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why is the US not Metric
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KL27x:

--- Quote ---Man, why so melodramatic? Is the US adhering to a global standard that has been proved to work better than all the previous versions a token of resignation?

Come on! You should celebrate.
--- End quote ---
:-//
Erm, no. First off, you read to much into "take a knee." It's not a matter of pride to me. I could give a shit.

Changing the definition of an inch from "that piece of metal" kept in a dark safe at a specific temperature and humidity in our department of national weights and measures to being a derivative of cm has nothing to do with metric being better or worse. If you want a tomato to be a tomato no matter what country, you have to choose one or the other to be the standard. Aside from having more traction, the thing that is nice about metric is how it is "calibrated." If you get into a squabble with someone else over what a kg actually is, you could theoretically actually do the measurements rather than have to take the word of the guy that has "that piece of metal."

Once you've agreed on that, you ought not care if some other people prefer to express height on a drivers license as 1.49 meter, or 14.9 decimeters, or 149 cm. Or feet, or inches or hands. As long as the conversion has been defined, and the calibration is from the same standard. This standard which we've all agree upon is derived from the earth, which we all have equal access to. You think we won't need to know how to use ratios and do conversions, anymore, if we convince stupid Americans to convert to the "superior" metric system?

The reason imperial will take centuries more to die out, if it ever does, is because it's not a big deal. Other than a few exceptions, say brit pints vs US pints, imperial has all its hens in order, and has had them that way since centuries before metric was even born. If there were many kinds of imperial (and/or other alternatives) measurements, then it would be a bigger deal. The reason France invented metric and europe adopted it is because they were living with hundreds of different competing standards, at the time.
bsfeechannel:

--- Quote from: tooki on November 04, 2019, 10:05:58 pm ---So... even if the USA could magically switch to 100.0% metric within the hour, you’d still be unhappy, because they didn’t change sooner? Sounds to me like another reason to not bother, if people are just gonna be mad no matter what.

--- End quote ---

That's not the question. I was not unhappy because the vintage drill was imperial. It was vintage. I'd be if it was a modern drill and I had to pay extra just because of its "imperiality". That made me speculate about how much it costs for those who insist in maintaining this outdated system of units.
bsfeechannel:

--- Quote from: KL27x on November 04, 2019, 11:17:25 pm ---The reason imperial will take centuries more to die out, if it ever does, is because it's not a big deal. Other than a few exceptions, say brit pints vs US pints, imperial has all its hens in order, and has had them that way since centuries before metric was even born. If there were many kinds of imperial (and/or other alternatives) measurements, then it would be a bigger deal. The reason France invented metric and europe adopted it is because they were living with hundreds of different competing standards, at the time.

--- End quote ---

Imperial, besides its many shortcomings already discussed, plays yet another detrimental role in the minds of those who defend its existence.

AvE likes to play a joke on degrees celsius by calling them degrees "science", as if science had a bad effect over machinists. He likes to pronounce métrique, instead of metric, as if anything metric was foreign. Granted, it is a joke, and I laugh at it, but this is far from the truth. 

I can see that there is this mindset that metric is for engineering and science, that's enough, what else do you want? It is not meant for the common person.

However metric, as I showed with the cake recipes, is used all over the world in the kitchen, the same way it is used in the construction site, the groceries store, the workshop or laboratory.

Metric is for everybody. In metricated countries, metric is taught for people to use everywhere. And they actually do.

So it doesn't matter how many "hens" imperial has "in order" or how long it's out there. It is dying a slowly painful death, and causing damage while it still exists.
Altair8800:
Just for fun...  A blast from the past from the UseNet Oracle...  Long but fun...   ;D

=====
> Oh great Oracle whose keyboard never has crumbs,
> Will the USA ever go metric?

And in response, thus spake the Oracle:

Ladies and gentlemen, we are here today to determine the United States
measurement challenge once and for all.   :box:   :box:

In the blue corner we have our current US champion for many years,
weighing in at 220.4623 pounds, our hero: Igor Imperial.

In the red corner we have, weighing in at 100kg all the way from
France, and currently storming the world wherever he goes, our
challenger: Mean Mr Metric.

It will be a great fight today and one that may change the course of
history. Can Mean Mr Metric defeat Igor Imperial and change US life
forever, or will Igor outwit the classy opponent and maintain his place
in history.

We are about to find out.

Gentlemen, I want a clean fight. Shake hands and come out fighting on
the bell.

Round 1: "DONG"

They both approach each other and meet in the middle of the ring.
Metric has trained well and opens with the first punch:

How many feet in a mile?

Imperial answers after a moments hesitation with:

5280

"Good exchange there Bob, hasn't worried either of them."

"No Bill, it's still neck and neck, although Imperial took a fraction
of a second to divert that question."

Imperial decides to attack with a similar strategy:

How many metres in a kilometre?

Instantly, Metric flashes back with:

1000

"Wasn't that a great counter by Metric eh Bob - so quick. He's looking
good tonight"

"Sure is Bill"

Imperial goes on the attack again with a curly one:

How much does a litre of water weigh?

Metric comes back quickly with:

1 kilogram

"Great offense from Imperial there Bob. Combining both measurement of
mass and volume - well thought out."

"Sure thing Bill, but I think he may have left himself a bit vulnerable
here. If I can guess, Metric should follow up with..."

How much does a pint of water weigh?

Imperial reels back with such a tough one. He hesitates.

"Thought he'd do that Bill, he's looking shaky. I wonder how he's
trained for this?"

Suddenly, Imperial's eyes light up and he comes back with:

1.0431758 pounds

"Well Bob, our champ got out of that one but it was a bit messy eh?"

"It was Bill. I think he was lucky there. Metric should come back with
a tough one here if he's got it in him."

As Metric prepares for an offense, the champ Imperial slips in a sneaky
one:

If 1mm of rain falls on 1 square metre of roof, how much water
is collected?

"What a shot Bob! That'll hurt him."

Metric defends without a flinch:

1 litre

"No Bill, Metric has trained too well and has got too much ability.
That reply was instananeous. You know, I think he should follow the
same strategy as before and follow up with..."

If 1 point of rain falls on 1 square foot of roof, how much water is
collected?

"Imperial is down!"

1 2 3 4 5 6 7...

7.97922 fl oz

"What an answer! Our boy's still got guts!"

"DONG"

End of Round 1.

"Bill, that bell came just at the right time. This fight shouldn't last
the next round."

"You're right Bob, but that guy from France is just too good.

Round 2: "DONG"

Imperial comes out and slips in a gentle offense:

How many grams in a kilogram?

Metric defends:

1000

"Playground stuff there Bob."

"Yeah Bill"

Metric goes for the kill:

How many grains in an ounce?

"Uh oh. I think this is it Bob."

Imperial stutters:

uuuhhhhmmmmmmm. Which system?

"Oh Bill, he's answered with a question. That's not following the
spirit of the game!"

Metric replies:

All three.

"Curtains Bill. I'm sure."

Imperial responds:

Well in Avoirdupois its 437.5, in Apothecary its 480 and the other
one is... What other one?

Metric jabs:

You tell me.

Imperial falls to the floor.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

"Knocked out Bob!"

"Yeah Bill. I guess we have to get used to the idea of a new system
here in the US of A. This guy is a mean lean measuring machine."

"Just let me interrupt you Bob, our man Leroy is down in the ring
talking with Mean Mr Metric."

"Mean Mr Metric that was an incredible last blow there. Tell me what is
that other system"

Tell you the truth, Leroy, I don't know nor care. I just know there
are three and they are all stupid.

"Interesting response there from Mean Mr Metric, Back to you Bill"

"We've just got word that the judges are going to make an
announcement..."

After final discussion, the judges have decided to declare the fight
null and void due to the fact that the win by Mean Mr Metric would mean
that some politicians might lose the next election.

You owe the Oracle a life in the dark ages.
=====
Cerebus:

--- Quote from: bsfeechannel on November 05, 2019, 04:49:20 am ---AvE likes to play a joke on degrees celsius by calling them degrees "science", as if science had a bad effect over machinists. He likes to pronounce métrique, instead of metric, as if anything metric was foreign. Granted, it is a joke, and I laugh at it, but this is far from the truth. 

--- End quote ---

He always says "degrees Science!" with gusto and enthusiasm, more in the form of an affirmation than an approbation. And have you not noticed that he speaks to his daughter in French? Saying métrique instead of metric is an affectation, but I suspect the motivation behind doing it is much more to do with the fact that he's French Canadian than to inject a sense of 'foreignness' - to a French Canadian there's nothing 'foreign' about le patois Français, to them it's a domestic product. It's easy to forget that for some of those Snow Mexicans sneaking over the border to raid the Hazard Fraught, French is their everyday language.
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