Should America Start Using the Metric system?

[amadeus]

Absolutely not, and I will explain why. You're driving in America and you're going 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. A cop pulls you over.

American system: you know you were going 10 over back there? Normally I'd write you a ticket, but I'm just going to let you off with a warning this time. Slow down out there, OK?

Metric system: you know you were going 16 over back there? We can't have people flagrantly violating the laws here! $500 fine.

 

[History_Buff]

See, if we just made a meter 12 inches long, SO many of our problems would be solved...

But an inch is already legally defined as 0.0254m. No taksies-backsies!

What will always boggle my mind, and I probably point this out every time this topic has a thread, is why all you non-Americans even care one way or the other? Me, personally, I couldn't care less if <insert random country here> uses the metric system or uses stones and ells. It's their business, and we can do some conversions if we need to interact with them. But for some reason, you guys almost seem to get offended that we refuse to embrace the metric system. It's just odd.

It would just be so much easier, given how much international trade happens. I routinely deal with technical documents that state everything in customary units, and it's annoying having to covert them to metric. Particularly when you do the conversion, and it becomes immediately clear that the measurement was actually done in metric, and then converted to customary.

I'm sure it goes the other way too. Easier for lots of people.

 

[Winner]

Get your own movies and shows!

We have them but they suck (Mostly ) That said, 95% of American TV and films suck too, but since you produce so bloody lot of them, there's always something worth watching.

Like Homeland, for instance.

 

[aronnax]

Absolutely not, and I will explain why. You're driving in America and you're going 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. A cop pulls you over.

American system: you know you were going 10 over back there? Normally I'd write you a ticket, but I'm just going to let you off with a warning this time. Slow down out there, OK?

Metric system: you know you were going 16 over back there? We can't have people flagrantly violating the laws here! $500 fine.

The Imperial system makes policemen soft and ineffective?

 

[Leoreth]

Get your own movies and shows!

Fortunately, British shows are better anyway, which you are even nice enough to prove by making worse copies of them.

Absolutely not, and I will explain why. You're driving in America and you're going 10 miles per hour over the speed limit. A cop pulls you over.

American system: you know you were going 10 over back there? Normally I'd write you a ticket, but I'm just going to let you off with a warning this time. Slow down out there, OK?

Metric system: you know you were going 16 over back there? We can't have people flagrantly violating the laws here! $500 fine.

But 10 mph and 16 km/h speed difference is (roughly) the same speed! So why should the policeman's reaction be different? Your analogy is unfair because it makes the km/h using cop react as if he is used to mph, when there is really no reason to.

 

[dIZZyBlIZZy]

But 10 mph and 16 km/h speed difference is (roughly) the same speed! So why should the policeman's reaction be different? Your analogy is unfair because it makes the km/h using cop react as if he is used to mph, when there is really no reason to.

While the police officer's reaction would probably stay the same, it would not be for the reason stated here (at least in the near future). You are under the assumption that immediate implementation would mean immediate acceptance, but nothing could be further from the truth. While all measurements would need a one time conversion, people will need to time to readjust the new system. All current measuring implements will become obsolete, and most tools used to make those measurements will as well (throw away your old measuring tape). In other words, if a total change was made, then the officer will the next day be used to mph, but a year later would used to km/h, at which point your reasoning becomes more accurate.

 

[mitsho]

The whole thing reminds me of this little story here:

The Germans and the Swiss were building a bridge over the Rhine and both begun at the same time. However, both nations used different zero-points for sea level: The Swiss went from their lowest point (River Rhone) to its sea which is the Mediterranean at Marseille while the Germans measured in Hamburg. But the Mediterranean and the North Sea are not on the same height. Which resulted in the German Side being 54 cm higher than the Swiss.

And no, that's not a joke. That happened 6 years ago.

So, of course everyone should measure with the same units. Occams Razor = less possibilities for (fatal) mistakes. Although I like amadeus argument for a no, that's certainly also true

 

[Akka]

There is a reason the metric system went from one single country to nearly the whole world. It's simply better.
So of course USA should use it (for their own sake).
Now, if people wants to keep outdated relics of another age that make things more difficult, well, it's their right to be absurd.

 

[LucyDuke]

Don't forget the Mars Climate Orbiter, mitsho.

The problem, guys, is that we're the only aberration. There's no reason to stick to crappy confusing traditional units, we're just lazy. If we could stop being stubborn children and learn something (simple to learn, btw, you should be embarrassed if you're crying about it) then nobody would have to waste time on pointless translations to and from a crappy confusing system. Except two crappy little countries that can keep being stubborn children because they're irrelevant. We're relevant. Step it up.

 

[dIZZyBlIZZy]

Don't forget the Mars Climate Orbiter, mitsho.

The problem, guys, is that we're the only aberration. There's no reason to stick to crappy confusing traditional units, we're just lazy. If we could stop being stubborn children and learn something (simple to learn, btw, you should be embarrassed if you're crying about it) then nobody would have to waste time on pointless translations to and from a crappy confusing system. Except two crappy little countries that can keep being stubborn children because they're irrelevant. We're relevant. Step it up.

That makes it sounds like a nation should only change because most others do so. Should the motive really be about being in the in crowd?

If it got implemented, there would still need to be a one time conversion of everything (ie I'd need to convert my home size from ft^2 to meters^2), but after that the need to learn to convert would become irrelevant because the old way would be completely gone.

In the long run though, is either changing to metric or staying of any importance to someone with a 4th grade knowledge of arithmetic? How difficult is it to multiply by 0.621 or 1.6? Is it so hard to cooking accessories that have both systems on it?

 

[Lillefix]

That makes it sounds like a nation should only change because most others do so. Should the motive really be about being in the in crowd?

It's a good enough reason for NASA and the American military.

 

[LucyDuke]

Oh, no, that's not definitely the only reason. But it's a pretty big reason now that we're the only holdout. It's not the biggest reason - the biggest reason is that it's a better system.

We're already converting crap all the time, and it's simple, but it's pointless. Not just converting to and from metric, but it takes more than moving a decimal point to convert within inch/foot/(yard)/mile fluid-ounce/cup/pint/quart/gallon ounce/pound/ton and by the way what the hell is an acre?

 

[bhsup]

As you said, it's already happening slowly. Don't force this crap on those of us that don't want it. It'll happen slowly over time, and nothing is keeping you from using it now if you prefer. I'm sure there are metric cookbooks you can order if you prefer.

Oh, also, what's "(simple to learn, btw, you should be embarrassed if you're crying about it)" that about? This has nothing to do with learning it. I learned it just fine. It just happens to suck and I prefer our way better.

 

[mitsho]

@Lucy Duke I had to look up the Mars Orbiter, but yeah, same problem!

That makes it sounds like a nation should only change because most others do so. Should the motive really be about being in the in crowd?

If it got implemented, there would still need to be a one time conversion of everything (ie I'd need to convert my home size from ft^2 to meters^2), but after that the need to learn to convert would become irrelevant because the old way would be completely gone.

In the long run though, is either changing to metric or staying of any importance to someone with a 4th grade knowledge of arithmetic? How difficult is it to multiply by 0.621 or 1.6? Is it so hard to cooking accessories that have both systems on it?

Well, yes and no. Theoretically, we with a basic education should be able to do a conversion of units all the time, but do we? The human mind functions a lot with guessing and estimating, both of which normally we tend to do in miliseconds. We compare things while driving for example. If you have ever driven a car in England or Australia or vice versa you will understand just how strongly we are set in our ways. While I drive normally here, I do not think a lot, most of the movements come automatically, while if I drive in London, I have to be careful and alert all the time...

That is not directly linked to the criticism above, but here it comes: When it is so easy to make a mistake, should we not eliminate that possibility at all if we can? Murphy's Law after all.

Go back three centuries and the difficulties the French had in introducing the metric system and kicking all the different ones out thus creating a bigger market, bigger efficiencies and less mistakes in translating = less trouble. Also true for currencies and a central clock time btw. Just think of the trouble we would have if we didn't have time zones a la Greenwich.

Thus yes, the Americans need to follow the rest of the world in that aspect, as the rest of the world has followed the Americans in a lot of things just because they are powerful (f.e. New York Stock Exchange Rules, and look where that has led us). So, for once, be less stubborn, because we will not cave into your archaic measuring system.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

and by the way what the hell is an acre?

Link to video.

See 1:49

 

[dIZZyBlIZZy]

...by the way what the hell is an acre?

The land plot around my front yard, or 4/5 the area of my backyard. That's all I can tell you on that.

That is not directly linked to the criticism above, but here it comes: When it is so easy to make a mistake, should we not eliminate that possibility at all if we can? Murphy's Law after all.

I won't disagree with that, but also you have to consider international trading (troy ounce and barrel). These are not measured on either scale so really doesn't this only work on a domestic level?

 

[ParadigmShifter]

It's the area of a rectangle whose width is 1 furlong and whose length is 1 chain. Did you not watch the video?

 

[bhsup]

There are 640 acres in a square mile. Really, you all should know that off the top of your head. I don't know it precisely, but an acre by feet is a little over 200x200.

 

[ParadigmShifter]

Indeed. A furlong is 1/8th of a mile and a chain is 1/10th of a furlong.

 

[dIZZyBlIZZy]

It's the area of a rectangle whose width is 1 furlong and whose length is 1 chain. Did you not watch the video?

I just did after you posted this. Sorry, I assumed from the title it was meant for sarcasm. Lesson learned in judging a book by it's cover.