Should Britain, and/or the US, Adopt The Metric System?

I don't think it's unherently easier to work with when measuring stuff. It's just easier because you're used to it.

Be not afraid...

And what reason is there to change that? If we have the kids learning the new system, we'll just create a deeper generational gap. Think, kids and adults are already separated by a cultural chasm, but we'd be changing something as basic as distance measurement.

Besides the latent sociological functions, there is also the "don't fix what ain't broke" idea. I fail to see why we need to change it, though I did a Thread Hop, so...

I am now known as Flyboy.

We are used to imperial measurements because Imperial measurements units are based on stuff we use in the day to day world, feet, stones, inches ect.

These things that mean something to people . The only time the number ten means anything of personal significance is when your nine.

hashtagsarestupid

Why doesn't the world adopt the Binary system, since that's what all the computers use, and they'll be our overlords in a few years anyway?...

I honestly don't understand the argument that a change to the metric system(in the US) is necessary. Sure it might be nice for the rest of the world... But the people who need to truly learn the metric system in the US(engineers, scientists, and the like) do learn, and use, the metric system. But there really isn't a reason for the rest of the US to use the metric system in every day life, other than "it'd be easier for everyone else in the world."

And most Americans don't really give a shit what is "easier" for any other country in the world...

edited 2nd Sep '11 8:10:45 PM by Swish

Well, it's not so much that I don't care what the rest of the world thinks, so much as I 1) don't see how it would help them and 2) don't see how their convenience outweighs our own here...

I am now known as Flyboy.

Wasn't there some space program that went horribly off course because the teams working on it didn't standardise their measurements first?

Be not afraid...

That's lazy science. As noted, scientists and mathematicians are expected to use this crap. No reason the normal people do, however. KEEP YOUR MATH OUT OF OUR MUGGLE LIVES!

I am now known as Flyboy.

There really does seem to be a touch of cultural imperialism here. I mean, the lunar calendar is more accurate than the solar, but there seems to be no rush for Westerners to convert to that.

Oh look, Americans making excuse to not change. That's new.

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.

You haven't justified why we should bother.

I am now known as Flyboy.

@Erock: Hey, I'd be overjoyed if we switched to metric. I effing hate Imperial.

"I don't know how I do it. I'm like the Mr. Bean of sex." -Drunkscriblerian

Because everyne else is doing it, and it's really quite painless?

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.

Appeal to Popularity doesn't work for non-morality-based arguments.

Also, it would be far from painless. Imagine if you tried to change to Imperial after (presumably) growing up with Metric. Yeah... not cool...

I am now known as Flyboy.

Tha's why have both for a certain period of time. It's called transitition, something you guys don't understand very well.

edited 2nd Sep '11 8:57:06 PM by Erock

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.

Except there's no reason to expend the effort, and that will just make things confusing. Metric would have to be taking precedence over the course of this, and everybody that's five or older right now would get screwed up by it, impact lessening the younger they are...

I certainly would have trouble with it for the rest of my life...

I am now known as Flyboy.

I will accept metric when metricized music becomes standard.

We did it.

If you don't like a single Frank Ocean song, you have no soul.

Statement of fact. Not an argument.

Personally, if the US wants to convert to metric, and some pressing matter doesn't come up between now and then that doesn't require it, I'll vote it down every time until I die. Not worth the trouble, I say...

I am now known as Flyboy.

I want music to be in a decitonic scale in 10/10 meter. I also want my European Lunar calendar. I mean seriously, the Jews, Muslims, and Asians do it and it is more accurate. Westerners need to get with the times.

Hang on I'm confuse, which calendar are we talking about?

hashtagsarestupid

Primarily the Islamic calendar. We should use it.

Why?

hashtagsarestupid

Yeah, no.

We don't need to change any of our measurement systems. Don't fix what ain't broke. I don't want to have to go relearn everything and be fucking up for the rest of my life, thanxkbai.

I am now known as Flyboy.

Switching to Imperial is hard (for me, for instance) because of numbers like 212

and 1760

^mile.

I'm not comfortable with it at all.

At least decimal metric system has a rather consistent pattern to it. Kilo is always 1000 x something, while milli is 1/1000 x something. And we generally don't need 5 different names for the same thing - ounces, pints, quarts, gallons, tons, pounds, and even teaspoons/tablespoons get out of hand.

At the very least, Americans should be educated to be aware of the important metrics and know how to convert at any time.

edited 7th Sep '11 3:19:45 PM by abstractematics

Now using Trivialis handle.

I grew up with Imperial and I still don't get it. Metric is much easier.

"I don't know how I do it. I'm like the Mr. Bean of sex." -Drunkscriblerian