Do you think the Metric System is stupid? I do.

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RSMemphis

Golden Member
Oct 6, 2001
1,521
0
0
Unfortunately it's built in now, If I need to estimate how much something weighs, I think lbs. If I look at something and need to know it's measurements or distance I think in inchs / feet / yards / miles. I'm 29, so, I also was told we'd be doing everything metric by the time we grew up. Unfortunately, the gov caved to the stubborn old folks and we still go by the Kings foot. Or something like that. Many things have changed, but, not enough. I think people in the US are rather comfortable with the current 2-system model, so, I don't see a push to get rid of imperial system any time soon.

It's not set for life. I grew up with metric, but have had to deal with the English system for a while now, and I am comfortable with lengths, temperatures and weights, though. Weight ounces are tough, because I rarely use them.

BTW, funny tidbit. If in the US, someone says "I weigh 155 pounds", that is correct, since pounds is a unit for weight (and mass).
If in Europe, you say " I weigh 65 kg", it's wrong, because the unit for weight is Newtons. Kg is strictly mass only.

 
Triumph

Triumph

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
15,031
14
81
Yeah, try doing some engineering calculations using those goddamn Btu*lbm/hour*lbf or some such crap. You'll learn to like the metric system REAL quick.
 
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cavingjan

Golden Member
Nov 15, 1999
1,719
0
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All of the construction (cement, concrete, asphalt, soils, etc.) material tests are either metric only or dual metric/english standards. There are no more english unit only standards left in the ASTM manuals. They really are easier to deal with. But I fear it will be a long time before everything else in the country will be switched over.

What percentage of the parts in an "American made" car are in metric? I'm curious and don't know the answer to that.
 
P

Pepsi90919

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
25,162
1
81
Originally posted by: Linflas
I really hate a system that is based on the powers of 10. It is so much easier to memorize 12 inches = 1 foot, 3 feet = 1 yard, 5280 feet = 1 mile etc rather than know that 1 kilometer = 1000 meters etc..
Click to expand...

HA...ok buddy.
 
P

PG

Diamond Member
Oct 25, 1999
3,426
44
91
Originally posted by: Triumph
Yeah, try doing some engineering calculations using those goddamn Btu*lbm/hour*lbf or some such crap. You'll learn to like the metric system REAL quick.
Click to expand...

Exactly, the thought of calculations using english units gives me some nasty Thermodynamics flashbacks.




 
C

Coolone

Senior member
Aug 18, 2001
983
0
0
I've lived in the US for about 4 years now, and I still struggle with the imperial system, metric is just so much better, the US should get on with the change already
 
F

FrustratedUser

Lifer
Aug 16, 2001
22,505
4
81
Originally posted by: Triumph
Yeah, try doing some engineering calculations using those goddamn Btu*lbm/hour*lbf or some such crap. You'll learn to like the metric system REAL quick.
Click to expand...

You beat me to it. Try to do any engineering or science with lbs, inch, F, feet, oz and so on.
BWAHAHAAAHAHA HAHA HA!

 
J

Justin218

Platinum Member
Jan 21, 2001
2,208
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I can understand both systems, and I think the metric system is better. However, I know the imperial system a bit better. I'd prefer if we (US) changed to metric but I doubt it. I could adapt.
 
S

spidey07

No Lifer
Aug 4, 2000
65,469
5
76
I always thought americans avoided the metric system because metric is for less intelligent beings that must do everything base-10.

C'mon, we americans are capable of MORE! Give us the hard stuff like rods and hogs heads and 5280 feet/mile! That's why I'll stick to my antequated, difficult standards. because I can. :):)

And don't get me started on this stupid seconds/miniutes/hours thing. parsecs baby, parsecs.:)
 
Zebo

Zebo

Elite Member
Jul 29, 2001
39,398
19
81
is memorizing english conversions all that different from memorizing what power of 10 pica, deca, deka, milli, centi, wtf-a is?? you've got a different prefix from like 10^-million to 10^+million. sounds like the work of communists to me
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You know you don't HAVE to remember any of the prefixes. Just say the standard units. For example 300 centimeters is 3.0 x10^-2 meters or 400 Kilometers is 4.0 x 10^2 meters.
 
L

LAUST

Diamond Member
Sep 13, 2000
8,957
1
81
9/32's, 11/16's 11/32's......... WTF

11mm 12mm 13mm 14mm = Got their sh!t together
 
F

FrustratedUser

Lifer
Aug 16, 2001
22,505
4
81
Someone told me that the APOLLO program was metric because the imperial units were impossible to use.
Can't back this up with a reference so it might be wrong.
 
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edmicman

Golden Member
May 30, 2001
1,682
0
0
you can't deny that the metric system is goofy! when we go to canada, it costs like $60 to put like 80 kilos in the tank! i never get that much in at home, or have it cost that much! and then we're forced to drive a piddling 80km/hr. wtf?!? maybe its a canadien thing... and if we go metric, why don't we go to metric time too?? and metric money!!
rolleye.gif
 
F

FrustratedUser

Lifer
Aug 16, 2001
22,505
4
81
Originally posted by: LAUST
9/32's, 11/16's 11/32's......... WTF

11mm 12mm 13mm 14mm = Got their sh!t together
Click to expand...


Could not agree more! I moved here recently and have to deal with that crap (9/32's, 11/16's, 11/32's).
 
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Vadatajs

Diamond Member
Aug 28, 2001
3,475
0
0
They told me in Elementary school that it would replace the imperial system that we currently use. I learned it, because it was EASY. I had a lot of fun in high school, and still in college making fun of people who can't figure it out in science classes.
 
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Vadatajs

Diamond Member
Aug 28, 2001
3,475
0
0
Originally posted by: edmicman
you can't deny that the metric system is goofy! when we go to canada, it costs like $60 to put like 80 kilos in the tank! i never get that much in at home, or have it cost that much! and then we're forced to drive a piddling 80km/hr. wtf?!? maybe its a canadien thing... and if we go metric, why don't we go to metric time too?? and metric money!!
rolleye.gif
Click to expand...

our money is pretty much metric

metric time would be kinda cool; I figured out a system when I was bored once. I can't find the notebook I wrote it in though. <turns to look under bed; shudders>
 
D

Daxxax

Senior member
Mar 9, 2001
521
0
0
I really hate a system that is based on the powers of 10. It is so much easier to memorize 12 inches = 1 foot, 3 feet = 1 yard, 5280 feet = 1 mile etc rather than know that 1 kilometer = 1000 meters etc..


funny, Really the metric system is so easy. I will never understand why we (United States) continue to use the backward POS English system.
 
kami

kami

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
17,627
5
81
It's just because you grew up with the more primitive system and have no exposure to metric. Being Canadian, I fully understand both metric and imperial units, and trust me...metric is far superior. I don't know what the flippin hell the USA's problem is....switch for chrissakes.

This alone should prove why metric is superior:

Freezing point in Metric: 0 degrees
Freezing point in imperial: 32 degrees
Boiling point in Metric: 100 degrees
Boiling point in imperial: 212 degrees

Now which makes more logical sense?
 
E

edmicman

Golden Member
May 30, 2001
1,682
0
0
Originally posted by: kami
It's just because you grew up with the more primitive system and have no exposure to metric. Being Canadian, I fully understand both metric and imperial units, and trust me...metric is far superior. I don't know what the flippin hell the USA's problem is....switch for chrissakes.

This alone should prove why metric is superior:

Freezing point in Metric: 0 degrees
Freezing point in imperial: 32 degrees
Boiling point in Metric: 100 degrees
Boiling point in imperial: 212 degrees

Now which makes more logical sense?
Click to expand...


so how many degress are in a circle? :D
 
N

notfred

Lifer
Feb 12, 2001
38,241
4
0
There's nothing wrong w/ the metric system, but I still like our old English system. It gives us character :)
 
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Dudd

Platinum Member
Aug 3, 2001
2,865
0
0
Originally posted by: kami
It's just because you grew up with the more primitive system and have no exposure to metric. Being Canadian, I fully understand both metric and imperial units, and trust me...metric is far superior. I don't know what the flippin hell the USA's problem is....switch for chrissakes.

This alone should prove why metric is superior:

Freezing point in Metric: 0 degrees
Freezing point in imperial: 32 degrees
Boiling point in Metric: 100 degrees
Boiling point in imperial: 212 degrees

Now which makes more logical sense?
Click to expand...

Bah, real men use the Kelvin temperature scale. Freezing point at 273 degrees baby, absolute zero at 0. I won't stop until I hear a meteorologist tell me that it's 285 degrees out.

 
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