Should America Start Using the Metric system?
- Thread starter CELTICEMPIRE
- Start date
Heck no, why should we? We're #1, let the rest of the world bend to our will. There's perks to being at the top, and getting to pick our measuring system is one of them. if the rest of the world wants to deal with us, they have to do it on our terms.
Schools have been telling kids that the metric system is going to be the standard 'in 10 to 20 years' for 60 years at least now. Still hasn't happened, and no reason it should.
Schools have been telling kids that the metric system is going to be the standard 'in 10 to 20 years' for 60 years at least now. Still hasn't happened, and no reason it should.
As an American and an engineer, I utterly despise the Imperial system. So many pointless units and conversion factors...
Then why don't we pick the superior system? Fine, for all of you old farts who hate learning, we can leave the Imperial values in parentheses for an equivalent length of time.
Then why don't we pick the superior system? Fine, for all of you old farts who hate learning, we can leave the Imperial values in parentheses for an equivalent length of time.
mangxema
I
We have a bastard hodgepodge of things. You go to the store and by Coke in cans and bottles measured in ounces, unless it's a big container, in which case it's in liters. For bottled water, a single bottle is in ounces, but if you get a big 24-pack, the bottles are half-liters. I know we should go full metric, but I personally object to temperature because there's no way I'm going to get used to that.
USA #1, by any metric.
Formaldehyde
Both Fair And Balanced
Metric is just a passing fad, and it is far too difficult to convert kilometers per hour into something useful like furlongs per fortnight.
Back in the 60s, the scientific community thought the entire world would be using mks within the next 10 years. Were they ever wrong. They never realized the defense contractors and military would refuse to change.
Back in the 60s, the scientific community thought the entire world would be using mks within the next 10 years. Were they ever wrong. They never realized the defense contractors and military would refuse to change.
We should ban all 9 millimeters out of principle.
History_Buff
Deity
- Joined
- Aug 12, 2001
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- 6,529
Why would have a problem with decimals? Would you honestly rather remember some stupid fraction?
A quarter meter = 0.250 m = 250 mm. Easy as pie.
warpus
Sommerswerd asked me to change this
For years I hated the fractions in imperial, but now I finally understand their usefulness. It took over 15 years but finally it has been revealed to me.. I still prefer the metric way, which is more accurate and mathematically more elegant, but at least I understand this imperial bs and don't mind using it as much
Absolutely. My measuring cups and spoons are "bilingual" - both units are marked on them, so it doesn't matter which system is used in whatever recipe book. Just make sure to use the same system consistently. But the metric system is more precise, and I have no problem at all visualizing a liter of some liquid. Ounces have me utterly baffled.
It's not so hard to get used to. People have a tendency to think in one system or the other, depending on what they want to measure. I think in miles, but also in grams, and whether I use inches or millimeters depends on what I'm measuring and how precise I have to be.
Huh. I never did understand Fahrenheit, and that's what I grew up with. I started learning metric in Grade 5 and finally temperatures started to make sense.
azzaman333
meh
No wonder Americans hate mathematics, being forced to use the imperial system for any measurements.
Winner
Diverse in Unity
Who are the two traitors who voted against?
Gurubashi, Silurian
Booooo!!!
Gurubashi, Silurian
Booooo!!!
At least you admit your true motivation and don't hide behind USA #1.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
Although I suppose that "convenience units" like mph would stay in use regardless. Germany still uses pre-SI units in various contexts, such as calories instead of Joule when talking about food or even horsepower instead of kW for cars.
Except they don't.
Winner
Diverse in Unity
jtb1127
Deity
They already learned this in middle school. They're fine. And the ones who aren't probably don't measure anything anyway.
Why would our congress want to pass such a law? Congress is pretty good at listening to big industry.
Mise
isle of lucy
Yes, obviously.
