Why does the US not go Metric?

reply to post by jeanne75018


No, the metric system is easy , we can count on our fingers or toes, assuming we all have ten...

The Imperial system is confusing with 12 ,14 and 16 as measures...
Not to mention Miles, Gallons etc...

reply to post by 12voltz


Yep, tyre sizes in Australia are a funny one...

My tyres are 225/17...

Metric width and imperial diameter..

Funny how that has stayed in Aistralia...

Originally posted by muzzleflash
That's pointless guys cmon now.

Just learn conversion and we will all be fine.

Open your mind to learn new ways to do things.

I myself, try to cover as many bases as I can in life. And I like knowing someone else's language.

Either side of the Metric vs Imperial argument you are on, you are being bias and ignorant.

Way to speed up your learning curve ?

You should try the British Met-perial system,

I'll buy myself a pint of beer and my partner a nice 175ml glass of wine
I'll get myself some planed 4"x2" timber in 2000mm lengths
I'm not even sure anymore how many litres per mile my car gets

If the British systems aim was to confuse we do a great job smash both systems together and see what happens..

[edit on 25/6/10 by thoughtsfull]

reply to post by thoughtsfull


Nice post but you have to start somewhere...

I'm just amazed to see Australia is "leaps and bounds" ahead of the UK or US...

I kinda feel special

reply to post by virgom129

The Imperial system is confusing with 12 ,14 and 16 as measures...

Not when you grow up with it! What measures are you thinking about that are 14 and 16? Twelve is obvious; there are 12 inches in a foot.

Not to mention Miles, Gallons etc...

5280 feet in a mile; four quarts in a gallon. It's not confusing. Just give it a chance!

Like it's been said before, in America, we learn both systems. So Americans aren't unaware of it or anything. We just don't want to use it. We shouldn't have to use it for day-to-day things if we don't want to either; since America is, for the time being, an independent nation.

I wonder if there is a parallel universe where the whole world uses the imperial system except Europe and people harp at them all the time.

Originally posted by thoughtsfull


You should try the British Met-perial system,

I'll buy myself a pint of beer and my partner a nice 175ml glass of wine

I'll get myself some planed 4"x2" timber in 2000mm lengths

I'm not even sure anymore how many litres per mile my car gets

If the British systems aim was to confuse we do a great job

smash both systems together and see what happens..

[edit on 25/6/10 by thoughtsfull]

Wow that is a real mess.

OK

Determine which system your friend knows. Since I think in terms of Imperial as a base *and lets assume I am talking to a European*, I would say it like this:

"I had around a third a pint of wine, or about 175ml of wine."

"I'll get myself some planed 4"x2" or 101.6x50.8mm timber in 6.56' or rather 2000mm lengths."

This way we can both actually know what the heck we are talking about no matter which system we use.

But if you learn conversions and use them, you can speak and understand both measurements fairly accurately.

I can envision a mile and a kilometer and a nautical mile. I have used them so much.

It is a language barrier for many.

That Met-perial system you mention sounds like an abomination.

reply to post by octotom


Not when you grow up with it! What measures are you thinking about that are 14 and 16? Twelve is obvious; there are 12 inches in a foot.


There are 16 oz in 1lb(pound)
There are 14 lb(pounds) in a stone.
Like you said, inches are easy..12....

So its confusing from the start...

Metric is easy...

reply to post by Point of No Return


Its just that i am getting so upset about this important thread,how can i sleep knowing that the metric system has been rejected by our allies.

reply to post by 12voltz


Yes you are right...

Israel says we must protect 1000km from our borders,
the US says , no way, we can only protect you to 600 miles...

Works for me....

My mum (63) is imperial. She just doesn't understand (or want to) metric, so I am her convertor.

MM

reply to post by muzzleflash


I think in both systems, as I beleive most do in the UK.. a tape measure/ruler/scales/thermometer have both measurements.. and we (mostly) can chop and change at will between systems..

I guess that further compounds the issue, picking which is easier to say depending on who is listening/situation, it's easier to ask for a 3' 6" door, or a bit of 4"x2" or what 17" rims a car dealer might have than the metric equivalent..

So only an abomination when used to deliberatly confuse

Originally posted by loner007
reply to post by virgom129

 

err the UK is still Imperial.

Precisely, the US and UK haven't abandoned their imperialistic way, that is why they still use the imperial system.
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Oh yeah btw.. prediction, americans (and britons alike) will have to use the metric system and may have to learn a second language.. forcefully if it's necessary And I do have an idea what that second language might be.

ps: You will have to accustomed yourself with the metric system for space travel.. among other things. So, it's a must.. eventually. The US military already has to use the metric system extensively, FYI.

[edit on Fri, 25 Jun 10 by Jazzyguy]

A decimal is more accurate than a fraction?

lol

Metric/imperial isn't really an issue though. I have to make conversions quite often, it isn't that hard.

[edit on 25-6-2010 by seenitall]

Originally posted by seenitall
A decimal is more accurate than a fraction?

lol

Fractions are for simplicity.

Decimals are for exact precision.

reply to post by thoughtsfull


Yes but here in Australia I'd say we are at least 80% into the metric era where the US is no where near 20%...

We ALL talk km,kg and litres...

reply to post by thoughtsfull


Yes but here in Australia I'd say we are at least 80% into the metric era where the US is no where near 20%...

We ALL talk km,kg and litres...

Err yeah I guess, but a fraction is a much more accurate measure than a decimal in certain cases.

eg. A particular fraction may not translate to a relatively short decimal.

Demicals may be accurate, but not always precise.

SI units ftw

[edit on 25-6-2010 by seenitall]

I think the biggest reason is that no one would like to buy their petrol per liter.

We don't hear the oil companies complaining either...

Originally posted by virgom129
America is the last modern country that refuses to go metric. Why?
I'm in Australia and we went metric in 1969.

Does the US want to hold on to the old system when metric is so much easier to learn and calculate?

I know it costs a lot to change all signage and equipment but why is the US the only Western Power that refuses to change??

lamar.colostate.edu...

Simple. If everyone else jumps off a cliff, it doesnt mean we want to.

I know that sounds rude but its the fact.

I remember that crap being foisted on us back in the early seventies. The frogs invented it, they're welcome to keep it as well.



[edit on 25/6/10 by felonius]

reply to post by felonius


So a better system, easier to learn is bad because the US says so???

Its time the US grew up if thats the case...You included...