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| why is the US not Metric |
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| xrunner:
--- Quote from: rstofer on February 25, 2020, 06:28:20 pm --- This entire debate is meaningless because the person in the street doesn't care about units, doesn't understand metric and could care less about the subject. --- End quote --- LOL that's true! :-DD |
| ebastler:
--- Quote from: rstofer on February 25, 2020, 06:28:20 pm ---What I am against is a) changing the basis for our entire country and b) the whining and sniveling of people trying to coerce a change. We aren't going to change our base units, ever, and foreigners are not going to impact our decision. --- End quote --- I struggle to understand why practically all posters from the US in this thread take this matter so personally. So many posts that dither between being defensive, insulted, or digging in your heels. Why? Most of you do take an objective view, acknowledging the pros and cons of the different systems in different applications, which I much appreciate. But when it comes to drawing conclusions, the stance is no longer dispassionate and objective, but either defensive, stubborn or aggressive. That quote above might come straight from the NRA... :P Most of the non-US posters here have given you little reason to respond like that. The few (and unfortunately prolific) posters which clearly do try to provoke are getting exactly the responses they are looking for, and get encouraged to try the next round of escalation. Don't do them the favor... |
| rdl:
I know it's been said before, but I'll repeat it anyway. Very few Americans care one way or the other what measurement system is used. Metric or US customary, we're fine with either and use both on a daily basis. I don't know why this is so hard for some people to understand. The US officially went Metric back in the seventies. Today, America is as Metric as it needs to be. No more, no less. Hand-wringing and fretting about it by random people on the internet will never make any difference. |
| rstofer:
--- Quote from: ebastler on February 25, 2020, 07:33:36 pm --- --- Quote from: rstofer on February 25, 2020, 06:28:20 pm ---What I am against is a) changing the basis for our entire country and b) the whining and sniveling of people trying to coerce a change. We aren't going to change our base units, ever, and foreigners are not going to impact our decision. --- End quote --- I struggle to understand why practically all posters from the US in this thread take this matter so personally. So many posts that dither between being defensive, insulted, or digging in your heels. Why? --- End quote --- No, most of the foreign posts come across as denigrating, proclaiming how ignorant we must be not to see the wisdom of changing our system of units. We're not ignorant (we did walk on the Moon and nobody else has), we just don't see a compelling reason to make the change (at the street level) and the subject gets tiring after a while. --- Quote ---Most of you do take an objective view, acknowledging the pros and cons of the different systems in different applications, which I much appreciate. But when it comes to drawing conclusions, the stance is no longer dispassionate and objective, but either defensive, stubborn or aggressive. That quote above might come straight from the NRA... --- End quote --- See, there you go! Denigrating one of the most powerful organizations in the US with over 5 million members - and we VOTE!. Personally, I'm a Life Member at the highest level (Benefactor). I've been a life member for decades. Off topic: What I admire about Germany: Your autobahn system is magnificent and surpassed only by your train system (and the Strassenbahn). Dinkelacker beer is my favorite and I enjoyed my time stationed in Mannheim. What a great place! Circa '66-'67. We grabbed up a lot of your machinists in the early '60s and the shop where I worked was primarily German immigrants. They did GREAT work - high precision all the way. ETA: I should point out that where I worked at the time was heavily involved in the space program. We not only grabbed up your scientists, we used your very qualified machinists to build parts. Thanks! Seriously, I was just a kid at the time. The fellows in the shop taught me a lot about machine work. Good people! --- Quote ---Most of the non-US posters here have given you little reason to respond like that. The few (and unfortunately prolific) posters which clearly do try to provoke are getting exactly the responses they are looking for, and get encouraged to try the next round of escalation. Don't do them the favor... --- End quote --- Look at the thread title as an American. Does it come across as a genuine question or the start of another units war? Every one of these threads (and this isn't the only one) degenerates into rancor. Hey! We get it! We don't use metric (at the street level)! But what the other people need to understand is that we are aware of metric, we simply don't care. We're not going to change and, really, that's all there is to say on the topic. The other 58 pages of jawing back and forth are meaningless because they won't cause a change. It's just US slamming (because we're the target of the topic) and it gets tiring. But I still like to stir the pot from time to time... |
| xrunner:
--- Quote from: rstofer on February 25, 2020, 06:28:20 pm ---Wait another 25 years and see if things have changed. My guess is no but something could happen to overcome the inertia. I don't know what it would be. If Sputnik didn't do it, I don't know what will. --- End quote --- |
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