Poll: I hate the imperial system. America, I'm looking at you! Give it up, metric is simply better!!!!

[Citizen Snips]

I'm tired of hearing this stupid argument.

For the United States to switch to metric, Every factory and manufacturer would have to switch to metric at the exact same time for it to work. If one part of the manufacturing process went to metric and the other used standard measurements, then the entire production would be off. It's not that most of us don't want to switch. It's simply an impossible task.

On top of that every piece of machinery in the United States that uses Standard measurements would have to be destroyed, since it would be impossible to find tools to fix them.

So in short, yes metric is very nice and is more exact; however, for us to do so would mean the destruction and obsoletion of the largest amount of equipment in the world overnight.

 

[TheYellowCellPhone]

I'd like to see you do something about this than complain about it on the Internet.

I'm fine with it. I like Farenheit over Celcius and miles over kilometers.

I totally want weights and volume to go to metric. I always get ounces mixed up.

Ounces and fluid ounces? That shit was a good idea?

 

[rockingnic]

I'm half and half. For tool measurements, yea but I prefer MPH and lbs.

 

[Magnatek]

This thread again. Hmm. I suppose I'll just throw the ranting out the window and say...

I'm American. I can use both. I HAVE used both. I don't care if we switch or not.

 

[theheroofaction]

get over it, I have to use both.

 

[Owyn_Merrilin]

I just don't like the metric system. It's annoying and the measurements mean nothing to me because I was socialized with the imperial system. 2 kilometers means nothing to me. 2 miles however gives me a great picture of how far away something is. Thats why most Americans don't like the metric system and why we as a whole prolly never will use it.

This, right here, is the reason. I have a pretty good idea of what a centimeter looks like, thanks to science class, as well as what a meter looks like, thanks to it being almost exactly the same as a yard. Unfortunately, those are the only two metric measurements I can picture in my head. Now if you give me an imperial measure, I can get a pretty good mental image of it unless it's huge (on the order of hundreds of miles) or tiny (fractions of an inch). In between that, I have a rough mental picture of any size you're likely to throw at me. I'll grant that it's easier to convert between measurements in metric than it is to do in imperial, but there isn't really much need for conversion in the kind of stuff that imperial is used for; metric is already used in all of the sciences.

Edit: I hate it when you click post and notice mistakes as soon as it starts loading.

 

[zombiejoe]

IMPERIAL IS MINE!

XD lol

yeah I now metric is better, but I refuse to say "I'm going 40 Kilometers an hour!"

 

[Ailia]

As Canada is (once again) stuck between the American way and the rest of the world's way, I know both. I prefer metric in general, but I prefer imperial for some measurements (like height).

 

[Baneat]

A nightmare for physicists, especially when you refer to something old, the units make no sense whatsoever

 

[Dys]

Eugh, trying to solve engineering based problems in imperial is the fucking worst. I had a flow through a turbe question where the flow was given in gallons per minute, the length of the blades in feet, the pressure in pounds per square inch..I spent more time and effort converting to units to something consistent and useful than I did solving the problem.

The metric system is so much better because the standard measurements of properties actually translate, ie density is measure as kilograms per meter cubed, volume is measure in meters cubed and mass in kilograms....much, much easier (then there's the whole consistent base 10 thing). America and Britain should change, however it's not my concern if they don't push metric (not all at once, just gradually work it in the same way Australia and other colonial countries did).

I'm tired of hearing this stupid argument.

For the United States to switch to metric, Every factory and manufacturer would have to switch to metric at the exact same time for it to work. If one part of the manufacturing process went to metric and the other used standard measurements, then the entire production would be off. It's not that most of us don't want to switch. It's simply an impossible task.

On top of that every piece of machinery in the United States that uses Standard measurements would have to be destroyed, since it would be impossible to find tools to fix them.

So in short, yes metric is very nice and is more exact; however, for us to do so would mean the destruction and obsoletion of the largest amount of equipment in the world overnight.

Or they could just do what every other country who switched did, and start teaching children both and encouraging manufacturing to label both (as I understand it, many American and British speedo's display both miles per hour and kilometers per hour). Also, all manufacturing is metric as a rule, the international standard for tool sizes is millimeter based, so only a few tools would be mislabeled (and it wouldn't even matter because everyone knows what they are and the replacement tools would simply be labeled as "25mm/1 inch").

 

[Dash85]

Because we spent a hundred years in isolation from the rest of the world and stayed out of the French Revolution, from which the Metric System was created. We do use the Metric system in most forms of science (My Physics teacher would gut you if you tried to measure distance in Miles or Feet.)

Now we just seem to jump back and forth, unable to live without it, but not willing to give up what we already hold custom.

America uses the metric system for the most part except for miles which are much cooler than kilometers. That's right France I'm calling you out, prove me wrong.

American hardware is in imperial too (like bolts and screws and stuff). Us Canadians have to learn that stuff, and oddly enough, we use it so much I'm usually confused for a second when a metric bolt pops up in an engine or something. I don't even own any metric ratchet sockets or wrenches, which could be a problem when I actually get out into the field. Or would be if I wasn't joining the military where they provide everything for me.
Anyways, because of that I don't really care, just gotta remember to look at the miles line on my speedometer when driving through the US.

 

[Patriot4Life999]

Because we are America, and we use whatever the fuck we want because we can.
If you disagree you clearly hate freedom and are a communist, socialist, or some evil combination of the two.

ok listen although I sort of agree with you, this is no way to voice your opinion. I am an American and damn proud of it. But when you say something like this it makes all of us Americans look bad and gives the rest of the world a stick to hit us with. All I am asking is if you have a valid point don't be a jerk about it. We have freedom of speech but we should also have enough common sense to use it properly.

 

[emeraldrafael]

Snip

Yes... perhaps when you learn to spell, I will learn Metric. Also, Grams don't translate well, because, hey, how many grams are in a pound? 454 (really 1 pound = 453.59237 grams, but hey, round up)? What kinda fucked up unrounded number is that?

How about the rest of the world takes a nice big shut the hell pill about getting on America's case that it doesnt metric. Is it a better system? I suppose, though I like to be difficult. Really, what is America hurting by not using it?

Besides, the distance measurements are awesome, and speed as well. So nah, thats oka. I'll keep it, and the rest of the world can deal. Remember, America isnt trying to push Imperial on anyone, at least so far as I've seen. The rest of the world can take a step off their metric high horse and leave Imperial alone.

Snip

I think they were being ironic.

 

[Hader]

I'm an engineer. Imperial measurement is crap. It's nowhere near as useful as a simple base 10 numeric system.

'Pass me an 11/15ths socket please...?'

Come to think of it, it's not just distance. Weight also. Grams. So simple. It translates well through from tiny amount to collossal masses.

Measure tempratures in centigrade. It's so much more practicle! 0 deg C, is freezing, 100 deg C is boiling (water @ 1 ATM) If you don't like that, then at least use kelvin.

Surely the American scientific community use metric? Why can't the rest of America just get on board with the rest of the world?

In short, imperial sucks. Let it die.

I am American, and I use metric all the time. Really pisses off my friends when I do that, since they assume I am using imperial.

The U.S. really should switch to metric, but the switchover to it now would fuck with so many people's brains that it will make our national geography scores look commendable.

 

[Cpu46]

American Engineering student. I can use both but I prefer Imperial mostly because its what we use the most over here. I can definitely work with metric if needed though.

 

[MercurySteam]

I'm Australian so in my opinion; Metric = fuck yes!

 

[Radeonx]

Because we are America, and we use whatever the fuck we want because we can.
If you disagree you clearly hate freedom and are a communist, socialist, or some evil combination of the two.

ok listen although I sort of agree with you, this is no way to voice your opinion. I am an American and damn proud of it. But when you say something like this it makes all of us Americans look bad and gives the rest of the world a stick to hit us with. All I am asking is if you have a valid point don't be a jerk about it. We have freedom of speech but we should also have enough common sense to use it properly.

We should also have enough common sense to understand sarcasm, but alas, that isn't always the case either.

 

[AvsJoe]

I'm a young Canadian so I should be using metric but I live within farting distance of Detroit, USA, so I use lbs and Fahrenheit rather than kg and Celsius. Other American habits have rubbed off on me as well, like "Y'all", my general ignorance of other cultures, and "soda".

 

[warprincenataku]

I have a hard time associating between the two. Having been raised with Imperial, that's what I tend to use, but I do agree a base 10 system of measurement is much easier.

 

[Frankydee]

you crazy foreigners and your backwards ways of measuring things.

And stop driving on the wrong side of the road!

Anyway I use both measuring systems. Really only because I own a european car and it's just weird that way unlike my brother's camaro.

owell.