We Love/Hate Metric

[Mark70]

Don't you think it's funny that the United States was one of the first colonies to fight a war and die to be independant of the Brittish Empire, yet they're one of the last countries on the planet still hanging on to the Imperial system of measurement.

It would be "funny" if the one had anything to do with the other; you know, if the American Revolution had been a revolt against a system of weights and measures then yes, it would be "funny".

You can keep your arbitrary, based-on-nothing, only-divisible-by-2-and-5, French-sytem-imposed-by-law-with-long-winded-dorky-sounding-unit-names.

Oh you mean the system where every unit is factorable by ten, where one cubic centimeter of water weighs one gram and one joule is the amount of energy it takes to raise the temperature of one cubic centimeter of water by one degree celcius and where one cubic centimeter of water is also one mililiter?

You mean that "arbitrary, based-on-nothing, only-divisible-by-2-and-5, French-sytem-imposed-by-law-with-long-winded-dorky-sounding-unit-names" system of measurement?

[Stingray]

Lighten up. Americans know that our system is outdated and stupid, but we can still make fun of everyone else. That's what the revolution was really about... or maybe I shouldn't have slept through American History. Where was I going with this?

-S

[Harry Potter]

When the US adopts the metric system, certain sayings will be changed to this:

A miss is as good as 1.6 kilometers

Put your best .3 of a meter forward

Spare the 5.03 meters and spoil the child

Twenty-eight grams of prevention is worth 453 grams of cure.

Give a man 2.5 centimeters and he'll take 1.6 kilometers.

Peter Piper picked 8.8 liters of pickled peppers.

[Sephroth57]

im used to metrics from working on my import car, but i dont think we will ever change ti would be too much effort =p

[Harry Potter]

Only if Stingray becomes president

[Stingray]

im used to metrics from working on my import car

Actually, most American cars have been using metric parts for probably the last 20 years.

-S

[Jabba]

I'm Canadian and I prefer the imperial system. Whats better than 11 3/32 when measuring? And 80 degress to me says its hot!

Background; Metric came in during my late elementary years, so I started off learning imperial.

[Harry Potter]

Actually, most American cars have been using metric parts for probably the last 20 years.

-S

Speedometers as well? (Or as youd say, Speedomilers)

[mccoy178]

I remember when they made such a big deal about how someday, when we're adults, everything will be metric.

[Mark70]

im used to metrics from working on my import car

Actually, most American cars have been using metric parts for probably the last 20 years.

-S

The problem there being MOST, not ALL.  So every american has to own two sets of sockets and wrenches. 

....actually buying more tools is always fun.  Maybe we should convert back to imperial.

[Stingray]

im used to metrics from working on my import car

Actually, most American cars have been using metric parts for probably the last 20 years.

-S

The problem there being MOST, not ALL.  So every american has to own two sets of sockets and wrenches. 

....actually buying more tools is always fun.  Maybe we should convert back to imperial.

Most have been for 20 years or maybe even longer. They all do now, at least I don't know of any that don't use metric. A lot of people still try to work on cars with imperial wreches & sockets, because they will fit - sort of.

-S

[Harry Potter]

If it makes you feel any better, the printers at work all have parts using imperial measurements, cause Ahmericans now own the damn company.

[rchadd]

Don't you think it's funny that the United States was one of the first colonies to fight a war and die to be independant of the British Empire

and i thought you just didn't want to pay taxes...

[pointdablame]

and i thought you just didn't want to pay taxes...

Nope, it was those damn centimeters.... we hate them so much.

[versapak]

The metric system is certainly much nicer in calculating fractions, but where it fails for me, is that it doesn't have enough units (I guess that is what I am trying to say).

Example... It goes from centimeter to meter, with nothing in between, such as we have feet between inches and yards.


Not really all that big of a deal though, and I personally do think that our kids should be taught metric as the primary system.

[Grasshopper]

It doesn't really matter whether you use metric or imperial for everyday use. But the imperial system is completely retarded when it comes to doing complex physics or engineering calculations.

[Ken Layton]

The metric system is a big pile of horsesh**. 

The next thing you know a penis will no longer be measured in inches.

[MameJunkie]

We americans are use to crappy inches.  But god damnit its American krap.
We don't care if metric is used in the rest of the world or makes more sense.  We shall bend the will of the world to use our system.

[SirPoonga]

Example... It goes from centimeter to meter, with nothing in between, such as we have feet between inches and yards.

Decimeter?
Just that centimeter and meter are more comonly used.  But use any prefix of powers of 10.
millimeter
micrometer
kilometor
dekameter
hectometer
....
http://www.essex1.com/people/speer/large.html

I use metric the most often, just because my car and bike use metric.  Grrr, except my windshield is standard.

Actually, all the nuts and bolts are metric, but it still uses the standard 1" handlerbar that most motorcycle's use

[versapak]

Example... It goes from centimeter to meter, with nothing in between, such as we have feet between inches and yards.

Decimeter?
Just that centimeter and meter are more comonly used. But use any prefix of powers of 10.
millimeter
micrometer
kilometor
dekameter
hectometer
....
http://www.essex1.com/people/speer/large.html

I use metric the most often, just because my car and bike use metric. Grrr, except my windshield is standard.

Actually, all the nuts and bolts are metric, but it still uses the standard 1" handlerbar that most motorcycle's use

ahhhhh


Yes...

I knew that...

.
..
...
....
......
........
..........
............
...............
..................
.....................
........................

ok...


No...


I really didn't.


DOH!






[EDIT]

Such a common sense thing. I REALLY feel dumb for not knowing that already. lol

My head literally crashed down on my keyboard when I read your reply.

[Grasshopper]

We americans are use to crappy inches.  But god damnit its American krap.
We don't care if metric is used in the rest of the world or makes more sense.  We shall bend the will of the world to use our system.

Err no, it's actually British crap. It's ironic that you guys are so attached to a system that was imposed on you by your erstwhile imperial masters.

[MameJunkie]

We americans are use to crappy inches.

[SirPoonga]

Such a common sense thing. I REALLY feel dumb for not knowing that already. lol

My head literally crashed down on my keyboard when I read your reply.

Heh.

I think I only have a 1/4, 7/8, 1/2, 9/16 wrench.  All I have ever needed
Where as I have everything metric.  Grrr, that's what I don't understand.  The nice thing about most things made with standard sizes is that most of the bolts are the same size.  On my yamaha motorcycle, heh, no way.  Need to take a 8,10,12,13,14,18 out depending on what I am doing.  Granted, most of the bolts are 10 or 14.  But there are odd ones here and there.

[ChadTower]

Who really cares?  Is ~39 inches any physically different than a meter?

It's just a different measure. 

[MameJunkie]

Who really cares?

[ChadTower]

So?  Either learn to convert or don't do it.

Either way, it's a very simple set of mathematical equations.  Get a chart and use it.

[Minwah]

I quite like metric, it is easy for me to picture (but then I was taught metric)...but I still like 'stones' for weight, 'feet' for height and mph for speed.  I'd hate to lose those units for kg, metres, kph 

Oh and of course ounces for weed measurements should always stay 

[MameJunkie]

Besides remembering the order of each system.
At least in the metric its in the * or / 10's.

I still can remember for the liguids if its */ 2 or 4 or whatever.

Its always easier to remember what you are use to , having used it all of our lives.
But I do think the metric system is easier to learn and use.

That being said, I dont think the US will ever convert over to the metric system.

[Mark70]

That being said, I dont think the US will ever convert over to the metric system.

Of course not.  It's like when you have an argument with your wife and you find out half way through that you're wrong.... do you stop there and admit defeat?  No, you argue that incorrect point until you feel you're justified.

I hope nobody is really taking this thread very seriously.


BTW.
This is the order of the latin prefixes

khdbdcm

remember it by: king henry dances by doing crazy moved.

kilo hecta deca base (as in base unit length being the meter, weight being the gram, etc) deci centi mili

those are X(times) base unit

1000, 100, 10, 1, 0.1, 0.01, 0.001

[MameJunkie]

Of course not.

[MaximRecoil]

Don't you think it's funny that the United States was one of the first colonies to fight a war and die to be independant of the Brittish Empire, yet they're one of the last countries on the planet still hanging on to the Imperial system of measurement.

It would be "funny" if the one had anything to do with the other; you know, if the American Revolution had been a revolt against a system of weights and measures then yes, it would be "funny".

You can keep your arbitrary, based-on-nothing, only-divisible-by-2-and-5, French-sytem-imposed-by-law-with-long-winded-dorky-sounding-unit-names.

Oh you mean the system where every unit is factorable by ten, where one cubic centimeter of water weighs one gram and one joule is the amount of energy it takes to raise the temperature of one cubic centimeter of water by one degree celcius and where one cubic centimeter of water is also one mililiter?

You mean that "arbitrary, based-on-nothing, only-divisible-by-2-and-5, French-sytem-imposed-by-law-with-long-winded-dorky-sounding-unit-names" system of measurement?

Yes, that is the system I am talking about. Being divisible by 10 is not the great ace in the hole that Metricites tout it to be. It allows you to convert between say centimeters and meters with little thought which is great for elementary school children I suppose, lol. Unit conversion is typically a small part of any application involving weights and measures, if it is part of it at all. The important part of any system of weights and measures is how it is divisible within each unit. For example, if I buy a board that is a yard long, using a standard yard stick, I can easily mark it out to be cut in half, in thirds, in quarters...you see, the standard system is based on something, the most elementary and logical method of division; i.e. folding something in half. If you wanted to make your own ruler out in the middle of nowhere, you could simply grab a string, vine or whatever, and start folding it in half. Fold it in half once and you have 2 equal sections (halves). Fold it in half again and you have 4 equal sections (quarters). Fold it in half again and you have 8 equal sections (eighths). Fold it in half again and you have 16 equal sections (sixteenths). Do you see why the standard system is divided into units like this, like 4ths, 8ths, 12ths, 16ths, 32nds, 64ths, etc.?

So what is a 3rd of a meter? If I want to use a meter stick to mark cuts on a meter-length board for 3 equal length pieces, which markings on the meter stick should I use?

Where are the fractions? Do you ever say "half a meter" or do you prefer to properly say "500 centimeters" or "5 decimeters"? Fractions are such an essential means of visualization and expression. How often are "quarter" and "half" used in everyday language? We have a quarter of a year, a quarter of an hour, a quarter of a dollar...God forbid if the Metricites get their mits on our calendar or clocks. I can see it now, 100 seconds in a minute, 100 minutes in an hour, 100 hours in a day; well, nature is not particularly "metric" now is it? Maybe that is why water boils at 99.975 degrees Celcius, lol.

[Harry Potter]

Yes, that is the system I am talking about. Being divisible by 10 is not the great ace in the hole that Metricites tout it to be. It allows you to convert between say centimeters and meters with little thought which is great for elementary school children I suppose, lol.

Seriously, that's generalising things a bit. Normally I'd say each to their own, but that is a bit ignorant.

Try this though
http://www.metric4us.com/

For example, if I buy a board that is a yard long, using a standard yard stick, I can easily mark it out to be cut in half, in thirds, in quarters...you see, the standard system is based on something, the most elementary and logical method of division; i.e. folding something in half.

You can do this just as easily with metrics. What's your point?

I can see it now, 100 seconds in a minute, 100 minutes in an hour, 100 hours in a day;

How bout them milliseconds. 

Maybe that is why water boils at 99.975 degrees Celcius, lol.

And evaporates at 100. And freezes at zero. I got no idea what fahrenheit that is.

[AC.]

BOTH systems can get lost. Im used to my car going AT LEAST 200 hectares on a single litre of kerosene.

[MaximRecoil]

For example, if I buy a board that is a yard long, using a standard yard stick, I can easily mark it out to be cut in half, in thirds, in quarters...you see, the standard system is based on something, the most elementary and logical method of division; i.e. folding something in half.

You can do this just as easily with metrics. What's your point?

Where is the 3rd of a meter mark on a meter stick?

There is no such thing as a 3rd of a meter in case you hadn't noticed.

[MameJunkie]

For example, if I buy a board that is a yard long, using a standard yard stick, I can easily mark it out to be cut in half, in thirds, in quarters...you see, the standard system is based on something, the most elementary and logical method of division; i.e. folding something in half.

You can do this just as easily with metrics. What's your point?

Where is the 3rd of a meter mark on a meter stick?

There is no such thing as a 3rd of a meter in case you hadn't noticed.

I want 1/7th of the stick.  They BOTH don't have it.  I win.

[Grasshopper]

Yes, that is the system I am talking about. Being divisible by 10 is not the great ace in the hole that Metricites tout it to be. It allows you to convert between say centimeters and meters with little thought which is great for elementary school children I suppose, lol. Unit conversion is typically a small part of any application involving weights and measures, if it is part of it at all. The important part of any system of weights and measures is how it is divisible within each unit. For example, if I buy a board that is a yard long, using a standard yard stick, I can easily mark it out to be cut in half, in thirds, in quarters...you see, the standard system is based on something, the most elementary and logical method of division; i.e. folding something in half. If you wanted to make your own ruler out in the middle of nowhere, you could simply grab a string, vine or whatever, and start folding it in half. Fold it in half once and you have 2 equal sections (halves). Fold it in half again and you have 4 equal sections (quarters). Fold it in half again and you have 8 equal sections (eighths). Fold it in half again and you have 16 equal sections (sixteenths). Do you see why the standard system is divided into units like this, like 4ths, 8ths, 12ths, 16ths, 32nds, 64ths, etc.?

So what is a 3rd of a meter? If I want to use a meter stick to mark cuts on a meter-length board for 3 equal length pieces, which markings on the meter stick should I use?

Where are the fractions? Do you ever say "half a meter" or do you prefer to properly say "500 centimeters" or "5 decimeters"? Fractions are such an essential means of visualization and expression. How often are "quarter" and "half" used in everyday language? We have a quarter of a year, a quarter of an hour, a quarter of a dollar...God forbid if the Metricites get their mits on our calendar or clocks. I can see it now, 100 seconds in a minute, 100 minutes in an hour, 100 hours in a day; well, nature is not particularly "metric" now is it? Maybe that is why water boils at 99.975 degrees Celcius, lol.

With respect you're missing the point. If we could start again then perhaps we would indeed have a measurements system based on powers of 12 (easily divisible by 2,3 & 4) or perhaps powers of 16 (easily divisible by 2,4 & 8 ) or something else altogether. The reason the metric developers chose 10 is I suspect because our Arabic numbering system is already based on powers of 10.

The real strength of the metric system is not that it is based on 10 but its consistency.  Almost every quantity (apart from angles and time unfortunately) is based on powers of 10 which vastly simplifies any scientific or engineering calculation where different units have to be combined.

There is no consistency or logic to the imperial system. For example it's ridiculous that there are 14 pounds per stone, 12 inches per foot, 3 feet per yard, and 220 yards per furlong. It's fine for everyday use but too cumbersome for anything complex.

[MameJunkie]

Yes, that is the system I am talking about. Being divisible by 10 is not the great ace in the hole that Metricites tout it to be. It allows you to convert between say centimeters and meters with little thought which is great for elementary school children I suppose, lol. Unit conversion is typically a small part of any application involving weights and measures, if it is part of it at all. The important part of any system of weights and measures is how it is divisible within each unit. For example, if I buy a board that is a yard long, using a standard yard stick, I can easily mark it out to be cut in half, in thirds, in quarters...you see, the standard system is based on something, the most elementary and logical method of division; i.e. folding something in half. If you wanted to make your own ruler out in the middle of nowhere, you could simply grab a string, vine or whatever, and start folding it in half. Fold it in half once and you have 2 equal sections (halves). Fold it in half again and you have 4 equal sections (quarters). Fold it in half again and you have 8 equal sections (eighths). Fold it in half again and you have 16 equal sections (sixteenths). Do you see why the standard system is divided into units like this, like 4ths, 8ths, 12ths, 16ths, 32nds, 64ths, etc.?

So what is a 3rd of a meter? If I want to use a meter stick to mark cuts on a meter-length board for 3 equal length pieces, which markings on the meter stick should I use?

Where are the fractions? Do you ever say "half a meter" or do you prefer to properly say "500 centimeters" or "5 decimeters"? Fractions are such an essential means of visualization and expression. How often are "quarter" and "half" used in everyday language? We have a quarter of a year, a quarter of an hour, a quarter of a dollar...God forbid if the Metricites get their mits on our calendar or clocks. I can see it now, 100 seconds in a minute, 100 minutes in an hour, 100 hours in a day; well, nature is not particularly "metric" now is it? Maybe that is why water boils at 99.975 degrees Celcius, lol.

With respect you're missing the point. If we could start again then perhaps we would indeed have a measurements system based on powers of 12 (easily divisible by 2,3 & 4) or perhaps powers of 16 (easily divisible by 2,4 & 8 ) or something else altogether. The reason the metric developers chose 10 is I suspect because our Arabic numbering system is already based on powers of 10.

The real strength of the metric system is not that it is based on 10 but its consistency.

[MaximRecoil]

The real strength of the metric system is not that it is based on 10 but its consistency.

[MameJunkie]

The real strength of the metric system is not that it is based on 10 but its consistency.

[mccoy178]

Just noting how humoring this is.  I fully expect one of you guys to jump on a thread I'm heated in and make a likewise statement.  As some of you know, I'm full blown American, and I even dig the metric system.  I'll give Europe that.  Well, that and the Ipac.  Oh yeah, Au Pairs also.