Poll: I hate the imperial system. America, I'm looking at you! Give it up, metric is simply better!!!!

[CM156_v1legacy]

Honestly, converting oil will be the biggest problem. Miles/gallon going into KM/Leters makes it hard to know if you are getting a good deal.
Besides, if we do change, it will give the rest of the world less to make fun of us about.

 

[stocki_1011778]

I'm from Hamburg, Germany and I think the metric system is more than accurate as the imperial system

6miles = 9,6km ~ 10km

1000m = 1km
1000g = 1kg
100cm = 1m

1000ml = 1l
10mm = 1cm

Hey Americans you've got to do multiply by 10, 100, 1000 or divide 10,100, 1000. That's 2nd garde stuff

 

[infinity^infinity]

I agree, I did some internship work by presenting some scientific findings on a organization's website. All of their data was in the metric system but I had to convert all of the numbers, all of the findings into imperial measurements. It turned out that was my entire job while I was interning there it sucked. By the way, America did at one time try and switch to the metric system, but people were outraged and they had instances of vandalism and people shooting at the new speed limit signs. What I think sucks though is that America is kind of in the middle of switching, all the scientific and medical community does there things in metrics; as soon as the general population is willing to accept it then we will switch.

 

[Muspelheim]

Accurate, simple, standardized... And soulless. Efficent. Ze metric system is der superior system, yankees! Zhurely, you see the futility of resisting!

 

[Zantos]

Natural units are the way forward. L-H are good, but Planck are the best. Fuck the metric and imperial systems.

Also, fuck biophysics papers. I swear they make up half of those units. I can understand in astrophysics where metres are a little ridiculous to use so lightyears or parsecs make sense, but a calorie is 4.19 joules. Just fucking use joules.

 

[Sandernista]

snippers

Well sir, as a former architecture student, I have to say metric really sucks when designing a house. Here in the U.S. all the standards are based on the imperial, so designing in metric is just a chore. This is an entirely biased opinion though, grew up my whole life with imperial.

(Also, the stormcloaks just suck)

 

[The .50 Caliber Cow]

America changing its ways because it makes sense to do things our way?

...

Not happening.

[sub][sub]Moo! [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9iIgQN5uZE&feature=related][/sub][/sub]

 

[Aidinthel]

What is with these old threads being necro'd by new users? Are they finding these topics through Google or something?

OT: The scientific community already uses metric. The thing is that most people don't need to do science, they just need to know how big something is, and that isn't done in a logical "visualize the small unit and then multiply it by 10" way; it's accomplished by just knowing how big a unit is through experience. So for the average person there is little or no advantage to metric, and in fact the switch would be a significant inconvenience because they'd have to build a new mental picture for every single unit.

 

[Spacewolf]

What is with these old threads being necro'd by new users? Are they finding these topics through Google or something?

OT: The scientific community already uses metric. The thing is that most people don't need to do science, they just need to know how big something is, and that isn't done in a logical "visualize the small unit and then multiply it by 10" way; it's accomplished by just knowing how big a unit is through experience. So for the average person there is little or no advantage to metric, and in fact the switch would be a significant inconvenience because they'd have to build a new mental picture for every single unit.

presumably they are using the search bar like they always get told to.
The engineering comunity does not use metric which is extremly annoying they even use a different visulisation system for drawing

 

[Neekoolawous]

Metric is accurate and easy to use. Imperial is still around because it's catchier. Imperial needs to go. Maybe some metric slang will help?

 

[pppppppppppppppppp]

I just don't like the metric system. It's annoying and the measurements mean nothing to me because I was socialized with the imperial system. 2 kilometers means nothing to me. 2 miles however gives me a great picture of how far away something is. Thats why most Americans don't like the metric system and why we as a whole prolly never will use it.

But if we taught our kids to use the metric system instead of the imperial system, that wouldn't be a problem. All it takes is one generation.

What's stupid is that the imperial system is still being taught at elementary schools and they usually don't even mention metrics till 5th grade.

That, and devoting a while year to handwriting are two of the many problems I have with the U.S. educational system.

 

[z121231211]

Snip

Also, Grams don't translate well, because, hey, how many grams are in a pound? 454 (really 1 pound = 453.59237 grams, but hey, round up)? What kinda fucked up unrounded number is that?

He was saying that grams translate well to micro grams, milligrams, kilograms, mega grams, etc.

Metric does not translate well with imperial. They're two completely different systems. A kilometer is 1/10,000 the distance from the equator to the North Pole, a foot was based off some king's big foot (a story I heard in elementary school) of course they aren't going to translate well.

EDIT: Damn me and not checking the dates of posts.

 

[Zen Toombs]

I concur, metric is simply better. Sadly, I never got around to learning it, and have had quite a bit of trouble learning the difference.

I wouldn't mind our kids being taught it though. That would be a good way to have America learn metric.

Edit:
Note to self; check date of the OP

 

[Fieldy409_v1legacy]

I prefer stormcloaks......

Wait, what?

 

[Singularly Datarific]

For the love of crap, please convert. I hate hate HATE having to use uncommon bases when converting units. WHO THE HELL DECIDED IT WOULD BE A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE 5280 FEET TO A MILE?!?
Hate his guts. HATE THEM.
I live in America. So either I have to use them or I have to convert them into something useful.

 

[Helmholtz Watson]

Snip

snippy

snippy

I apologize for responding to an old post, but while I don't agree with everything that emeraldrafael said but I would argue a different stance. While I realize that it doesn't originate from the US, I think the US units of measurements should be kept to preserve our culture, because it helps define American culture because we are one of the few societies to still use it. Now before you cry for blood over my claim of culture, keep in mind that while some claims that "don't change it because it's part of my culture!!!!" can be harmful to the general population (like the South African belief on the "Virgin Cure" [http://www.scienceinafrica.co.za/2002/april/virgin.htm]), the wide spread use of the US measurement system doesn't seem to harm the general public, and my own experience has been that when it is necessary to know the metric system (such as when a person is trying to learn about/pursue a career in science), they are taught to use it. For example, my uncle is a aerospace engineer, so he was taught it and he does know how to use it. However my aunt is a divorce lawyer so she never learned it in college. I don't see why Europeans care about the American education system, it's just something that American college (and some high school) students have to learn. *shrug*

EDIT: I reworded some of what I typed.

 

[Helmholtz Watson]

I prefer stormcloaks......

Wait, what?

STOP RIGHT THERE CRIMINAL SCUM! By order of the late Emperor Titus Mede II and the Thalmor Embassy, Skyrim must renounce its treacherous idea of Nordic units of measurement and conform to the Empire's metric system!

 

[Professor James]

I'm neutral on the whole issue. I like metric better in some ways and imperial in others.

 

[Aidinthel]

I'm neutral on the whole issue. I like metric better in some ways and imperial in others.

Ok, I am genuinely curious now. If you have no strong opinions, what circumstances led you to find this old thread?