Yes, although most American's wouldn't see it that way. The French influence of the time period I believe.
Now, what does my head in is pence and quid and fortnights and stuff like that.
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Why the heck does America still use outdated measurement and date units?
- Thread starter garirry
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Now, what does my head in is pence and quid and fortnights and stuff like that.
Exactly how many people have been put on the moon by countries using the metric system?
And how many will return to the moon (and Mars) using the Imperial system?
The dosage for one particular Malaria medicine is 0.005% of the patient's body weight.
For a 100kg patient, that comes out to 5 mls.
Now, work that out in oz for a 15 stone patient. Display your working for an extra 5 points.
The reasons why metrics wasn't adopted by the US:
www.popsci.com
What follows is an example ammo reloader and manufactures know very well: one can weight gunpowder in grams or grains. However, a lot of reloader in the US prefer to weight powder in grains, specially when very small portions of powder are added to a load. For example, lest say that a I want to trickle a .5 grain of powder to a bullet case when reloading, but I decide to use grams instead. In this case .5 grains = 0.03239946 grams. It is much faster to read .5 grain than is to read (or write) 0.3239946 grams, at least for the average US reloader or ammo manufacturer. Another example: a 250-grain bullet = 16.19973-gram bullet, which is not a big problem one way or another depending on which scale one uses or is accustomed to (grams or grains).
Like most Americans I don't have a problem with whichever measuring system anybody else uses. The fact is that I do enjoy the freedom to choose what I want or need to use.
Why hasn't the U.S. adopted the metric system?
Have a burning question? Email it to askanything@popsci.com
www.popsci.com
Why fixing something that isn't broken? US Americans who have the need to use the metric system do so already. There are a lot of other things that are greatly more important than arguing about measurement systems used around the world.
What follows is an example ammo reloader and manufactures know very well: one can weight gunpowder in grams or grains. However, a lot of reloader in the US prefer to weight powder in grains, specially when very small portions of powder are added to a load. For example, lest say that a I want to trickle a .5 grain of powder to a bullet case when reloading, but I decide to use grams instead. In this case .5 grains = 0.03239946 grams. It is much faster to read .5 grain than is to read (or write) 0.3239946 grams, at least for the average US reloader or ammo manufacturer. Another example: a 250-grain bullet = 16.19973-gram bullet, which is not a big problem one way or another depending on which scale one uses or is accustomed to (grams or grains).
Like most Americans I don't have a problem with whichever measuring system anybody else uses. The fact is that I do enjoy the freedom to choose what I want or need to use.
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my personal experience:
I'm Italian (living in the US), and I learned how to measure in inches/feet/miles, weigh in ounces/pounds or pint/gallons, cook in tsp/tbsp/cups and check the temp in Fahrenheit.
I like both methods and actually I'm happy I know and can correctly use both
I'm Italian (living in the US), and I learned how to measure in inches/feet/miles, weigh in ounces/pounds or pint/gallons, cook in tsp/tbsp/cups and check the temp in Fahrenheit.
I like both methods and actually I'm happy I know and can correctly use both
Lowe's, Home Depot, Sentry and other hardware stores, automobile parts stores, and so on, have both metric and standard bolts, nuts, washers, etc. Not only that, but in different types of metal and plastics (stainless steel, zinc-coated, copper, and so on.
By the way, when talking about horses as some have above, it reminds me of the "horse power" used for electric motors, engines, and so on. After all 1HP is slightly different in metric numbers
I stand by what I said... I didn't say there weren't any, just that there are significantly less. In NJ, NY, every home improvement store has at least a 10:1 ratio of SAE to Metric. There are many times when I was working on vehicles, I would have to go to 2-3 stores just to find they didn't have the correct metric bolt (regardless of strength). I would end up having to order the bolt online or going to the dealership. These weren't even automotive specialty bolts.
Most of the time when I find the metric bolt I am looking for, it is the incorrect type of metal/finish, and would cause a reaction if used. When I had my Jeep, I would find the incorrect strength metric bolts 8.8 when 10.9 or higher was called for. In the SAE, I could always find every bolt option, in every coating and strength (Grade 5, Grade 8).
My original post:
You keep repeating that. I suppose because you never wanted to start to begin with, so that's an easy to go to phrase.The reasons why metrics wasn't adopted by the US:
Why hasn't the U.S. adopted the metric system?
Have a burning question? Email it to askanything@popsci.com
Why fixing something that isn't broken?
But I'm going to use another American saying on you…
Finish what you started.
We started this in the 1970s. Whether you were onboard with it at the time or not, we did.
We haven't finished it. We stopped in the middle of the job, walked off the job site and didn't come back.
@eyoungren has answered you well, but I will add two further comments to your post.The reasons why metrics wasn't adopted by the US:
Why hasn't the U.S. adopted the metric system?
Have a burning question? Email it to askanything@popsci.com
Why fixing something that isn't broken? US Americans who have the need to use the metric system do so already. There are a lot of other things that are greatly more important than arguing about measurement systems used around the world.
What follows is an example ammo reloader and manufactures know very well: one can weight gunpowder in grams or grains. However, a lot of reloader in the US prefer to weight powder in grains, specially when very small portions of powder are added to a load. For example, lest say that a I want to trickle a .5 grain of powder to a bullet case when reloading, but I decide to use grams instead. In this case .5 grains = 0.03239946 grams. It is much faster to read .5 grain than is to read (or write) 0.3239946 grams, at least for the average US reloader or ammo manufacturer. Another example: a 250-grain bullet = 16.19973-gram bullet, which is not a big problem one way or another depending on which scale one uses or is accustomed to (grams or grains).
Like most Americans I don't have a problem with whichever measuring system anybody else uses. The fact is that I do enjoy the freedom to choose what I want or need to use.
The first is that using ammunition as an example is not one that would be deemed of much relevance to many, if not most, of the countries that use the metric system, precisely because most people have no call - no reason - to want to use ammunition. In my country, the police aren't armed, let alone the population.
A different example might serve to illustrate this point better.
As for the argument: "Why fix something that isn't broken"?
Well, for all that this site has been set up to discuss matters related to Apple (and, by extension, tech related matters), every single time Apple has released a new operating system, this is exactly the form my groaning complaint takes: "Why fix something that isn't broken?"
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Well, to no ill effect of the average American. I'm sure though that if you asked any American corporation about whether they'd like to stay in both worlds, they'd probably tell you one or the other in response.
Pretty sure by now the cost of getting to the midway point has long been passed on to the American consumer. Of course, once prices are raised it's rare for any company to lower them. So, we're still paying for that.
But no ill effect, sure, because the cost of a 12 pack of soda or a box of crackers isn't broken down. What you can't see won't hurt you.
I understand what you had to say in relation to the US Congress starting and not completing the job. But the idea relating to switching to the metric system started much earlier:
Why hasn't the U.S. adopted the metric system?
Have a burning question? Email it to askanything@popsci.com
www.popsci.com
In 1975 Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act, but not as a mandate forcing the entire nation to abide by it. The reason why it was not adopted by the people related to economics: too expensive for the private sector (all industries and businesses in the private sector).
As I mentioned before I was born in a place where the metric system is the norm, and then immigrated to the US in my late teens. I don't have a problem with either the metric or the US customary measuring system. The reason why I "repeated" was to point out the reasons why Congress could not make the act mandatory. Congress could not exist without the financial support of the nation's private sector.
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I'm not really buying this.I understand what you had to say in relation to the US Congress starting and not completing the job. But the idea relating to switching to the metric system started much earlier:
Why hasn't the U.S. adopted the metric system?
Have a burning question? Email it to askanything@popsci.com
In 1975 Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act, but not as a mandate forcing the entire nation to abide by it. The reason why it was not adopted by the people related to economics: too expensive for the private sector (all industries and businesses in the private sector).
As I mentioned before I was born in a place where the metric system is the norm, and then immigrated to the US in my late teens. I don't have a problem with either the metric or the US customary measuring system. The reason why I "repeated" was to point out the reasons why Congress could not make the act mandatory. Congress could not exist without the financial support of the nation's private sector.
Oh sure, I can see that it started earlier. But I'm not buying the expense that the article you linked to is citing.
In particular, "Manufacturers would have to convert values on packaging."
The Fair Labeling and Packaging Act has required metric to be on all labels since 1994. Why is there a cost of converting if metric is already required to be on the label?
Fair Packaging and Labeling Act - Wikipedia
Furthermore, many industries have consistently asked Congress to ONLY print metric on their labels. They've been rebuffed. And its Congress that's stopping them.
Metrication in the United States - Wikipedia
Back to your article…
I don't know about you, but most current tape measures sold in stores seem to already have metric on them alongside imperial. I can see a period where this is continued to be allowed, but I don't see why this is a problem when metric is already there.
Most people have these already. Possibly the article is recognizing that fact by not stating you'd have to buy or replace your wrenches. Still don't see a problem.
This I can see, because most of your weather channels and your morning weather reports are all in standard. I'd hazard to guess though that any credentialed weather reporter already can speak in metric. They just don't because the studios don't want to lose ratings.
Certainly the article doesn't mention other things. There are exemptions for certain industries in the Metric Conversion Act. But personally, I think it just comes down to stubbornness.
I'll admit, I've never been a fan of metric. But it's become so prevalent that you begin to think in these terms. I just don't see it costing as much as implied. It's not like we have to toss stuff overnight.
But in any case, the public may soon well do an end run around Congress anyway. When Congress finally breaks down and mandates this it won't be news because the public will have moved on long before the lobbyists gave up. It's happening now anyway.
You have an opportunity to obtain more and better tool storage.I have way too many tools.
Wait, is that possible? Did I really say that?
I enjoy synergizing multiple threads.
I'm glad the monthly calendar is Gregorian, not metric.
I really don't want to work a 10-day work week!
Imagine telling your 7-year old "Your birthday was just yesterday. So your next birthday will be.... in another 999 days." 🤣
In such discussions, the temptation exists to advise those who are wedded to Imperial measurements that they consider reverting to the Roman method of enumerating and numbering and ditch this silly - if convenient (and decimal) - Arabic system we use at present.
Won't help. Still won't be able to locate the tool I used 30 second earlier.
That's because they move all by themselves. Often behind something that wasn't there before.
You know, the biggest issue I have with the metric system is temp. I can see a liter or a meter in my head. But I can't seem to wrap my head around Celsius aside from Freezing & Boiling. I was watching Heavy Rescue:401 the other day and they were talking about the temps being -15. I had to pick up my phone and do the conversion.
I'm sure if I were immersed in it I would pick it up, but otherwise, I need to convert it.
As I grew up with both, I'm equally comfortable with either system and can convert from one to the other more or less automatically.
Mine often converts the hexagon to a different shape altogether! Usually accompanied by bashing of knuckles and swear words!
I grew up with Fahrenheit. When we switched to centigrade I used to convert it back in my head for a bit. Now I just use the centigrade and Fahrenheit I’ve all but forgotten.
Same. I use some for one thing, others for another.
I weigh myself in stones and pounds.
I drink a pint of beer or 330ml if I have a soda.
I measure in mm, but my height I only know in feet and inches.
I run in miles. My car uses mph.
I don’t really weigh ingredients too often, but would just match whatever the recipe said with the scales. It does both.