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Meh. Don't see the point of converting. Yeah, yeah, I know, the metric system is more logical and scientific...but you know what? The terms feet and pounds mean something to me. I don't care how much more logical the metric system is, when I look at those numbers it's like gibberish to me.
I also don't think knowing the metric system makes you any more intelligent. It's all about what you grew up with. Honestly, I think the metric system drones take the whole thing a bit too seriously. The system has been working for us and continues to do so. We have a lot bigger problems to worry about than your "scientific tranquility", as Ellison would put it, being disturbed.
Agreed.
Now I once worked at a hospital that used all metric, and I learned it pretty fast, and the metric numbers meant something. The big issue I have with the metric system is with temperature. The increments are too big. 37 degrees is 98.6; 38 is 100.4. That's a huge gap.
Does this mean the most common American measure will disappear? "THE FOOTBALL FIELD". When anything large is being discussed in the US media it's always, "This thing is big!!!!! It's 100 football fields in size". LOL it always gives me a chuckle.
Once upon a time a 2x4 was 2" x 4". Then it was 3 5/8" and now is 3 1/2".
A 2" (1.5) x 12" (11.5) is close enough to 50 mm x 300 mm (0.3m) as not to matter. 1 1/2" is very close to 30 mm as well.
In any case the users soom learn the system they work with and it is no big deal.
I agree, it is no big deal. I own standard wrenches, and I own metric wrenches. I know that light travels at 299,792,458 meters per second or 186,282.397051 miles per second. I also know that 0°C is the same as 32°F, which is also the same as 273.15° Kelvin.
Considering the cost (every speed limit sign on every road would have to be replaced), I do not see the overwhelming need to make a change from one unit of measure to a different unit of meassure. To me it makes about as much sense as advocating we convert from Base 10 to Base 8. Why?
Which brings me to a well known computer joke:
Why do programmers confuse Halloween with Christmas?
Now I once worked at a hospital that used all metric, and I learned it pretty fast, and the metric numbers meant something. The big issue I have with the metric system is with temperature. The increments are too big. 37 degrees is 98.6; 38 is 100.4. That's a huge gap.
In case you haven't noticed the metric system is already sneaking in.
How do you buy your bottles of soda ?
Your weights on pkgs all show metric.
Kids in school do more metric based math problems.
Incrementalism.
And it stinks too. When I was a automotive tech, some manufacturers of automobiles were using both systems putting the vehicles together, it made mechanics have to purchase two well equipped tool sets, one SAE and one Metric. It would drive us nuts, because when we opened the hood on a car, we never knew what to expect.
Does this mean the most common American measure will disappear? "THE FOOTBALL FIELD". When anything large is being discussed in the US media it's always, "This thing is big!!!!! It's 100 football fields in size". LOL it always gives me a chuckle.
If we change to the metric system what will happend to foot-long hot dogs and yards of beer...
What are you going to order a 30.48 centimeter hot dog or 0.91 meter of beer? No way, man...
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