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 Americans know that our system is outdated and stupid, but we can still make fun of everyone else.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.

[Mark70]

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?

Meter sticks are marked with milimeters and centimeters the same way a yardstick is marked with inches and 1/16ths.

[MaximRecoil]

What exactly is your reasons against metric?

[MameJunkie]

What exactly is your reasons against metric?

[Mark70]

The metric system is the answer to a question that nobody asked. It was arbitrary, based on nothing and forced on people by governments.[/b]

Here's the real thorn in the lions paw.

[MaximRecoil]

Meter sticks are marked with milimeters and centimeters the same way a yardstick is marked with inches and 1/16ths.

[MameJunkie]

For example.

[Mark70]

I don't have any problems with fractions, but these days you can pick up a calculator that works with fractions for a few dollars at Wal-Mart. Whether you are using metric or imperial, when working with 3 large measurements you are going to want a calculator either way, since you most likely won't know what 3.786 meters + 4.216 meters + 8.978 meters (a random set of measurements;

Let's go back to that situation you were talking about earlier where you were stuck in the wild folding a vine in half.

[Mark70]

That would give me 999 millimeters. The last time I checked, there were 1000 millimeters in a meter. So, this is not "thirds". This is "thirds" plus some leftovers for [not so] good measure.

If a fraction of a milimeter is not accurate enough for you, and your measuring device will measure more accurately,  you would be best advised to choose the unit in the next order of magnitude smaller.  Micrometers maybe.  Not accurate enough? go smaller again.  You will reach a point where your discrepancy is not measureable.  It's true for imperial as well.  Fractions work the same way.  1/8th not accurate enough for you? use 1/16th or 1/32 or 1/64....

[MaximRecoil]

I dont think calculators have fraction buttons.

It depends on the calculator; which is why I said:

but these days you can pick up a calculator that works with fractions for a few dollars at Wal-Mart.

Even doing both examples on paper, I could do them both at about the same speed. The common denominator will always be obvious when working with carpentry measurements, so that part is done as you are writing them down in the first place. Then you add the numerators and the whole numbers and the last part (making 5 11/8 into 6 3/8 for example) is also typically easy to do in your head instantly with carpentry-type fractions as well.

[Mark70]

Even doing both examples on paper, I could do them both at about the same speed. The common denominator will always be obvious when working with carpentry measurements, so that part is done as you are writing them down in the first place. Then you add the numerators and the whole numbers and the last part (making 5 11/8 into 6 3/8 for example) is also typically easy to do in your head instantly with carpentry-type fractions as well.

It's not relevant whether it's easy or not.

[MaximRecoil]

Let's go back to that situation you were talking about earlier where you were stuck in the wild folding a vine in half.

[rockhopper]

What do you do if you have a 10 inch board and want to divide it into thirds??

[Mark70]

It is not a fraction of a millimeter, it is a whole millimeter; and to step things up to micrometers, which most people don't even have instruments marked in, is a bit of an absurdity just to mark a meter board into thirds isn't it?

Actually your mark at 333 milimeters would be inaccurate by .33 milimters since one third of a meter (which is what you are trying to measure) would be 333.33 milimeters with an infiniate 3 repeating after the decimal.

I agree with you on the idea you present about standard construction measurements, or the accuracy of measuring devices.

[MameJunkie]

What do you do if you have a 10 inch board and want to divide it into thirds??

measure 8.46666666666667 cm.

[AceTKK]

The solution is ever so simple.

[Hoopz]

I always go with the Cheescake rule which in the States is 36-24-36...

On a serious note, do women in countries that follow the metric system get measured in metric or inches? 
Surely, they dont have bra sizes of 100x72x100 mm's.... 

[MameJunkie]

The solution is ever so simple.

[Mark70]

I always go with the Cheescake rule which in the States is 36-24-36...

On a serious note, do women in countries that follow the metric system get measured in metric or inches?

[MameJunkie]

I always go with the Cheescake rule which in the States is 36-24-36...

On a serious note, do women in countries that follow the metric system get measured in metric or inches?

[SirPoonga]

That is another one of the major irritations of the metric system, the lack simply named single units for things we use every day. Where is the cup? the teaspoon? the tablespoon? Metric food recipes must be a blast, lol.

Metric units used in everyday life.

2 liter bottle of soda
3.5L  V6 engine (Chevy Monte Carlo)
40W light bulb

So both systems get used in everyday life.

Here's a paragraph that uses BOTH as quoted from an american company!  From Harley's screaming eagle fatboy main page.
"Give us vast landscapes. Big gulps of fresh air. And 103 cubic inches of counterbalanced Big Twin to enjoy it all. One eyeful of the FLSTFSE

[MaximRecoil]

It is not a fraction of a millimeter, it is a whole millimeter; and to step things up to micrometers, which most people don't even have instruments marked in, is a bit of an absurdity just to mark a meter board into thirds isn't it?

Actually your mark at 333 milimeters would be inaccurate by .33 milimters since one third of a meter (which is what you are trying to measure) would be 333.33 milimeters with an infiniate 3 repeating after the decimal.

You would be off by a millimeter in total for the whole meter board.

[MaximRecoil]

What do you do if you have a 10 inch board and want to divide it into thirds??

10" boards pretty common at your lumber yard are they?

[shmokes]

I cook a lot, and cooking with imperial sucks.  How many cups in a pint, how many pints in a quart, how many quarts in a gallon.  I need a pound of flour.   Let's see, 16 oz. in a pound, 8 oz. in a cup, so I must need 2 cups of flour, right?

There's no rhyme or reason.  There are just a bunch of arbitrary rules that must be memorized.  How many times in your life have you thought, "Wait, is it two pints in a quart and four quarts in a gallon, or four pints in a quart and two quarts in a gallon?" 

[SirPoonga]

You would be off by a millimeter in total for the whole meter board.

Probably no further off if you measured a yard using 3 feet.  If you were using scientific instuments, then it would be dead on for a yard.  But you keep talking about everyday usage.  In every day usage the marking device will give you a tolerance.  You will probably not mark exactly 1 yard with a foot ruler.

[MaximRecoil]

Metric units used in everyday life.

2 liter bottle of soda
3.5L  V6 engine (Chevy Monte Carlo)
40W light bulb

So both systems get used in everyday life.

That isn't what I was saying. I was talking about handy units, such as cups, tablespoons, etc., units that relate to real life applications and are thus named; that the metric system lacks.

BTW, I especially dislike the metric system when it comes to the naming of engines and gun calibers. Which sounds better, 350 ci or 5.7 liter? The only thing I think of when I hear "liter" is soda, lol. How about Colt .45 or Colt 11.25 mm?

[MaximRecoil]

I cook a lot, and cooking with imperial sucks.

[Hoopz]

I cook a lot, and cooking with imperial sucks.  How many cups in a pint, how many pints in a quart, how many quarts in a gallon.  I need a pound of flour.   Let's see, 16 oz. in a pound, 8 oz. in a cup, so I must need 2 cups of flour, right?

There's no rhyme or reason.  There are just a bunch of arbitrary rules that must be memorized.  How many times in your life have you thought, "Wait, is it two pints in a quart and four quarts in a gallon, or four pints in a quart and two quarts in a gallon?" 

I cook a lot too and never run into such issues. You must be trying to quadruple (or whatever) a lot of recipes. When I cook, if it says a tablespoon, I get out a tablespoon; same deal for a cup, etc.

You would prefer to have it all in grams and milliliters? Then what, get out the laboratory beaker and the postal scale?

I think the point is not just getting out the right size unit to measure, but when you are trying to remember how many ounces are in a cup. As a matter of fact,  I was making bbq sauce yesterday and had to try and recall how many ounces are in a cup.  And I had to go get a cookbook out to figure it out.  I like the imperial system, dont often have issues, but in all fairness, trying to remember that 16 oz make a pound but 8 oz make a cup is a pain.

[Jabba]

That would be the point where I offer a sporting good handshake and congratulate you on an exciting debate and we head off to the pub for a pint or liter of beer as you prefer.

Well said!

I have no problems with adding fractions when doing carpentry. I never have built anything using millimeters or centimeters for instance. 5 and 3/16" is close enough for me. Heck, you're a master carpenter when you can get everything close to 1/16th  tolerance...

But I agree that it takes more "computes" to add things up using imperial when doing carpentry, just something you have to learn I guess.

Edit: Grammar/Typos

[SirPoonga]

I cook a lot, and cooking with imperial sucks.  How many cups in a pint, how many pints in a quart, how many quarts in a gallon.  I need a pound of flour.   Let's see, 16 oz. in a pound, 8 oz. in a cup, so I must need 2 cups of flour, right?

There's no rhyme or reason.  There are just a bunch of arbitrary rules that must be memorized.  How many times in your life have you thought, "Wait, is it two pints in a quart and four quarts in a gallon, or four pints in a quart and two quarts in a gallon?" 

I cook a lot too and never run into such issues. You must be trying to quadruple (or whatever) a lot of recipes. When I cook, if it says a tablespoon, I get out a tablespoon; same deal for a cup, etc.

You would prefer to have it all in grams and milliliters? Then what, get out the laboratory beaker and the postal scale?

I run into it alot.  Since I am single I usually make half batches of stuff.   That can get difficult.

[geomartin]

The answer is easy.  Americans will switch to the metric system when they finally send the last manufacturing job overseas and everyone here is working in the service industry...or is that the subservient industry?

Geo

[Dartful Dodger]

First New Orleans, then France.  The metric is system and Qu

[DrewKaree]

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.

Thanks for the tip.  Tomorrow I'm gonna tell my wife I only have an imperial jigsaw and I need to buy a metric one too

[DrewKaree]

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.

I dunno about YOUR "everyday", but unless I'm watching the strongman competitions on ESPN, I've NEVER heard "stone" used, and the only reason I even know what the hell a "furlong" is is because my mom is a fan of horse racing.

Oh, and in MY "everyday", a "yard" is a measure of volume

Tag, you're it!

[shmokes]

 but in all fairness, trying to remember that 16 oz make a pound but 8 oz make a cup is a pain.

And just to be clear, two cups of flour, while 16 oz., does not equal a pound as ounces can be two completely different types of measurement. 

[MaximRecoil]

 but in all fairness, trying to remember that 16 oz make a pound but 8 oz make a cup is a pain.

And just to be clear, two cups of flour, while 16 oz., does not equal a pound as ounces can be two completely different types of measurement.

[Jess--]

time for me to try and derail the thread by introducing another system....

we all know how decimal and imperial are based... but who in the hell came up with this

4 bits = 1 nibble
2 nibbles = 1 byte
1024 bytes = 1 kilobyte
1024 kilobytes = 1 megabyte
1024 megabytes = 1 gigabyte (unless its a hard drive when 1000 megabytes = 1 gigabyte)

[Harry Potter]

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.

333mm 

[MaximRecoil]

1024 megabytes = 1 gigabyte (unless its a hard drive when 1000 megabytes = 1 gigabyte)

That was the attempt to "metricify" the binary system, LOL. It doesn't matter if it makes sense or not because; "HEY! WE LIKE IT BETTER THAT WAY!" A binary gigabyte, i.e. a true gigabyte is 1024 megabytes, period. Hard drive and other digital storage media manufacturers love the metric system, because they can slap a "100 GB" label on a 93 GB drive.

[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.

333mm

[Harry Potter]

Joke. And I skimmed through the rest of it. It seems nothing new has been added since then.

I should have said 333.33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 mm

[MaximRecoil]

Joke. And I skimmed through the rest of it. It seems nothing new has been added since then.

I should have said 333.33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 mm

Yeah, I can never find that 333.33333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333 mark on a meter stick, lol.

[Harry Potter]

You're not looking hard enough. *slap across head*

[jbox]

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?

Not one person noticed this is wrong! Calories are the water energy measurement. A joule is measured as 1Nx1m or as electrical energy equations. And you want to argue about scientists!

Now, where did I put that Mars lander again... 

[AtomSmasher]

Esperanto was developed as the perfect language so I think the entire world should switch to it.  Hell, we already have a movie in Esperanto starring Cpt. Kirk

[ChadTower]

Esperanto wasn't developed as the perfect language. It was developed as a perfectly neutral language, spoken natively by no one, to be used in international relations so that no party had a linguistic advantage over another.

Like any other language, it is far from perfect.

[AtomSmasher]

Esperanto wasn't developed as the perfect language. It was developed as a perfectly neutral language, spoken natively by no one, to be used in international relations so that no party had a linguistic advantage over another.

Like any other language, it is far from perfect.

these are lies started by the man is bring the language down.  Everyone knows that Shatner wouldn't be involved in a project if everything about it wasn't perfect, therefore Esperanto must be perfect

[DrewKaree]

these are lies started by the man is bring the language down.  Everyone knows that Shatner wouldn't be involved in a project if everything about it wasn't perfect, therefore Esperanto must be perfect

Your logic seems unassailable.  We must shake in agreement on this.  Something about a G.I. Joe with Kung-fu grip seems best.

[Mark70]

Oh, and in MY "everyday", a "yard" is a measure of volume

Are you a waste management professional?  They say yard as in 30 yard bin but that's actually a cubic yard right?

[Mark70]

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?

Not one person noticed this is wrong! Calories are the water energy measurement. A joule is measured as 1Nx1m or as electrical energy equations. And you want to argue about scientists!

Now, where did I put that Mars lander again...

[DrewKaree]

Are you a waste management professional?  They say yard as in 30 yard bin but that's actually a cubic yard right?

I'm an "Outdoor enhancement engineer"

As in a yard of mulch, compost, or topsoil.  And yeah, it's a cubic yard.

[USSEnterprise]

I could accept the metric system for the most part. I'd just have a problem with the centigrade temperature scale. To me, 50 degrees can never be a hot day.

[Felsir]

Meter sticks are marked with milimeters and centimeters the same way a yardstick is marked with inches and 1/16ths.

[Stingray]

Everyone knows that Shatner wouldn't be involved in a project if everything about it wasn't perfect, therefore Esperanto must be perfect

So let it be written.

-S

[ChadTower]

these are lies started by the man is bring the language down.

[Stingray]

Shatner has to do with everything.

-S

[ChadTower]

I'll Shatner in your mouth.

[MaximRecoil]

Meter sticks are marked with milimeters and centimeters the same way a yardstick is marked with inches and 1/16ths.

[Felsir]

What I meant was, you take an example that is in favour of the imperial system because by definition 1/3 is marked on the yardstick. The same thing for metric - 1/10th is clearly marked there. So is 1/10, 2/10 as is 1/5 or 1/20.

In my opinion that is not a good argument why one of the systems is better. Ease of use is. Since we count in multiples of ten it would make sense to apply that to the measurement system too.

[ChadTower]

I've always wondered about that.

Theoretically, 1/3 of a meter should exist. 

It is not marked on a meter stick.  Clearly that means it does not exist, since it is not clearly marked on a meter stick.

So, if 1/3 of a meter does not exist, then a meter actually only equals 2/3 of a meter.

But 2/3 is not marked, and you cannot have 2/3 without that first 1/3 anyway, so clearly 2/3 does not exist either.

So, 2/3 of a meter does not exist.

That leaves you with a meter being equal to 1/3 of a meter.

We have already proven that 1/3 of a meter does not exist.

Thus, we have the proof, a meter does not exist.

What is this metric crap of which you speak?

[Ed_McCarron]

And yet noone complains about the US dollar... broken into 100 cents.  Sounds kinda metric-y to me.

OK, the nickels throw things off a bit.  Lets get rid of them.  Quarters can stay, for they are useful in many drinking games.

[Harry Potter]

And yet noone complains about the US dollar... broken into 100 cents.

And where's the cents in that? Hah ha ha ha

I'm here all night. 

[jbox]

I've always wondered about that.

Actually, there are no such things as whole numbers in nature. Every example of whole numbers is a human imposed concept, so only the irrationals exist. Thus, to speak of "one" of something is merely a human abstraction to pretend the real world is easier to understand than it really is.

[DrewKaree]

I'll Shatner in your mouth.

Technically, you would have to "have Shat-nered" in his mouth.  Present tense is "Shitner"

[jbox]

A mathematician and an engineer go on an Adult gameshow. They are each made to stand behind a yellow line, and two gorgeous models are brought out and stand on the other side of the room. The presenter tells them the only rule in the competition is that they can only move half the distance between themselves and their model at each step.

The mathematician exclaims: "Then the exercise is pointless. We will never be able to reach them!" 

To which the engineer replies: "Yes, but we'll be able to get close enough for most practical purposes." 


Perfection is a sin reserved only for those who wish not to accomplish.