Is it time for the US to adopt the metric system?

[BigTex]

I think the proper question is, "Is it time for the rest of the world to adopt the American system?".

[Mangudai]

I studied physics in college. It is almost impossible to do physics with English Imperial units. Pounds are a unit of force. What's mass? A slug. This is a unit that is never used in real life, but you have to mess with it to do physics, it's a nightmare.

To work on any American car built after 1980 you need two complete sets of tools, because half the bolts in an American car are metric. American mechanics probably like having two sets of tools, but why would a mechanic in any other country want to make that investment? Surely this is significant for American automobile exports.

Everybody in America under the age of 103 knows how to use the metric system. It's easy. They taught it in school back in the 1960's if not earlier. Most Americans have an intuitive feel for a meter, liter, kilogram almost as accurate as their feel for a yard, quart, pound. There are a few special units like a tablespoon that grandma will not want to switch to mL. That can stay, it doesn't matter. Goofy units will not be outlawed or anything, it's just that all official numbers will be in metric.

For a couple years I taught 8th grade science. Topics included measuring volume, computing density and so on. In the metric system 1 Liter of water has a mass 1 Kg, by definition. The kids couldn't get it, every time a brought it up they got totally confused. The kids who basically understood the concept of density went totally astray whenever I mentioned this definition. I also taught college physics as a TA for a few years, the students were mostly engineering majors at the University of Illinois at Urbana (very strong science/engineering school). A couple of times we had problems where they needed the mass of a certain volume of water. They all said "the problem doesn't give us enough information", I told them 1 Liter of water has mass 1 Kg, they were all like "Wow, Really?". Yeah that's the way the system is defined. They loved the metric system even more when they understood that. I can't help but think most of them probably were taught it in the 8th grade and absolutely could not grasp it at that time.

[Strike For The South]

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

This a a meter. You can find it at the rue de Vaugirard. And at several places throughout the city. Bring a rope to correctly measure its size and you too have entered the modern world. Add a zero, and you have ten. Another, one hundred. A thousand of these are a kilometer then. Etcetera. You can use your fingers to work it out. Likewise, for all other standards of measurement.
From Picardy to the Languedoc, from Spain to Russia, the legions of Revolution have spread the banner of enlightenment. Only three places yet resist Cartesian rationality: Liberia, Burma, and the United States. Soon, these lands too will bow to the standard imposed by Paris.

See I couldn't stand this. Instead of whispering sweet nothings into my ear it would be "centimeters meters kilos"...UGH

[drone]

Science is already done in metric, so no real big problem there.

But for everyday use, metric units are kind of crap. Meters are too big, liters too small. And until we have fully electric cars as the majority, I don't want to see vehicles rated in kilowatts instead of horsepower. A car is not a light bulb. How can I even attempt to guess the 0-60 time (oh, sorry, 0-96kph) of a 175 kW automobile?

[Yoyoma1910]

Science is already done in metric, so no real big problem there.

But for everyday use, metric units are kind of crap. Meters are too big, liters too small. And until we have fully electric cars as the majority, I don't want to see vehicles rated in kilowatts instead of horsepower. A car is not a light bulb. How can I even attempt to guess the 0-60 time (oh, sorry, 0-96kph) of a 175 kW automobile?

I second that.




Besides, to properly kick butt, one must have a foot.



Just ask Chuck Norris.

[KarlXII]

Science is already done in metric, so no real big problem there.

But for everyday use, metric units are kind of crap. Meters are too big, liters too small. And until we have fully electric cars as the majority, I don't want to see vehicles rated in kilowatts instead of horsepower. A car is not a light bulb. How can I even attempt to guess the 0-60 time (oh, sorry, 0-96kph) of a 175 kW automobile?

"Have you checked out Kyle's car?"
"No, what's it's kilowatts?"
"175!"
"Hot damn!"

[Banquo's Ghost]

Why bother?

Just because the military, science, aerospace and the rest of the world use the metric system is no reason we should do so!

My esteemed colleagues make a powerful argument. After all, the United States' rocket scientists are the very best in the world, and can easily juggle multiple measurement systems in their engorged crania.

On the other hand, the French are landing probes on other planets almost every day, with consummate Gallic ease.

[seireikhaan]

Yes. Feet are ridiculous. Any real man only needs hands.

[yesdachi]

If the slate were to be wiped clean it is a more practical system but to change it now, too much of a bother.

However I may be interested in a negotiation, let’s say… we’ll take on the metric system if your women shave their armpits.

[Louis VI the Fat]

we’ll take on the metric system if your women shave their armpits.

Deal.









Warning! Recent pictures of the First Lady below. Hence, not safe for work in many socially less developed countries.

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

[atheotes]

I am just surprised the US did not invent its own system and decided to follow the british one....

oh.. to answer the qn they should adopt gradually....

[Sasaki Kojiro]

My esteemed colleagues make a powerful argument. After all, the United States' rocket scientists are the very best in the world, and can easily juggle multiple measurement systems in their engorged crania.

On the other hand, the French are landing probes on other planets almost every day, with consummate Gallic ease.

If you wish to argue that US scientists should adopt the metric system you may do so. That's clearly different from having the us adopt it.

Metric is to standard as esperanto is to english.

[Lemur]

Metric is to standard as esperanto is to english.

Yeah, um, see, there's this one teeny-tiny, crucial difference — nobody adopted Esperanto, and everybody adopted metric.

Here's a map of the non-metric nations.

[Whacker]

Meh, I'm indifferent, but it WOULD be costly as all get out. Plus I have to admit, some things it's just about impossible for me to think in metric, temperature and distance being the two primary things. I'm sorry but the Fahrenheit scale is much, much easier to understand and more granular than Centigrade.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Yeah, um, see, there's this one teeny-tiny, crucial difference — nobody adopted Esperanto, and everybody adopted metric.

Here's a map of the non-metric nations.

Fortunately people are a little more resistant learning a new language.

Also, the thread title should mention that liberia and burma don't use metric either...way to misrepresent things mangudai!

[Strike For The South]

Yeah, um, see, there's this one teeny-tiny, crucial difference — nobody adopted Esperanto, and everybody adopted metric.

Here's a map of the non-metric nations.

You see non-metics, I see bastions of freedom. Who is splitting hairs now?

[Yoyoma1910]

Let me put it to you in one sentence:



When the world adopts American English as the standard system of speech, and ceases to use their own in everyday practice, not just business or foreign affairs, then (and most likely only then) will the States that have United upon the continents of America adopt the Metric system as its primary system of measurement for everyday usage.

[Lord Winter]

I am just surprised the US did not invent its own system and decided to follow the british one....

oh.. to answer the qn they should adopt gradually....

We've already mandated duel measurements way back in 70's. I think we can move onto the next step thirty years latter.

[Seamus Fermanagh]

See I couldn't stand this. Instead of whispering sweet nothings into my ear it would be "centimeters meters kilos"...UGH

But think how much more impressive you'll sound when you can say "I've got 12" honestly.









Also, 10 outa 10 for style in using Burma and "bastions of freedom" in the same sentence, but minus several million points for accuracy.

[Crazed Rabbit]

This a a meter. You can find it at the rue de Vaugirard. And at several places throughout the city. Bring a rope to correctly measure its size and you too have entered the modern world. Add a zero, and you have ten. Another, one hundred. A thousand of these are a kilometer then. Etcetera. You can use your fingers to work it out. Likewise, for all other standards of measurement.
From Picardy to the Languedoc, from Spain to Russia, the legions of Revolution have spread the banner of enlightenment. Only three places yet resist Cartesian rationality: Liberia, Burma, and the United States. Soon, these lands too will bow to the standard imposed by Paris.

The legions of revolution? Oh, my poor friend. Was not the metric system put into motion by a French King? The standard was imposed by the King onto Paris, and that remnant of tyranny remains yet today, stilling holding nigh on the whole world in its death grip.

It is the US that still holds the beacon of light, as it has before in other areas, like democracy, freedom, and equality. Only now it is for a human measurement system, one with soul, one that does not sacrifice all that makes humans human, their loves and hates, their achievements and follies, for a trifling bit of convenience.

Pretend like the French have imposed this on the world if you like, but the truth is it was imposed on France by a long dead king. None are so enslaved as those who cannot see the chains.

CR

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Much more eloquently said than I was able, CR

[Marshal Murat]

I'd be fine with meter, kilogram, and liter.

However, telling temperature is so much easier with Fahrenheit. While it's easy to say "20 degrees Celsius", I understand that 70F is gonna be kinda hot, but not too bad.

If anything, basing the system of measurement on the Earth seems very terracentric, and doesn't incorporate the rest of the galaxy.

[Lemur]

Last I checked, H2O was not exclusive to Earth. I hear rumors that it's quite common out in the solar system.

[Sasaki Kojiro]

Last I checked, H2O was not exclusive to Earth. I hear rumors that it's quite common out in the solar system.

OK I'll buy that it was when you last checked, but what makes you think it is now?

[Strike For The South]

But think how much more impressive you'll sound when you can say "I've got 12" honestly.

Well I already use Centimeters for that

[Lemur]

OK I'll buy that it was when you last checked, but what makes you think it is now?

I believe what I read. This makes me very gullible.

[Proletariat]

Is there some problem I'm not aware of that this would fix? The term 'Metric' sounds like a nerdy loser in a SciFi movie. Ordering five hundred and sixty-eight milliliters of beer at the local wateringhole is also a nerdwuss move and might get you thrown right out.
If it ain't broke...

Enough of this nancy talk, be a man and march a mile and down a pint and refer to your unit of measuring system as IMPERIAL!

[Tribesman]

Was not the metric system put into motion by a French King?

Wasn't that the French King who paid for you to have a country called the united states ?
Surely as you claim you are a beacon you should take a shine to the metric system

Enough of this nancy talk, be a man and march a mile and down a pint and refer to your unit of measuring system as IMPERIAL!

Yeah that arguement might hold some weight , if an American pint wasn't so much smaller than a proper pint .

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

You see non-metics, I see bastions of freedom.

Burma?

[Yoyoma1910]

Burma?

Hey man, they're just expressing their freedom of oppression.