Posted on 11/05/2012 2:14:59 PM PST by null and void
Back in grade school, we were told that the Imperial System was a thing of the past, that eventually we’d be living the Metric System life, with all it’s base-10 logic built right in. We’d be just like the rest of the world. But those predictions have proven about as accurate as the flying cars and moon colonies that we all imagined we’d be enjoying in the year 2012.
Occasionally, the issue bubbles up and people argue back and forth about why we haven’t gone Metric, but I think it’s all about inertia. There would be a huge intellectual cost in moving to a new system—training ourselves to think of temperatures in Celsius when we’re leaving home and trying to decide on whether to grab a jacket. Straining to remember what kilometers per liter really comes down to, when we’re used to a lifetime of miles per gallon. Attempting to determine whether you’re losing enough weight, as you stare at the scale showing a strange number of kilograms.
While there are economic costs—heck, just think of the signage issues on our roads—they should be lower today than they would have been a generation ago. Many consumer products in this digital age already allow us to toggle between Imperial and Metric units. And the prevalence of smartphones means that no one has an excuse not to have a conversion app (or at least a calculator) on them at virtually all times.
What this issue comes down to is, as I said, inertia. It’s laziness. No one wants to be the generation that has to juggle two systems in their heads all the time. If we switched today, my kids would grow up pretty much thinking in Metric and would have no problem. But I feel like I’d forever be doing that calculation in my head. Even if I knew 28° C was a nice warm summer day, I think I’d always be converting it back to 82° F just to make sure I knew exactly how warm it was, based on my past experiences. We don’t want to be the ones straddling the two worlds, dealing with parts in both sizes or wondering how to deal with machinery that still had Imperial components that were no longer allowed to be manufactured.
Besides, who has the guts to push an idea like this forward in the country today? If Republicans championed the cause, Democrats would rail against it. And vice versa. And unfortunately, engineers, scientists and the like don’t have the kind of lobby that would be needed to get politicians interested. Even a public relations disaster like losing the Mars Climate Orbiter (due to a conversion mishap) didn’t move the needle on fully switching to Metric. So I guess I’ll just wait with you for that long-off day when we get the first flying car—and wonder what kind of miles per gallon that thing will get.
Uh, 'cause you're a Bible/gun klinger?
They sell metric bras?
There ain't no substitute for Absolute Zer0. (Vodka not withstanding)
Yeah. Let's talk about calendars. Our measurement of time goes all the way back to Babylonia from what I understand. If I recall correctly, they had used base 60 as their numerical system. Of course this is off the top of my pointy head, so I could be wrong. :-)
Let's talk about some metric time. Personally, I like the martian time system.
"That the Conference expresses the hope that the technical studies designed to regulate and extend the application of the decimal system to the division of angular space and of time shall be resumed, so as to permit he extension of this application to all cases in which it presents real advantages."All parties to the conference voted in the affirmative on this resolution except Germany, Sweden, and Guatemala which abstained.
Fortunately a meter is close so I can do Orienteering easily.
The only advantage the metric system had was it was easy to do calculations. Now that we have calculators and computers there is no difference to the machine if the number is a simple even one or a complex number. It does each as well.
On the negative side the metric system can easily cause confusion. For instance, did he say a meter is 100 milimeters or 1000? If I hear 12 inches I know it is a foot because that is all the number 12 is used for. If it is 36 inches I instinctively know it is a yard.
Also if someone says 1000 and I don’t hear him cclearly I might think he is speaking of weight or length but if I head 3 pounds I guess just what we are talking about.
If my wife sent me to get 5 pounds of ground beef I know exactly what she wants but if she says give me 10 kilo of steak I might ask myself, did she want 10 kilo or 100?
It is actually easier to keep organized using americaN SYSTEM.
Yep, they were Brit / German engines - 1.6l Kent, 2.0l German.
200+ replies for an Imperial v Metric thread on election eve .. lotta folks needing a politics break, apparently .. LOL
I'm good with klicks, it's just mass that really drive me to metric (though I'm a Francophobe).
An average stride is a little under a yard. That’s why a MILe (1000 steps by Roman soldiers marching in formation) isn’t 6000 feet.
*shrug*
All politics is loco...
Yah, the retarded American auto industry made all sorts of 16 and 18 mm hex head fasteners while the Europeans picked 15, 17 and 19. That sux.
thanks karl. for me metric is more the tyranny of 10. probably a problem for me because of all the hex and binary i work in. but you know if there isn’t an official unit for edison there ought to be. one relating to light, i think.
Yabut does his neighbor's wife understand the measurement unit of base?
i have to say i like it.
and another thing. i know metric is supposed to eliminate errors in calcs. but is it just my imagination or do “metric” engineers and students tend to drop their units more frequently than Americans. and if so, is the ease of metric perhaps a drawback in checking work?
My friend Miles takes exception..........
Best I find some girls, a dwarf, a jello pool, and other assorted equipment and consumables and think about other things.
It's really best for humanity.
/johnny
A Mormon Hero.
I like my M13 and M19 drive sets.
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