should we drop that too, oh mighty lord?

[Maurepas]

I'm loving that EVERYONE is saying 'the American system'. It's called Imperial!

It'll have to change eventually but the middle of a global recession is probably not the right time. The switch inevitably leads to hidden price rises.

BTW... what do gun nuts taste like?

Meh, Ive always called it the "Standard system", cause thats what my tools say,

Although, upon further research, they may still have a point in calling it the "American System":
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/US_customary_system

The U.S. customary units show many similarities to the Imperial units which were used in the British Empire, and the two systems share common roots. However the Imperial system was not standardized until 1824: the U.S. customary system developed from earlier English units, and there are several differences from the Imperial system.