Should America Start Using the Metric system?

[CELTICEMPIRE]

I have thought for a long time that things would be so much easier if everyone just used the metric system, I mean, its based on multiples of ten making it so much more efficient. Also, almost every other nation in the world uses it. If you have a different opinion, please tell me, as I am always open to other peoples ideas.

 

[Skwink]

The metric system is too mainstream.

 

[bombshoo]

Maybe it's just the cook in me, but I find it really does make life much easier once you get it in your head what exactly a gram, liter, etc is.

 

[PlutonianEmpire]

The Metric system is the bane of my existence.

It is the penultimate evil.

It positively, absolutely, must, must, must, MUST be banned.

 

[Silurian]

No the UK needs some reminder of it glorious past and it is a good restriction on the trading ability of the USA

 

[GhostWriter16]

I have thought for a long time that things would be so much easier if everyone just used the metric system, I mean, its based on multiples of ten making it so much more efficient. Also, almost every other nation in the world uses it. If you have a different opinion, please tell me, as I am always open to other peoples ideas.

In terms of sheer logic, yeah it should be.

However, I don't want to as I'm not used to it.

At least keep miles, I don't want to have to translate driving speed into Kilometers

 

[_random_]

I think it should make the switch when I'm too senile to think about measuring things. I like the idea, but it's very difficult to orient your thinking that way, especially with temperature. It might be different if you become immersed in it. I'll have to ask Contre.

 

[SuperBeaverInc.]

Of course they should. Metric just makes so much sense as compared to the way you guys currently do things.

 

[Joecoolyo]

Naaaaaahhhh.

 

[emzie]

I think it should make the switch when I'm too senile to think about measuring things. I like the idea, but it's very difficult to orient your thinking that way, especially with temperature. It might be different if you become immersed in it. I'll have to ask Contre.

I never made a big effort to switch, but I adapted pretty easily. I think in kilometers for distance and speed. I'm getting better with temperature; sometimes I'll have to hit the button in my Jeep to switch to F to have a better idea of what 24 is... but it's happening less and less frequently. Weight, I understand kilos just fine but I don't think in it... everything is in pounds here.

 

[SuperBeaverInc.]

I never made a big effort to switch, but I adapted pretty easily. I think in kilometers for distance and speed. I'm getting better with temperature; sometimes I'll have to hit the button in my Jeep to switch to F to have a better idea of what 24 is... but it's happening less and less frequently. Weight, I understand kilos just fine but I don't think in it... everything is in pounds here.

If you want a very quicky way to estimate what something in Celsius is in Fahrenheit, multiple the temperature by 2 and add 32. 24°C is somewhere around 75°F if you multiply it properly, but multiply by 2 and adding 32 gives you 80°C. So just shave a few degrees off the number you get. For Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 and divide by 2, then add a few degrees.

 

[emzie]

If you want a very quicky way to estimate what something in Celsius is in Fahrenheit, multiple the temperature by 2 and add 32. 24°C is somewhere around 75°F if you multiply it properly, but multiply by 2 and adding 32 gives you 80°C. So just shave a few degrees off the number you get. For Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 and divide by 2, then add a few degrees.

I've known how to do that since like first grade

But that doesn't solve much. It still leaves me thinking in Fahrenheit ... I'm just converting one number to a scale I know better.

 

[GenjiKhan]

They should have changed to Metric system a long time ago . One of the reasons I didn't choose engineering to study at the college was because I should learn about how to switch meters to pounds and miles to kilometers . Learning a Medieval system just because some people doesn't want to agree with everybody is bad .

 

[SuperBeaverInc.]

I've known how to do that since like first grade

Well clearly they should have taught you Celsius instead

 

[warpus]

America using the metric system? And abandoning Burma and Liberia?

 

[JollyRoger]

We should take a very measured approach to any conversion.

 

[Ajidica]

Yes, ten thousand times yes.
The metric system is so much nicer then the Imperial system.

 

[Hygro]

I voted yes but there's something to be said for the diversity of thought that comes with thinking in different systems.

Also, metric system doesn't have comfortable divisions into quarters without using decimals. Lame.

 

[jtb1127]

Definitely yes. The metric system is awesome when compared to the cave-man style. And scientists and engineers already use it frequently because of it's practicality.

 

[squall78]

teaching the masses a new way to measure? they might protest.

sidenote: USA #1