The three countries that don't use the metric system

[SparkyJJO]

Why do people who use the metric system use centimeters and meters, but not decimeters? It's the equivalent of using inches and yards, but not feet. And if you try and use a decimeter, you get looked at really strangely like you're from some other planet.

 

[Cogman]

Why do people who use the metric system use centimeters and meters, but not decimeters? It's the equivalent of using inches and yards, but not feet. And if you try and use a decimeter, you get looked at really strangely like you're from some other planet.

or, for that mater, decameters.

 

[ussfletcher]

or, for that mater, decameters.

Or, for that matter, hectometers.

Or nanometers, micrometers, megameters, gigameters, or terameters

 

[Chaotic42]

And why is the kilogram the standard, but not the kilometer or kilosecond? The metric system needs to be overhauled, including the abbreviations. Each power of 10 should have the same starting letter of its inverse, but powers greater than zero should be majuscule and powers less than zero should be miniscule.

Other than that, yes, we should be using the metric system.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

Why do people who use the metric system use centimeters and meters, but not decimeters? It's the equivalent of using inches and yards, but not feet. And if you try and use a decimeter, you get looked at really strangely like you're from some other planet.

1 dm^3 = 1L. It's used often enough in chemistry. It's not like Imperial doesn't have any increments that are not used anymore. And worse, they have really stupid names.

I would guess that it's not enough of an increase in convenience size-wise to make up for the inconvenience accuracy-wise.

Or, for that matter, hectometers.

Or nanometers, micrometers, megameters, gigameters, or terameters

We use nm and um. Well, histologists, cell biologists, chemists, physicsts, electrical engineers, and the like do. As for the others, there are no scales large enough. And astronomers use light-years and parsecs, which are a bit more intuitive in that field. Note, however, they still use kilo-, mega-, and giga- prefixes.

 

[Newbian]

My car gets forty rods to the hogshead, and that's the way i likes it!!!

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

This thread should really be titled:

"The 192+/- countries who incorrectly measure and weigh everything JUST to spite the mighty USA"

 

[Broheim]

Because we measure our handgun bullets in caliber, not millimeters. It sounds so much better to say, "I took that asshole out with my 45." as opposed to "I took that asshole out with my 11.5 millimeter." I hope this clears it up for you.

5.56mm and 7.62mm and 9mm .. what about those?

we (in Denmark atleast) don't actually say 5.56 millimeter, we say 5-5-6 or 7-6-2 or 12-7 (.50 cal).

 

[Broheim]

And why is the kilogram the standard, but not the kilometer or kilosecond? The metric system needs to be overhauled, including the abbreviations. Each power of 10 should have the same starting letter of its inverse, but powers greater than zero should be majuscule and powers less than zero should be miniscule.

Other than that, yes, we should be using the metric system.

kilogram = 1000 gram

gram is the "standard"

 

[kinev]

Yep. Although I believe the word interesting was in the OP... So it started interesting.

Yeah, but I think you "slipped" there. Not that you're not great at what you do, but...might have blown your cover.


:hmm:

 

[zanejohnson]

Why do people who use the metric system use centimeters and meters, but not decimeters? It's the equivalent of using inches and yards, but not feet. And if you try and use a decimeter, you get looked at really strangely like you're from some other planet.

because metric system works in 10's duh

kb mb Gb tb

 

[fatpat268]

Damned if you do, damned if you don't.

MotionMan

Basically. Meddle in foreign affairs (like we do now), and we get called out for "policing the world." Or be an isolationist country, and then still there's some blame for us.

So yea, damned if you do, damned if you don't.


I love how people from countries all around the world on the internet love to take potshots at the US and our customs. I don't know why so many do it... if it's to feel important or not, but realize this: most of us don't give a shit what you think.

 

[fatpat268]

because metric system works in 10's duh

kb mb Gb tb

Kilobyte: 1000 bytes
Kibibyte: 1024 bytes

At least, that's what the IEC says... not that anyone uses "kibibyte"

 

[frostedflakes]

kilogram = 1000 gram

gram is the "standard"

Actually kilogram is the base unit for mass.

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

And why is the kilogram the standard, but not the kilometer or kilosecond? The metric system needs to be overhauled, including the abbreviations. Each power of 10 should have the same starting letter of its inverse, but powers greater than zero should be majuscule and powers less than zero should be miniscule.

Other than that, yes, we should be using the metric system.

the gram is the standard

1 gram = 1 milliliter of water = 1 millimeter cubed of water

1 gram is the appro. weight of a small paperclip.
1 small paperclip is approx the same weight as 1ml of water
1000 small paper clips will weigh approx. the same as 1 litre of water.
1 Litre of water weighs 1 kilogram, which is also 1 decimeter cubed.
Cool huh?

 

[Howard]

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?"

You wouldn't know how many ounces are in a cup either.

 

[zanejohnson]

Kilobyte: 1000 bytes
Kibibyte: 1024 bytes

At least, that's what the IEC says... not that anyone uses "kibibyte"

thats a standard adopted by the hard drive manufacturers

it's why a 150GB had doesnt format to 150GB.

 

[zanejohnson]

i think in both standards

you can say something weighs 500g and i think about a lb.......

 

[fatpat268]

the gram is the standard

1 gram = 1 milliliter of water = 1 millimeter cubed of water

1 gram is the appro. weight of a small paperclip.
1 small paperclip is approx the same weight as 1ml of water
1000 small paper clips will weigh approx. the same as 1 litre of water.
1 Litre of water weighs 1 kilogram, which is also 1 decimeter cubed.
Cool huh?

1 fl. oz water = 1 av oz water
1 pint water = 1 lb water

 

[KillerCharlie]

The imperial system gave us no problem landing on the moon.

 

[OverVolt]

I for one enjoy Fahrenheit. Since it was based on a horribly misguided guess at human temperature it gives a good "feels like" number better than Celsius does.

 

[Murloc]

Actually kilogram is the base unit for mass.

in physics maybe, but in recipes not so much. Actually it doesn't matter if someone writes kg or g, because the metric system, unlike the imperial system, needs only to move a comma to change the unit.

 

[OverVolt]

^ Because we all know kg is weight and gram is mass.

Do I follow your PhD in physics correctly?

 

[Broheim]

I for one enjoy Fahrenheit. Since it was based on a horribly misguided guess at human temperature it gives a good "feels like" number better than Celsius does.

that's a matter of preference

but the human body can detect one degree variations in celcius but not infahrenheit.

imo if you aren't accustom to either, celcius is probably easier to relate to because it's based on water, 0 degrees is the freezing point and 100 the boiling point (at sealevel obviously).

but as I said, it's simply a matter of preference.

 

[WelshBloke]

I for one am glad we in the UK just use the metric system.

Anyway I'm off to the pub for a pint, it's a bit of a walk, about 2 miles. Mind you I could do with losing a few pounds anyway.