Should America Start Using the Metric system?

[Kan' Sharuminar]

I keep confusing myself by using both systems without thought as to which is which. As in I use imperial for lengths, and metric for volume, for example.

It's like I'm stuck somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic

 

[Valka D'Ur]

Well, to be perfectly honest, I think that's more a function of you no longer being a small child than anything else.

Which, being more comfortable with Celsius, nor not understanding Fahrenheit in the first place?

FYI for people unfamiliar with how age relates to grades here: I was 9 years old in Grade 5 (most kids are 10 in grade 5, but I'd previously done Grades 2 and 3 in the same year). So I wasn't that small a child.

Actually, my advice to anybody who is having trouble learning metric: take a chemistry course. After my Grade 10 chemistry class in high school, I had no more trouble with understanding metric, at least with the stuff I use in my daily life.

Look at food packaging, where manufacturers place the metric measurements in parentheses after the terrible Imperial units. You have 12 oz. cola cans with (330 mL) tacked on.

You only have 330 mL pop cans? Ours are 355 mL. And I have absolutely no idea how many ounces that is.

When I first started cooking I was still getting used to the whole North American experience thing.. Having somewhat recently crossed the atlantic from Europe.

Sooo many phonecalls to my mom from University.. "So.. A teaspoon.. that's like.. one of those small spoons people use to stir tea with? I don't have one! And how does that make sense anyway? Are all teaspoons in the world the same size or something? COOKING IS HARD"

Yeah, that's a problem. Not all teaspoons are created equal. Some recipes are trial-and-error. That's why I think a basic batch of kitchenware should include the same measuring things you'd find in a chemistry lab.

And then there's the "level" teaspoonful and the "heaping" teaspoonful. Again, it's a matter of trial-and-error.

 

[Artifis]

Metric FTW. I think a quantifying system based on multiples of 10 is much easier to handle.

I keep confusing myself by using both systems without thought as to which is which. As in I use imperial for lengths, and metric for volume, for example.

It's like I'm stuck somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic

Don't worry. You can share your sentiments with the Ascension Islanders.

 

[Aleksey_aka_al]

It would be really bad if every part of the world was identical to any other in everything.

 

[Marla_Singer]

The metric system is a bit like football (soccer) and Spielberg's upcoming movie Tintin: too European to make the majority of Americans comfortable with the idea they could like them.

Let's never forget that the US is a country founded by migrants who fled Europe because of crap life. Recognizing Europe can have some cool stuff is a bit like removing the very purpose of their country's foundation (I'm exagerating but I'm sure there's a bit of that, unconsciously speaking of course).

But even worse than simply being "European", the metric system has been essentially invented by the French, which makes its case even worse for many Americans. The French agglomerates all US conception of what is the most miserable, pathetic and mediocre in the mankind: cowardice, rudeness, arrogance, treachery, hypocrisy, stinkiness, pompousness. With such a perception of the country, it's rather logical to conclude nothing good can come out of it.

Now it's true that with globalization and internet, all countries are becoming more open than ever to the rest of the world. The US is no exception. And these old "traditional" clichés of Europe will probably slowly die with time, thus making the idea of European (and other international) influences more acceptable over the country.

 

[peter grimes]

What cost?

Well, for my little shop it would cost at least $1000 to replace all the standard fasteners, taps, dies, and such with metric ones. Probably more than that, now that I think on it...

And I'm just a littel 1 man shop. Mutliply that by the thousand or so other little one man shops in NYC, and extrapolate from there. And that's just 1 industry!

 

[aronnax]

Well, for my little shop it would cost at least $1000 to replace all the standard fasteners, taps, dies, and such with metric ones. Probably more than that, now that I think on it...

And I'm just a littel 1 man shop. Mutliply that by the thousand or so other little one man shops in NYC, and extrapolate from there. And that's just 1 industry!

It could simply be a passive thing. The next bunch of stock you order, order Metric and then have measurements for both systems but stop ordering Imperial ones.
Once the Imperial stock diminishes, you will just have metric.

 

[JohnRM]

I absolutely feel that the US ought to use the metric system.

 

[Leoreth]

But even worse than simply being "European", the metric system has been essentially invented by the French, which makes its case even worse for many Americans. The French agglomerates all US conception of what is the most miserable, pathetic and mediocre in the mankind: cowardice, rudeness, arrogance, treachery, hypocrisy, stinkiness, pompousness.

Damn, now I want to change my vote

 

[GenMarshall]

No, we are happy with our feet, inches, and miles.

 

[Lillefix]

No, we are happy with our feet, inches, and miles.

You wouldn't say the same after a physics course.

 

[History_Buff]

I do prefer Fahrenheit to Celcius though, it is more precise...

No it isn't. If precision is ever required, you'll see the temperature stated with a decimal component (12.3°C, or better yet 285.45K). In any case, a 1°C or 1°F difference is indistinguishable to the human senses, given that so many other factors affect it (wind chill, UV index, etc.).

 

[Cheetah]

1°C or 1°F is indistinguishable to the human senses

1°C or 1°F difference I'm sure you mean.

 

[Truronian]

So do American's learn maths and science in imperial? How far through education do you have to get before metric becomes the go-to system?

 

[History_Buff]

1°C or 1°F difference I'm sure you mean.

Indeed I do!

 

[GenMarshall]

So do American's learn maths and science in imperial? How far through education do you have to get before metric becomes the go-to system?

Metric is very common in the science fields. In the average world, metric has no place other than supplemental measurements found in speedometers, bottles, measuring cups and spoons, and rulers. Even then we still love our standard measurement (what you call imperial) we grew up with em.

Heck even our mile posts, speed limit signs are in standard.

 

[Lillefix]

Actually it's called us customary units not imperial units since they are slightly different.

 

[uppi]

As I learned yesterday, it is possible to use a 3/16'' balldriver to fasten a 5mm screw. But I would prefer only one set of tools was needed (and I had to come back with the correct 5mm balldriver to check, anyway).

 

[kochman]

No it isn't. If precision is ever required, you'll see the temperature stated with a decimal component (12.3°C, or better yet 285.45K). In any case, a 1°C or 1°F difference is indistinguishable to the human senses, given that so many other factors affect it (wind chill, UV index, etc.).

If you get to the decimals, no system is more precise, because you could just decimal it out forever...
The point being, 78 Fahrenheit is more precise than 10 Celsius...

 

[Leoreth]

Precise at what?