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Mousse

macrumors 68040
Apr 7, 2008
3,649
7,083
Flea Bottom, King's Landing
You claim we use "outdated" units, yet America leads the world in mathematics, arts, sciences, and military capabilities.

All fields that heavily rely on units of some kind.
Metric and Imperial are both so outdated. The new unit of measure is the banana. Every website where something is sold the description and picture always include "banana for scale."
cb1.jpg
 
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elvisimprsntr

macrumors 65816
Jul 17, 2013
1,051
1,610
Florida
While we are on the subject...

Why do some countries insist on using a mathematically incorrect number separator?



Screen Shot 2022-03-07 at 12.16.23 PM.png



Why do some languages use an upside down question mark and exclamation point?!

Screen Shot 2022-03-07 at 12.19.34 PM.png
 
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justperry

macrumors G5
Aug 10, 2007
12,627
9,930
I'm a rolling stone.
While we are on the subject...

Why do some countries insist on using a mathematically incorrect number separator?



View attachment 1969192



Why do some languages use an upside down question mark and exclamation point?!

View attachment 1969197

1. What is mathematically incorrect?

2. Some? As far as I know there's only one language with the inverted question mark is Spanish.
 

polyphenol

macrumors 68020
Sep 9, 2020
2,111
2,592
Wales
1. What is mathematically incorrect?

2. Some? As far as I know there's only one language with the inverted question mark is Spanish.
Further, the comma is still often used as a separator even in countries which use a full stop/period as their decimal separator. We use comma as our thousands separator.

They usually switch the usage of comma and full stop round. Each approach has its advantages and disadvantages.
 

JT2002TJ

macrumors 68020
Nov 7, 2013
2,057
1,386
An inverted question mark makes more sense than not having it... How does one know the sentence is a question until getting to the end of the sentence? Wouldn't it make sense as someone is reading (out loud), to know that a question is coming?
 
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polyphenol

macrumors 68020
Sep 9, 2020
2,111
2,592
Wales
An inverted question mark makes more sense than not having it... How does one know the sentence is a question until getting to the end of the sentence? Wouldn't it make sense as someone is reading (out loud), to know that a question is coming?
I've often been tempted to use one in English! Just it would look so deliberately odd, I don't think anyone reading it would take it seriously. ¿Do you?
 

eyoungren

macrumors Penryn
Aug 31, 2011
29,604
28,365
Has anyone noticed that all of this discussion about units of time and measure doesn't adequately explain why there seems to be a national shortage of plastic utensils in grocery stores the last few weeks?
Try the dollar store, either Family Dollar or Dollar Tree. Or, whatever your local dollar store may be. Look in the party section. My wife was just there yesterday for wrapping paper and the wall was full of plastic cutlery (48 pieces).
 

DaveFromCampbelltown

macrumors 68000
Jun 24, 2020
1,780
2,877
Plastic utensils? Dude, think of the environment. That is so bad.

Bamboo cutlery is becoming more commonly available in Australia.
  1. It's reusable. Just take it home and wash it as normal.
  2. It's environmentally friendly. Bamboo grows to harvestable size in 6 weeks to 6 months, depending on how hard (strong) you need.
  3. When laminated it is one of the strongest non-metal substances available.
 

DaveFromCampbelltown

macrumors 68000
Jun 24, 2020
1,780
2,877
Metric and Imperial are both so outdated. The new unit of measure is the banana. Every website where something is sold the description and picture always include "banana for scale."
cb1.jpg

In Australia we use the official straight banana --
external-content.duckduckgo.com.jpg


Bananas that are not straight enough then go to the banana bending factory to get the approved degree of bend applied.

facts2_1.jpg
 

MacGizmo

macrumors 68040
Apr 27, 2003
3,200
2,503
Arizona
In Australia we use the official straight banana --
View attachment 1969294

Bananas that are not straight enough then go to the banana bending factory to get the approved degree of bend applied.

View attachment 1969296
I can just see some doomass US Congressman standing up and bloviating on how switching to the "Banana System" will end all life as we know it. That is, until the banana consortium donates a stack of cash 15 bananas high to his campaign fund.
 

DaveFromCampbelltown

macrumors 68000
Jun 24, 2020
1,780
2,877
I can just see some doomass US Congressman standing up and bloviating on how switching to the "Banana System" will end all life as we know it. That is, until the banana consortium donates a stack of cash 15 bananas high to his campaign fund.

Further reading on this topic revealed that, until a few years ago, there was an official EU (and therefor metric) standard for the degree of bend in bananas. Those that had an abnormal degree of bend (which, sadly, was not defined) were sent off to be pulped to be turned into fruit products.

I also commend to your attention the further two images --

rohrbieger-bananab-rohrbiegemaschine-set-10-25-mm.jpg


A banana bending device, and,

bana.jpg

the resulting product...
 

AlaskaMoose

macrumors 68040
Apr 26, 2008
3,585
13,429
Alaska
Same in the rest of the world ;)

Just start with the next generation. Update the education system and curriculum, be ready for silly local protest mainly in retail places where people demand using oz etc. But with some time this all goes away. Many other countries managed to do that succesfully.
Same in the rest of the world ;)

Just start with the next generation. Update the education system and curriculum, be ready for silly local protest mainly in retail places where people demand using oz etc. But with some time this all goes away. Many other countries managed to do that succesfully.
Monkey sees, monkey does?

You do have a point that makes sense. I remember how the new generations in the Caribbean Islands were introduced to communism. Che Guevara became and international symbol with the young around the world in those years.
 

Herdfan

macrumors 65816
Apr 11, 2011
1,350
7,898
That car had both US and metric bolts and screws. My family has owned Japanese cars exclusively since 1983 so I have both metric and standard wrenches. You learn to identify by sight what is a '10', '11' or '12' metric. I've never bothered to figure out what the numbers stand for, although I assume it's mm.

:oops:

I have a Polaris SXS. Even though they are built in the US, they have metric bolts, which is fine. But a lot of the aftermarket accessory manufacturer's use SAE. So depending on what you are adding/replacing, you have to have both types at your disposal.

There is no good reason for both of these to exist. Pick a lane. Don't really care which one, but pick one and stay in it.
 

The-Real-Deal82

macrumors P6
Jan 17, 2013
17,297
25,437
Wales, United Kingdom
Yeah, their silly date format still bamboozles me to this day , only nation in the world that puts the month first then day then year. I think perhaps Somalia does the same thing, similar to trialing children as adults in a court of law

That’s something I’ve never understood either and causes so much confusion sometimes.
 

AlaskaMoose

macrumors 68040
Apr 26, 2008
3,585
13,429
Alaska
Yeah, their silly date format still bamboozles me to this day , only nation in the world that puts the month first then day then year. I think perhaps Somalia does the same thing, similar to trialing children as adults in a court of law 🤣
It's written both ways in the US. Most people write the month first, while some others the day first. For example, sometimes I write 7 April, 2022 (for today). As long as you write the month (January, Feb., etc.,) there won't be any problem.
 

polyphenol

macrumors 68020
Sep 9, 2020
2,111
2,592
Wales
It's written both ways in the US. Most people write the month first, while some others the day first. For example, sometimes I write 7 April, 2022 (for today). As long as you write the month (January, Feb., etc.,) there won't be any problem.
That substitutes one issue for another.

The months are straightforward enough until there is a change of language.

For example, if a Greek monoglot wrote a date using that convention, I would find it awkward to work out the month.

Ιανουάριος (Ιαν, Ι) – Ianouarios.
Φεβρουάριος (Φεβ, Φ) – Fevouarios.
Μάρτιος (Μάρ, Μ) – Martios.
Απρίλιος (Απρ, Α) – Aprilios.
Μάιος (Μάι, Μ) – Maios.
Ιούνιος (Ιούν, Ι) – Iounios.
Ιούλιος (Ιούλ, Ι) – Ioulios.
Αύγουστος (Αύγ, Α) – Avgoustos.
Σεπτέμβριος (Σεπ, Σ) – Septemvrios
Οκτώβριος (Οκτ, Ο) – Oktovrios
Νοέμβριος (Νοέ, Ν) – Noemvrios
Δεκέμβριος (Δεκ, Δ) – Thekemvrios

Yes, I'd get there with Roman letters, and might eventually manage with Greek letters. But Greek is easier than, say, Japanese.

Pure numeric avoids the language barrier. I prefer yyyy/mm/dd because it would be perverse for anyone to use yyyy/dd/mm. Therefore, it is safe enough to assume the format.
 

Cram

macrumors member
Mar 27, 2022
58
31
Thanks for this thread, it's given me a good laugh! :p

Here in jolly old England (and the rest of the UK), we use both. We converted to litres for purchasing fuel years ago but we still use miles for measuring distance and fuel economy (MPH). I was only 7 when the metric system arrived but still can't my head around kilos for weight. I, and most people I know, still used stones & pounds.
 

AlaskaMoose

macrumors 68040
Apr 26, 2008
3,585
13,429
Alaska
That substitutes one issue for another.

The months are straightforward enough until there is a change of language.

For example, if a Greek monoglot wrote a date using that convention, I would find it awkward to work out the month.

Ιανουάριος (Ιαν, Ι) – Ianouarios.
Φεβρουάριος (Φεβ, Φ) – Fevouarios.
Μάρτιος (Μάρ, Μ) – Martios.
Απρίλιος (Απρ, Α) – Aprilios.
Μάιος (Μάι, Μ) – Maios.
Ιούνιος (Ιούν, Ι) – Iounios.
Ιούλιος (Ιούλ, Ι) – Ioulios.
Αύγουστος (Αύγ, Α) – Avgoustos.
Σεπτέμβριος (Σεπ, Σ) – Septemvrios
Οκτώβριος (Οκτ, Ο) – Oktovrios
Νοέμβριος (Νοέ, Ν) – Noemvrios
Δεκέμβριος (Δεκ, Δ) – Thekemvrios

Yes, I'd get there with Roman letters, and might eventually manage with Greek letters. But Greek is easier than, say, Japanese.

Pure numeric avoids the language barrier. I prefer yyyy/mm/dd because it would be perverse for anyone to use yyyy/dd/mm. Therefore, it is safe enough to assume the format.
Well, "you gotta do what you gotta do." What can I say? :)
 

Herdfan

macrumors 65816
Apr 11, 2011
1,350
7,898
Yeah, their silly date format still bamboozles me to this day , only nation in the world that puts the month first then day then year. I think perhaps Somalia does the same thing, similar to trialing children as adults in a court of law 🤣
That’s something I’ve never understood either and causes so much confusion sometimes.

What do you say when you are talking. If someone asks when is your birthday, do you say 7th of April or do you say April 7th?
 

Micky Do

macrumors 68020
Aug 31, 2012
2,214
3,162
a South Pacific island
What do you say when you are talking. If someone asks when is your birthday, do you say 7th of April or do you say April 7th?

7th of April
Me too, as do most English speaking folks outside North America. Many non-English speakers also use the same format in their own language.

And interestingly, so do Americans in reference to their Independence Day, the Fourth of July!
 
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