Do you hate the metric system?

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FeuerFrei

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2005
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There is no wrong way to measure. U.S. haters like to find difference between the U.S. and other countries and then declare the U.S. wrong by default. You could equally make the case for every country to use the English system just to get us all on the same page.

I dislike the metric system because metric units have practically no meaning to me. It's like an alternative measurement system just there for academic reasons, AFAIC. Doubtless if I were raised using metric I would think the opposite. I don't call other countries stupid though for using a measurement system I'm not familiar with and rail against them for failing to switch to English.
 

fstime

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2004
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You rednecks that say SAE system is better can stfu.

Now, IMO, the metric system is better in every way.

I guess that would be why scientists around the world use it, even in the U.S.
 

PlatinumGold

Lifer
Aug 11, 2000
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Originally posted by: FeuerFrei
There is no wrong way to measure. U.S. haters like to find difference between the U.S. and other countries and then declare the U.S. wrong by default. You could equally make the case for every country to use the English system just to get us all on the same page.

I dislike the metric system because metric units have practically no meaning to me. It's like an alternative measurement system just there for academic reasons, AFAIC. Doubtless if I were raised using metric I would think the opposite. I don't call other countries stupid though for using a measurement system I'm not familiar with and rail against them for failing to switch to English.

Originally posted by: Babbles
Originally posted by: PlatinumGold
. . . why do idiots have preferences when they are PURELY arbitrary standards. . .

face it, we should have converted to metric decades ago. the fact that we haven't is just a testament to how stupid many americans are. . . .
stupid stupid stupid.
Originally posted by: JulesMaximus
I much prefer the metric system it actually. It is so much more intuitive than our stupid arcane system.
Originally posted by: DrPizza
The only people who have a hard time with the metric system are stupid Americans.
Originally posted by: Bateluer
The US is just too stubborn, or lazy, to do whats necessary to completely change over.

The blind pompous ignorant arrogance is rather mind-boggling. The US is just used to having our little system and it has nothing to do with laziness, idiocy, or stupidity.
The fact that you people do not understand this just exemplifies how stupid you guys are; you can't seem to think critically enough to wrap your arrogant minds around that concept.
Also since you all think you are so damned smart, I would like you geniuses to find a cost-effective way to change the entire American manufacturing processes, economics, and marketing over to the metric system. It's not so easy as you guys think it is.
Allegedly you all have a brain, so try to use it to think of the consequences as opposed to accusing everybody of being stupid.

I work as a chemist, and so for the majority of my week I deal with metric units, primarily things like Celsius, µg, ng, grams, mL, and liters - however another perhaps "odd" standard is that for pressure everything is measured in PSI, which is not a metric unit, and sometimes BTUs which is another very common technical unit which is not metric.
When I am not at work then I just as easily use our American system of measurements. I like buying my milk in gallons, makes things easier.

I think for the most part we do fine with the way things are. Sure eventually I would like to see us totally switch to metric, but that would be a long and rough road I think.

you say it has nothing to do with laziness? read the quote above you. of course it's about laziness. if the americans had decided to make the conversion, the companies would have followed. would it have cost them money? probably, but it would have saved money for all those that export or import products and have to spend money on repackaging.

ignorant pompous arrogance describe those that refuse to switch over to a world standard because they are too fvcking lazy to figure out the 1 meter is approximately 1 yard. 1 liter is approximately 1 quart etc.

just a few standard comparisons and it is no sweat "visualizing" the units involved.

 

alphatarget1

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2001
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Metric makes more sense, but I'm still used to Imperial.

"yeah, you go straight ahead and then make a left, and walk 400 meters"

methinks: hmm how much is 400 meters?
 

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
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Originally posted by: alphatarget1
Metric makes more sense, but I'm still used to Imperial.

"yeah, you go straight ahead and then make a left, and walk 400 meters"

methinks: hmm how much is 400 meters?

About 400 and a bit yards.
 

alphatarget1

Diamond Member
Dec 9, 2001
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Originally posted by: Lonyo
Originally posted by: alphatarget1
Metric makes more sense, but I'm still used to Imperial.

"yeah, you go straight ahead and then make a left, and walk 400 meters"

methinks: hmm how much is 400 meters?

About 400 and a bit yards.

I know, 1 mile = 1.6km. I'm just not used to it.
 

hans007

Lifer
Feb 1, 2000
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Originally posted by: Delbert
Humans are funny creatures. Whatever we learn when we are 4 years old is what makes sense. I?m convinced you could make up and teach a child say a base 13 numbering system and it would make as much sense as base 10 does to us. Of course that would be a cruel experiment and mess the kid up bad when he gets into the real world. I?m just saying hypothetically I?m convinced it would be that way.
Try to teach somebody base 8 or 16 and you know what I mean.
Yet we want to cling to the inches/feet /yards/miles or cups/pints/quarts/gallons?

Here is what I want to see.
A metric clock.
10 hours = 24 hours. No am or pm needed.
100 minutes to an hour. 100 seconds to a minute.
One delbert metric second would be slightly less than one (current format) second.




well the reason most people believe we use base 10 is because well humans have 10 fingers.


i suppose you could say base20 since you have toes also, but it is hard to look at your toes and hands at the same time.

anyhow, that is why i dont understand why we even have the english system. oh well, we are retarded.

as a side note, i'm actually shocked and amazed that this hasn't degenerated into a post about measuring penises yet, from the usual stuff i see on anands.
 

Lonyo

Lifer
Aug 10, 2002
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Originally posted by: alphatarget1
Originally posted by: Lonyo
Originally posted by: alphatarget1
Metric makes more sense, but I'm still used to Imperial.

"yeah, you go straight ahead and then make a left, and walk 400 meters"

methinks: hmm how much is 400 meters?

About 400 and a bit yards.

I know, 1 mile = 1.6km. I'm just not used to it.
It's more:
1 yard = 0.9144 meter
So for small values it's easy enough just to go with 1:1 ratio :p
 

TitanDiddly

Guest
Dec 8, 2003
12,696
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The more I get into physics, the more sense it makes.
Feet, miles = crap
Horsepower = Absolut Crap
Pounds, ounces = understandable, but still crap.

The seamless transition between units along the base-10 system is great.
 

smack Down

Diamond Member
Sep 10, 2005
4,507
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The english system is so much better for measuring then the matrix system it is a joke to think the whole world should convert to the metrix system so a few engineers life is easyer when solving made up questions.
 

ChairShot

Senior member
May 6, 2003
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how can someone bash a system that works on multiples of 10. how easy can it be?

and BTW, only the US stay with the imperial system as their primary units. NOOBS. ;)
 

alfa147x

Lifer
Jul 14, 2005
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Originally posted by: Krazefinn
Forget SAE. metric actually makes sense.
But trying to use 2 systems sucks. just bite the bullet and switch already okay?
Besides its true to say you're now packin 10!!!!

agree
 

Staples

Diamond Member
Oct 28, 2001
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No, I use the metric measurements all the time. I wish the US would adopt it.
 
Aug 16, 2001
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Originally posted by: PhoenixOrion
i don't hate the metric system but I agree that it blows when you go on your travels and your accustomed to english system and the majority of the world is on metric.

its worse when buying the right size clothes and shoes. now that's another ballgame.

It must be a strange feeling to realize the US is a backwards country when it comes to units.
Try to do physics in anything else than metric and report back.

Metric > *
 

Chryso

Diamond Member
Nov 23, 2004
4,039
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Honestly, I only dislike the metric system because I didn't grow up with it and therefore don't understand it all that well. When I say "don't understand it" I mean I have trouble making mental estimates about weights/distances/volumes using metric amounts.
 

Saint Nick

Lifer
Jan 21, 2005
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I would actually enjoy seeing this nation convert to the SI system. Of course, that will probably happen after the fall of Washington D.C. and this country becomes socialist/communist... :roll:

All kidding aside, I think the SI system is very easy to understand and to convert. I don't like converting in our system at all! However, a complete switch from the current system to SI would cost probably billions of dollars. We would have to get cars changed somehow, road signs would need to be replaced, measurments in everyday things would need to be changed.
 

SparkyJJO

Lifer
May 16, 2002
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Originally posted by: Chryso
Honestly, I only dislike the metric system because I didn't grow up with it and therefore don't understand it all that well. When I say "don't understand it" I mean I have trouble making mental estimates about weights/distances/volumes using metric amounts.

QFT

although I'm using the metric system more since I got into computers - 120mm fan anyone? Or, 32 degrees C?