The Metric System

[Frenzy]

Every country in the world should go by the Metric System.

Why? you ask? Well, because first of all, it's A LOT easier to use. It just goes up by 10 (or down by 10) each measurement, unlike the US's 'Yard, Mile' crap. It's just a lot simpler to use and calculate, and easier for coverting to other measurements.

But really, What's the Point? you say? Well, first of all, for people in careers where measurement is of necessity (construction, etc.) this would make there jobs A LOT simpler. Seriously, the metric system is just waaay simpler, which is good for everybody, I think.

Anyway, I hope that this post gets taken seriously, because I really think that this would be a positive change for the world. Some of you may disagree, but I'm open to suggestions, comments, etc.

[Gunter45]

The main problem is that there's a whole infrastructure based on the Imperialist system. You'd have to phase it out a step at a time to even consider the idea. When it comes to construction or manufacture of things that could seriously hurt people if they're not put together properly, cars for instance, and it becomes clear that using one standard is important. Of course, I'd like to see the metric system adopted in the US, but it's going to take some time.

[MortifiedPenguins]

Fuck No.

I just got down the English System.

I don't want to learn another one.

Plus, it was invented by the French.

And the French are only good for two things: Surrendering and kissing.

[AtomicTerrorist]

i agree. Its much easier.

I think the only 2 countries that dont use it are the US, and the UK.

[TonioMiguel]

What makes me laugh is if we took a poll to see who was for metric and who was for the the customary system Metric would easily win with anyone born in the 1970s and later since we use it so often in science its not funny.

Yet, on the other hand, talk anyone born before the 1970s and the think that dropping the customary system is un-American and an act of Communism.

[fli]

I wish the US goes metric... although it is a simple system, but those who don't practice it will be so much slower at it. (*bad memories of chemistry*)

[SolInvictus]

i'm sorry if this is just me or doesn't have positive and negative temperatures related to when water freezes make more sense?

[AdamRice]

I like the metric system better for most things now. I still have a hard time accepting it for distance though.

But as far as weight and volume are concerned, metric FTMFW!

[SolInvictus]

At 11/24/06 11:22 PM, fasdit wrote: But as far as weight and volume are concerned, metric FTMFW!

Christ, i'm Canadian and for some reason i have trouble working with metric for weight except for weightlifting. Canadas' so fucked up, we use metric but imperial gets used for random stuff.

[Draconias]

Metric is not well-suited to everyday applications. Celsius sucks for temperature, since it is far more compressed than Farenheit and lacks the fine differences that humans distinctly notice. Meters suck for measuring small (human-size) objects because it is too large, and centimeters are too small.

It isn't worth the effort because learning the systems requires an insignificant amount of effort. Is it really that hard to remember:
Freeze at 32 degrees
12 inches = 1 foot,
3 feet = 1 yard,
5280 feet = 1 mile
660 feet = 1 furlong = 1/8 mile
(The last one is optional)

The incentive to convert is too weak because the system we have works well for average life. It is only in science and certain industries that the metric system is actually helpful, and the conflicts with long-established systems cause problems. Traditional systems don't die easily; the British inherited a 5000 foot mile from the Romans, but because they relied on the furlong so heavily, they altered the mile to match the furlong.

[cellardoor6]

People don't realize that we do use the Metric system for alot of stuff in the US.

The Metric system is good at measuring somethings in science and commercial purpoises, but in alot of areas the imperial system is more simple for everyday life.

But I can use both with no problem. And I know the conversions for almost everything right off the top of my head.

[cold-as-hell]

It seems like a good idea.

[Frenzy]

At 11/24/06 11:59 PM, Draconias wrote: Meters suck for measuring small (human-size) objects because it is too large, and centimeters are too small.

That's why there are decimetre's in between those 2...

[Anti-punk]

At 11/25/06 01:32 AM, cellardoor6 wrote:

in alot of areas the imperial system is more simple for everyday life.

Example?

I just wanna say that metric system is much more clear.

Water freezes at 0 degrees, boils at 100. Not the fucking 32, what that fucking 32 supposed to mean?
1km=1000m, 1m=100cm, well, much more simple, isn't it?
I'm just really disturbed by all this yards, feets etc.

[SirLebowski]

America's transition to the Metric system would be a difficult one. Not just because we don't like changing everything we knew about measurement, but think about the car spedometers. =(

[JakeHero]

The metric system seems easier to the empirical system due to how easily divisible by ten it it is, but I can't help but get the feeling its a way for mathematicians condescending inorder to dumb down measurements for everyone.

[AtomicTerrorist]

At 11/25/06 07:30 AM, Anti-punk wrote:

At 11/25/06 01:32 AM, cellardoor6 wrote:

in alot of areas the imperial system is more simple for everyday life.

Example?

I just wanna say that metric system is much more clear.

Water freezes at 0 degrees, boils at 100. Not the fucking 32, what that fucking 32 supposed to mean?
1km=1000m, 1m=100cm, well, much more simple, isn't it?
I'm just really disturbed by all this yards, feets etc.

honestly its so much easier.

for science and math, converting is waayyy easier. its always by 10, 100, etc. Not 32, 52800, etc.

[dELtaluca]

At 11/24/06 08:21 PM, AtomicTerrorist wrote: I think the only 2 countries that dont use it are the US, and the UK.

i dont know about usa, but in the uk we use both interchangeably.

you would usually use miles for distances i.e. road signs, and in car travel etc, and maybe yards everynow and again, for weight, you use both pounds and kilograms, infact its a law, that you must have both i think, and ofcourse for any sort of science you always use metric system.

[Begoner]

Apart from scientific application, the metric system is much easier to use when comparing two quantities in different amounts. Do you know how much bigger 21542 ounces is than 432 pounds? How about 32417 grams and 756 kilograms? It's much easier with powers of 10, unless you excel at dividing by obscure amounts like 5280 and 16.

[zzzzd]

At 11/24/06 08:21 PM, AtomicTerrorist wrote: i agree. Its much easier.

I think the only 2 countries that dont use it are the US, and the UK.

Britain changed from the Imperial to the Metic system in the 60's or 70's

The metric system is the only good thing to come out of france.

[Elfer]

At 11/24/06 11:59 PM, Draconias wrote: Metric is not well-suited to everyday applications. Celsius sucks for temperature, since it is far more compressed than Farenheit and lacks the fine differences that humans distinctly notice. Meters suck for measuring small (human-size) objects because it is too large, and centimeters are too small.

So what you're saying is, it's easier to tell a one degree farenheit temperature than it is to tell one centimetre in object length? I personally have never heard anyone complain of their thermometer reading 21 degrees when it feels more like 21 and a half. I can see one situation where this is true though, which is making confectionaries, however, confectioner's thermometers are in farenheit pretty much everywhere anyway.

If centimetres and metres upset you so badly, use decimetres.

It isn't worth the effort because learning the systems requires an insignificant amount of effort. Is it really that hard to remember:
Freeze at 32 degrees
12 inches = 1 foot,
3 feet = 1 yard,
5280 feet = 1 mile
660 feet = 1 furlong = 1/8 mile
(The last one is optional)

What about rods or gallons or hogsheads? The problem is that all of the numbers are completely arbitrary because each measurement was based on some random distance instead of a fixed standard like SI units.

The incentive to convert is too weak because the system we have works well for average life. It is only in science and certain industries that the metric system is actually helpful, and the conflicts with long-established systems cause problems. Traditional systems don't die easily; the British inherited a 5000 foot mile from the Romans, but because they relied on the furlong so heavily, they altered the mile to match the furlong.

Well, I can tell you at least one industry of yours that should switch over to metric, and that's manufacturing. I hate it when I have to model a part of graphics class in inches, because the numbers are always all fucked up compared to millimetres.

[Joeniemator]

I have grown up with the metric system and it is way easier than that stupid miles, and yards stuff, lol.

[seventy-one]

Not only what Draconias said, but the Customary System is so much ingrained in our culture, you can't change it. You can't force an entire nation to learn a new system of measuring, which is confusing in its own right if you haven't learned it. Besides, why bother changing it? Science has their own universal units (SI units), the Customary System works perfectly in our society and the Metric System works fine in your society- no real point in changing it.

[Elfer]

At 11/25/06 05:33 PM, seventy-one wrote: Not only what Draconias said, but the Customary System is so much ingrained in our culture, you can't change it.

And that's the story of why the metric system was never used in every single other country successfully.

OH WAIT/

[Proteas]

At 11/25/06 01:50 PM, Begoner wrote: It's much easier with powers of 10, unless you excel at dividing by obscure amounts like 5280 and 16.

Yeah, 'cause God forbid you should ever have to use that gray matter between your ears. Or worse... learn your way around *gasp* A CALCULATOR.

At 11/25/06 05:33 PM, seventy-one wrote: no real point in changing it.

Exactly. When I see Martha Stewart throw down her cookware in disgust and DEMAND metric cookware, then I'll be convinced that there is an inherant need in this country for the metric system, as apposed to an arbitrary want for it by folks who think it's okay to uproot and toss aside a system that's been in place for over 250 years.

[AapoJoki]

At 11/25/06 05:58 PM, Proteas wrote:

At 11/25/06 01:50 PM, Begoner wrote: It's much easier with powers of 10, unless you excel at dividing by obscure amounts like 5280 and 16.

Yeah, 'cause God forbid you should ever have to use that gray matter between your ears. Or worse... learn your way around *gasp* A CALCULATOR.

First you say that imperial units are much easier for everyday life than metric units, then you admit you need a calculator to use them.

[Proteas]

At 11/25/06 06:17 PM, AapoJoki wrote: First you say that imperial units are much easier for everyday life than metric units, then you admit you need a calculator to use them.

(1) I didn't say it was any easier,
(2) I'm railing against people who don't seem to understand that we've evolved past the ABACUS when it comes to mathematical computations.

[AapoJoki]

At 11/25/06 06:28 PM, Proteas wrote: (1) I didn't say it was any easier

"Metric is not well-suited to everyday applications." implies that imperial units would be quicker and easier in everyday life.

(2) I'm railing against people who don't seem to understand that we've evolved past the ABACUS when it comes to mathematical computations.

This isn't about being or not being able to do the math, everyone can do that. It just helps to have an easier set of units in situations where you need to figure things quickly and don't have a calculator available. With metric units, you're finished doing the math before you can whip out your cell phone's calculator.

I understand that imperial units are quite deeply attached to American and British cultures. As far as I'm concerned, this is the only reason to defend them. There's no question of which system is easier and more logical. The transition won't be easy, but I'm sure it wasn't easy for the countries that swicthed to the metric system when it was introduced, either. However, measuring things has become much simpler in these countries in the long run.

Of course, life isn't impossible without using the metric system. It would be just nice to have an international standard, and not have to keep doing silly conversions over and over, particularly now in the age of globalization and internet.

[FlashFilter]

Metric is by far easier, and the fact that the we haven't changed probably shows that we are lazy. Who cares if we had it for a long time, every other contry changed...

[Elfer]

At 11/25/06 06:28 PM, Proteas wrote: (2) I'm railing against people who don't seem to understand that we've evolved past the ABACUS when it comes to mathematical computations.

Trust me when I say that metric units are far far easier when it comes to things where you're not using a calculator, such as "back-of-the-envelope" calculations, which you actually do use ALL THE TIME in engineering, for estimating plausibility and so on.