That deafening response to metrication shows how little people really care what measurements they use. It is only a vociferous and probably very patrioc minority, that deters frightened politicians from implementing change to modern measurements.
What a shame! In thelong run it would make school children's and everybody else's life so much easier.
"My preference is for the English system. I'm not going to argue that the English system is better or that everybody should adopt it, because all systems of measurement that are useful and complete are equivalent, as far as I'm concerned....
posted by Jeff Harrell at 05:44PM UTC on January 21
Just stumbled by accident on this site and find it quite interesting. Being an American site, I was astonished to find so many pro metric posts.
What a pity it fizzled out. Maybe it can be resurrected?
Here are my 2 pennies worth of observation on Jeff Harrell’s post.
Preferences are fine as long as they are only preferences. Once you start to justify your preferences you should be able to back them with solid and convincing evidence. Where I do differ is when you state
"that all systems of measurement that are useful and complete are equivalent, as far as I'm concerned".......
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US customary is, if I am correct, neither complete nor a system. It is an amalgam of body bit lengths and trade measurements that have no relation to each other. It is cumbersome to use in almost everything slightly more complicated than weighing potatoes, hopeless in science and even more so in medicine. This made scientists and Drs. switch to the metric system. That and other factors force US children to learn 2 measurement languages in a world that speaks practically only one. Does anyone find that fair? No other nation burdens children with that unnecessary and time-consuming task.
As to convenience of unit measure, every metric person will tell you the same about metric units. It is as simple as this. Everything you are used to makes sense compared to something you cannot relate to.
That deafening response to metrication shows how little people really care what measurements they use. It is only a vociferous and probably very patrioc minority, that deters frightened politicians from implementing change to modern measurements. What a shame! In thelong run it would make school children's and everybody else's life so much easier.
posted by drongo 19 years ago
With these answers, I am almost as left out, as Canadians. Loud Americans, surely not the thinking ones.
posted by drongo 19 years ago
"My preference is for the English system. I'm not going to argue that the English system is better or that everybody should adopt it, because all systems of measurement that are useful and complete are equivalent, as far as I'm concerned.... posted by Jeff Harrell at 05:44PM UTC on January 21 Just stumbled by accident on this site and find it quite interesting. Being an American site, I was astonished to find so many pro metric posts. What a pity it fizzled out. Maybe it can be resurrected? Here are my 2 pennies worth of observation on Jeff Harrell’s post. Preferences are fine as long as they are only preferences. Once you start to justify your preferences you should be able to back them with solid and convincing evidence. Where I do differ is when you state "that all systems of measurement that are useful and complete are equivalent, as far as I'm concerned"....... -------------------------------------------------- US customary is, if I am correct, neither complete nor a system. It is an amalgam of body bit lengths and trade measurements that have no relation to each other. It is cumbersome to use in almost everything slightly more complicated than weighing potatoes, hopeless in science and even more so in medicine. This made scientists and Drs. switch to the metric system. That and other factors force US children to learn 2 measurement languages in a world that speaks practically only one. Does anyone find that fair? No other nation burdens children with that unnecessary and time-consuming task. As to convenience of unit measure, every metric person will tell you the same about metric units. It is as simple as this. Everything you are used to makes sense compared to something you cannot relate to.
posted by drongo 19 years ago
(limited to the most recent 20 comments)