The three countries that don't use the metric system

[IronWing]

The Metric System?

Yes, a simple search would find the same rehashed arguments. You do know how to search don't you? You just put your together and blow.

 

[KentState]

I find it hard to understand how anyone, at any point in history, at any time in their lives, could find it better to use the Imperial system rather than the metric system. The reason we count in base 10 is because we have 10 fingers. So why not have a measurement system that measures increments in powers of 10? We do not count in base 12, 3, 1760, 20, 8, 16, and 14 all at once. In case you were wondering:

12 inches in a foot
3 feet in a yard
1760 yards in a mile
1 fl. ounce in a pint
8 pints to a gallon
16 ounces to a pound
14 pounds to a stone

With the metric system, it all makes sense, and the whole thing is built on a set of mostly consistent rules: the kilo- prefix means a thousand, mega- means a million, milli- means a thousandth, micro- means a millionth, etc. Instantly you have a measuring system that is consistent, scalable to very large or very small quantities, and most important, easily remembered.

Also, note: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication

All the countries in the list had units of measurement before they switched to the Metric system. China alone had a population of ~480 million (according to Wolfram Alpha) in 1925 when they changed. As you have noted, much of the scientific community (and including people like engineers and other science-related trades and professions) already use the metric system.


Laughable. Instead of catching the bus I could walk the 3 or 4 hours from my house to the university where I study. Does it means I should do it, just because it's possible?


Because that is so much easier than "add 1"

You are really going to compare China in 1925 to the US in 2011? How many road signs did they have, cars, maps, tools, factories, and so on. What percentage of that population actually used a measurement system on a daily basis? We have mostly switched in manufacturing, medicine and drug dealers. With the amount of illegals building homes, I'm sure the construction industry is changing as well.

 

[lxskllr]

The US will never completely forsake the imperial system of measure. We are too invested. The land grid of the majority of states is based on miles, half miles, quarter miles, and area is based off that in 640 acres, 160 acre quarters, 40 acre quarter quarters aliquot parts. Property ownership descriptors and the road network followed the land grid. Hell, here in my fair city all the east-west roads make a dogleg at the boundary between two townships that are slightly offset.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public_Land_Survey_System

For just about everything else, the switch over would be a matter of taste and switching over equipment/specs/signage as the old stuff wears out.

You see a lot of antique measuring systems in land records. That's no reason to not start doing things the right way going into the future.

 

[frostedflakes]

Yeah I suppose so, I just can't see it as that big a change that requires enthusiasm to make it happen, just one person to put forward the idea to a vote. then everyone else to go for it.

Depends on how you implement it I suppose. I'd have no problem if it was just done slowly, for example replacing signs as they wore out and had to be replaced anyway, stuff like that. But a rapid, costly transition just makes no sense to me. Tons of better places we could spend that money.

 

[KentState]

Yes, a simple search would find the same rehashed arguments. You do know how to search don't you? You just put your together and blow.

Searching does not earn you 10k posts in such a short time.

 

[IronWing]

You see a lot of antique measuring systems in land records. That's no reason to not start doing things the right way going into the future.

The cost of re-defining the land grid could never be justified.

 

[HAL9000]

Depends on how you implement it I suppose. I'd have no problem if it was just done slowly, for example replacing signs as they wore out and had to be replaced anyway, stuff like that. But a rapid, costly transition just makes no sense to me. Tons of better places we could spend that money.

Very true, It didn't happen in the UK rapidly it was a slow thing (and we aren't completely finished) It would never happen quickly because old/ stubborn people wouldn't give it up straight away.

 

[sdifox]

You are really going to compare China in 1925 to the US in 2011? How many road signs did they have, cars, maps, tools, factories, and so on. What percentage of that population actually used a measurement system on a daily basis? We have mostly switched in manufacturing, medicine and drug dealers. With the amount of illegals building homes, I'm sure the construction industry is changing as well.

err, measurement is used in China daily back then too. You know, people buying grocery?

 

[BoomerD]

Yeah I suppose so, I just can't see it as that big a change that requires enthusiasm to make it happen, just one person to put forward the idea to a vote. then everyone else to go for it.

Because, outside the scientific/engineering communities, no one really gives a shit.

Most of us grew up with the current system and get by with it without thinking.

Changing to a metric system would take several generations at least.
"Let's see...the recipe calls for 250 grams of flour...how many cups is that?"
"
"Hmmm this says to add 150 ml of water to 250 mg of sodium chloride. WTF?"

In the construction industry, metric measurements are becoming more and more common, but most people still make the conversion to imperial in their heads.

I know how much something weighs if the label says 100...but I have to think a bit if it says 45.36 kg.

 

[lxskllr]

The cost of re-defining the land grid could never be justified.

We don't have a grid here on the right side of the country ;^)

 

[IronWing]

I'm sure the construction industry is changing as well.

From what I can see, residential builders don't measure much of anything anymore. Stucco hides all sins.

 

[techs]

Listen. Most of the world drives on the wrong side of the road, but you don't see me whining about it.

 

[HAL9000]

Because, outside the scientific/engineering communities, no one really gives a shit.

Most of us grew up with the current system and get by with it without thinking.

Changing to a metric system would take several generations at least.
"Let's see...the recipe calls for 250 grams of flour...how many cups is that?"
"
"Hmmm this says to add 150 ml of water to 250 mg of sodium chloride. WTF?"

In the construction industry, metric measurements are becoming more and more common, but most people still make the conversion to imperial in their heads.

I know how much something weighs if the label says 100...but I have to think a bit if it says 45.36 kg.

It needs to happen though, someone should give a shit over there. I'm surprised it hasn't.

 

[HAL9000]

Listen. Most of the world drives on the wrong side of the road, but you don't see me whining about it.

:\

 

[BoomerD]

It needs to happen though, someone should give a shit over there. I'm surprised it hasn't.

NEEDS to happen? Why?

SHOULD it happen? Perhaps.

 

[HAL9000]

NEEDS to happen? Why?

SHOULD it happen? Perhaps.

Needs to happen because the world is getting smaller and things need to be more compatible.

 

[KentState]

Would love to go metric because 15.4 sounds more impressive than 6".

 

[BoomerD]

Needs to happen because the world is getting smaller and things need to be more compatible.

Fuck that. Become compatible with our system then.

 

[lxskllr]

Needs to happen because the world is getting smaller and things need to be more compatible.

I don't care about the rest of world, and I'd just as soon see it get bigger, but I'm all for intelligent measuring systems.

 

[HAL9000]

Fuck that. Become compatible with our system then.

It's not your system, it was ours, you haven moved on yet. Also that system makes no logical sense.

 

[HAL9000]

I don't care about the rest of world, and I'd just as soon see it get bigger, but I'm all for intelligent measuring systems.

Yep that's a very good reason too.

 

[KentState]

Needs to happen because the world is getting smaller and things need to be more compatible.

It has been pointed out again and again that the areas that need to be compatible are already using metric. National things like road signs really don't impact anyone outside the country so it doesn't make sense to spend large amounts of money to make a major change.

 

[BoomerD]

It's not your system, it was ours, you haven moved on yet. Also that system makes no logical sense.

So fucking what? If you don't like it, don't use it.
YOU do the math to convert if it bothers you.

 

[RocksteadyDotNet]

Listen. Most of the world drives on the wrong side of the road, but you don't see me whining about it.

Yes, most of the world do drive on the wrong side of the road.

 

[HAL9000]

It has been pointed out again and again that the areas that need to be compatible are already using metric. National things like road signs really don't impact anyone outside the country so it doesn't make sense to spend large amounts of money to make a major change.

True, that's why it should happen slowly, it doesn't need to be expensive, just slowly phase it out.

So fucking what? If you don't like it, don't use it.
YOU do the math to convert if it bothers you.

OK.