rhys 0 #1 January 6, 2009 Another thread got me thinking, Is it absurd to think that this could happen one day or not? Is this akin to the number '0' being adopted by the west over 1000 years the after eastern world had been using it. Banning it at one stage and then adopting it once the church allowed interest to be charged on loans. Or is there really no difference between the two sytems to ever be an advantage? I am yet to 'fathom' the imperial system and probably never will. But metric is increasingly being utilised in the USA due to imported products and globalisation. What do you all think?"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, then the world will see peace." - 'Jimi' Hendrix Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #2 January 6, 2009 Either that or use the Imperial system correctly ... their gallon is the wrong size, for starters. But actually the metric system is way more sensible and should be the universal standard (and I'm from the Foot/Pound/Second generation - but now am enlightened). The U.K is really weird and uses mixed standards - old folks like their Lbs of potatoes, pints of beer and Miles per Gallon. But the length of a Cricket pitch will still need to be a Chain (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gawain 0 #3 January 6, 2009 Quote Either that or use the Imperial system correctly ... their gallon is the wrong size, for starters. But actually the metric system is way more sensible and should be the universal standard (and I'm from the Foot/Pound/Second generation - but now am enlightened). The U.K is really weird and uses mixed standards - old folks like their Lbs of potatoes, pints of beer and Miles per Gallon. But the length of a Cricket pitch will still need to be a Chain I was just going to say, at least we use one system unlike you chaps across the pond over there...So I try and I scream and I beg and I sigh Just to prove I'm alive, and it's alright 'Cause tonight there's a way I'll make light of my treacherous life Make light! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TrophyHusband 0 #4 January 6, 2009 i remember in early grade school being told that we would soon switch to metric, but that's the last i heard of this switch. metric makes a lot more sense and it wouldn't bother me if we switched. the only thing that would bother me is buying gas in liters. the worst is when a piece of equipment uses both standard and metric. "Your scrotum is quite nice" - Skymama www.kjandmegan.com Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #5 January 6, 2009 Whoops (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Belgian_Draft 0 #6 January 6, 2009 It will happen eventually. Many facets of American life are already going by the metric system that were in the domain of the imperial system just 20 years ago. Auto manufacturers advertise engine size by liters where 20 years ago the standard was cubic inches. Tire sizes are almost all metric. Soft drinks are sold by 1 & 2 liter bottles. Heck, drug dealers lead the way by dealing large quantities by the kilo! The metric system is too easy to use for it not to take over, but it will take some time. HAMMER: Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the object we are trying to hit. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #7 January 6, 2009 Quote It will happen eventually. Many facets of American life are already going by the metric system that were in the domain of the imperial system just 20 years ago. Auto manufacturers advertise engine size by liters where 20 years ago the standard was cubic inches. Tire sizes are almost all metric. Soft drinks are sold by 1 & 2 liter bottles. Heck, drug dealers lead the way by dealing large quantities by the kilo! The metric system is too easy to use for it not to take over, but it will take some time. I agree; and I remember that we made the switch over to metrics in science class around the time I was in high school in the early 70's. I would have thought the change would have been farther along in the US by now than it is, and I'm disappointed that it's not. I mean, if the silly Mooseheads Up North can do it, so can we. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #8 January 6, 2009 We can't even complete the job over here. It makes no sense to have and use 2 different standards. There was even legislation - I don't know what happened to it .... We have roads measured in miles and petrol sold in Litres (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #9 January 6, 2009 Quote I mean, if the silly Mooseheads Up North can do it, so can we. I would like to proclaim us more enlightened but the truth is we are simply more obedient. When our government told us we were going metric in the 70s there was just as much bellyaching as in the US. The difference is the gov ignored us and legislated it into effect. We still use both in Canada because everything we make is for export to the US. I remember in the 80s I worked on a pair of sister ships (identical blueprints). They had Finnish (metric) engines feeding American (imperial) gearboxes. The generators were Cats (imperial). The tricky part was one hull was built in Vancouver (imperial) and the other in Japan (metric). At the beginning of the current financial crises the chattering classes were going on about how this was the end of the US's financial preeminence in the world. I am hearing less of that now, but if the emerging markets do lead the way out we may see oil traded in Euros/cubic metre. If that happens it may signal American acquiescence to reason. Who knows they may even learn how to spell metre. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
tbrown 26 #10 January 6, 2009 "A pint's a pound, the world around..." - from an old drinking song. We almost went metric back in the seventies, but the big mistake was they tried to print comparative side-by-side measurements on road signs and labels. Which is of course a hopeless way to go, trying to think back and forth between the two would drive anyone crazy. We just need to take the plunge and quickly enough we'd get the feel for Litres, kilos, and km's. But we're also in an uphill fight with a culture that thinks "math is hard". But hey, anyone who drinks already knows what a 750 ml bottle looks like. Your humble servant.....Professor Gravity ! Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
kelpdiver 2 #11 January 6, 2009 Quote The U.K is really weird and uses mixed standards - old folks like their Lbs of potatoes, pints of beer and Miles per Gallon. We do the same, and I see little reason for it to change. Most people see little benefit to kilometers over miles, or liters over gallons. Or using 100g as the common measure for food instead of 1lb. It would be nice if we could just pick one set of drivers, so we don't need a full set of metric and SAE socket drivers. It seems like there is a real gain there, and nothing lost. So there still seems like a few more changes coming, but Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #12 January 6, 2009 Quote"A pint's a pound, the world around..." - from an old drinking song. a US pint of water weighs 1.04375 pounds 1 US pint = 0.83267384 REAL Imperial pints The imperial (UK) gallon is defined as 10 pounds of pure water so a real pint = 1.25 lbs of water. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Capt.Slog 0 #13 January 6, 2009 Quote Quote Either that or use the Imperial system correctly ... their gallon is the wrong size, for starters. But actually the metric system is way more sensible and should be the universal standard (and I'm from the Foot/Pound/Second generation - but now am enlightened). The U.K is really weird and uses mixed standards - old folks like their Lbs of potatoes, pints of beer and Miles per Gallon. But the length of a Cricket pitch will still need to be a Chain I was just going to say, at least we use one system unlike you chaps across the pond over there... Take a look at the dimensions of any car made in the US in the last 25 years (mine has a "3.0 LITER engine" for example, and all metric nuts and bolts). Then report back. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billvon 3,062 #14 January 6, 2009 >"A pint's a pound, the world around..." A liter's a kilogram, the world . . . something. That's the whole problem with the metric system. Nothing rhymes with kilogram. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Capt.Slog 0 #15 January 6, 2009 QuoteQuote"A pint's a pound, the world around..." - from an old drinking song. a US pint of water weighs 1.04375 pounds 1 US pint = 0.83267384 REAL Imperial pints The imperial (UK) gallon is defined as 10 pounds of pure water so a real pint = 1.25 lbs of water. "A pint of pure water weighs a pound and a quarter"? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Capt.Slog 0 #16 January 6, 2009 Quote>"A pint's a pound, the world around..." A liter's a kilogram, the world . . . something. That's the whole problem with the metric system. Nothing rhymes with kilogram. When a kilogram's a liter, the math is much neater. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shropshire 0 #17 January 6, 2009 Agree. (.)Y(.) Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LaRusic 0 #18 January 6, 2009 Quote But hey, anyone who drinks already knows what a 750 ml bottle looks like. you mean a 26er right? The Altitude above you, the runway behind you, and the fuel not in the plane are totally worthless Dudeist Skydiver # 10 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #19 January 6, 2009 Quote"A pint's a pound, the world around..." - from an old drinking song. More like 2 pounds and 50 last I was in UK. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
niu 0 #20 January 6, 2009 Quote Take a look at the dimensions of any car made in the US in the last 25 years (mine has a "3.0 LITER engine" for example, and all metric nuts and bolts). Then report back. Mine is built in 1987 and has a 5.7 l engine and nuts and bolts in inches(most of them anyway Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andy9o8 2 #21 January 6, 2009 QuoteQuote>"A pint's a pound, the world around..." A liter's a kilogram, the world . . . something. That's the whole problem with the metric system. Nothing rhymes with kilogram. When a kilogram's a liter, the math is much neater. A kilo of water's as loose as your daughter. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
piahenzi 0 #22 January 6, 2009 QuoteQuote>"A pint's a pound, the world around..." A liter's a kilogram, the world . . . something. That's the whole problem with the metric system. Nothing rhymes with kilogram. When a kilogram's a liter, the math is much neater. yes, but if my 7th grade science serves me, for 1 liter to weight 1 kg, the specific gravity of the liquid has to be 1.0 - higher than that it weighs more than 1 kg. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Andrewwhyte 1 #23 January 6, 2009 Quote yes, but if my 7th grade science serves me, for 1 liter to weight 1 kg, the specific gravity of the liquid has to be 1.0 - higher than that it weighs more than 1 kg. It never 'weighs' 1 kg, it masses 1 kg. Weight is a fickle concept that varies with altitude. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
quade 4 #24 January 6, 2009 The point is Smoot.quade - The World's Most Boring Skydiver Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FallingOsh 0 #25 January 6, 2009 Like some have said, I think it'll be a slow transition into using a combination of both. I don't think we'll ever change to kilometers or kilos. Not because people think math is hard, but because math is needed at all. When someone says pound or mile, we can instantly see that in our head. When someone says kilo, I have to do the conversion to something I recognize mentally. The result is that I continue to think in miles and pounds, but have to spend the time doing a mental conversion. It's a matter of changing how the entire country thinks and what it recognizes. Much easier said than done. Is calling the engine a 3.0 liter really a reflection of the metric system or just easier than advertising a .7917 gallon engine? 5.7 liter V-8 sounds nicer than 1.5024 gallon V-8. It's not technically imperial, but Farenheit was designed for cooking because there's a much wider range available. I prefer working with metric tools but the mental conversion problem is still there if I need to picture the part. This post is just a collection of my thoughts. There was no way to tie them all together. Thanks. -------------------------------------------------- Stay positive and love your life. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
