Why Not Switch to Metric? (Page 2): And one would have to think of McDonalds, you know a Quarter pounder just wouldn't taste the same if we called it 113.39809 Grams.

EX-TELCO Loc: Belen,New Mexico

jerryc41 wrote:

The question of why the U. S. doesn't switch to the metric system has come up here several times. To quote one line from this article, "The benefits of switching are negligible, but the costs are huge." We've all heard the expression, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

http://www.popsci.com/why-hasnt-us-adopted-metric-system

And one would have to think of McDonalds, you know a Quarter pounder just wouldn't taste the same if we called it 113.39809 Grams.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Texcaster wrote:

...everyone else in the shed was in metric.

That's because you're in Australia. When countries make the switch, there is still a remnant of imperial left behind. People in England still refer to MPG and 0-60 times, and they get a pint at the pub. We were there years ago, and we saw homemade signs calling for a return to the imperial system.

tusketwedge Loc: Nova Scotia Canada

Jerry
Coming from a country that has supposedly changed to metric(For the Good) the only Good that I've seen is for the companies. Canada has let the big companies use both systems to their advantage to make their product look attractive. Like steak for example (who can afford it nowadays) they still use the /pound instead of /kilo. Sounds a lot better 9.00/lb than 19.80/kilo. Packaging has taken a hit also. The packages got less in them but the prices stayed the same. At the pumps it sounds good when the gas only increases let say 4 cents/liter but if was still the imperial gallon that would be 18.2cents/gal. Yet the car industry still using the mpg. as it sound better 45/gal than 15/k per liter. If they want metric ,fine but use it completely, not just when it's conveniently.

James Slick Loc: Pittsburgh,PA

I'm fine using US Standard OR metric for anything except for temperature. Celsius is imprecise, lacks any human relatable quality and exectly when did it become "Celsius" anyhow? When I was a Kid it was "Centigrade". Must have been the same "powers that be" who decided Megacycles are now Megahertz......

Bloke Loc: Waynesboro, Pennsylvania

FrankR wrote:

In order to promote world peace and harmony, we should switch, just as soon as the Brits start driving on the correct side of the road. 😜😬😎

Can you, or *anyone* tell me why the lesser countries ( :-D ) of the world chose to drive on the right? I know why the UK drives on the left, and although archaic, it did make sense at the time.

The French have always been a bit strange, but I suspect the US just went to the right because they were in a huff over our burning the White House in 1812!

[from a Brit in exile...]

llamb Loc: Northeast Ohio

Texcaster wrote:

It's good you're happy with your system, we're all... (show quote)

Nice work Texcaster. What do you use for a finish? Does the inside get any finish?

~Lee

Croce Loc: Earth

tusketwedge wrote:

Jerry br Coming from a country that has suppose... (show quote)

Very good points tusket. I find the gasoline measurement in liters to be not only ludicrous but deceivingly stupid and supremely dishonest. I mean, how far can one drive anything but a lawnmower maybe, on a quart of gas? !

1Feathercrest Loc: NEPA

True. Americans were too obtuse to the fact that metric is much easier than imperial. When road signs were being posted in KMs and gasoline was sold by the liter, the stupid public objected and the metric system was discarded for the measurement of the length of a king's foot, distance from a thumb knuckle to the kin;s thumb tip. Who knows how they came up with pint and quart? Were those amounts that the king would pee into a pan?

Croce Loc: Earth

1Feathercrest wrote:

True. Americans were too obtuse to the fact that metric is much easier than imperial. When road signs were being posted in KMs and gasoline was sold by the liter, the stupid public objected and the metric system was discarded for the measurement of the length of a king's foot, distance from a thumb knuckle to the kin;s thumb tip. Who knows how they came up with pint and quart? Were those amounts that the king would pee into a pan?

The quart was the amount the King peed. The vomit expelled after a night of frivolity became the gallon and the yard was taken from the length of the Kings turd. Contrary to British propaganda however, the inch was not taken from measurement of the Kings thumb but rather his penis, which was an embarrasment the Parliment could not endure. Also the entire system became problematical when a King died and the new King was larger or smaller than the previous. Hence the "God save the Queen" movement was born. Queens being smaller than Kings, also allowed finer units of measurement giving the British a leg up in the precision equipment markets of the day.

greymule Loc: Colorado

jerryc41 wrote:

The question of why the U. S. doesn't switch to the metric system has come up here several times. To quote one line from this article, "The benefits of switching are negligible, but the costs are huge." We've all heard the expression, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

http://www.popsci.com/why-hasnt-us-adopted-metric-system

It was tried many years ago. Americans weren't bright enough to make the change, so it was scraped, as I recall. Costs were part of the discontinuation also. Quarts, pints, inches, feet. All were too familiar to give up and learn new measurements.

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

I have two tool boxes. Each one has standard and metric. Today I could not survive without the two. The Russians stole an American Bomber after WW2. The Russians reversed engineered the Bomber in metric and actually flew it. Russian warplanes are still produced in metric. Modern American warplanes today. I don't know, metric or standard?

rps Loc: Muskoka Ontario Canada

Canada supposedly switched to metric 30 years ago but we still have a hodgepodge. Our speed limits are in kilometers and our gas is in litres. But we still buy 2x4 lumber in 8 foot lengths and use 8 1/2 x 12 inch computer paper. Britain's conversion some years ago also has had mixed results. Although our temperatures are in Celsius, most people still think Fahrenheit and use thermometers with both scales. There is no doubt metric is far superior. The medical profession has always used it. The United States and Liberia are the only two countries that don't use it. We photographers have used it for years without thinking about it --- 35mm film --- 100mm lenses. It takes an effort to think metric. Most people just can't be bothered. Yet it comes in time.If I watch American television or drive in the US, I am very uncomfortable with Fahrenheit temperatures and miles per hour. Yet, despite all this, I inflate my tires PSI and calculate my mileage as MPG.I have no idea what a kilopascal is and X litres per 100 kilometres is just too upside down a way of thinking for me whereas 20 miles per gallon tells me something.

Indi Loc: L. I., NY, Palm Beach Cty when it's cold.

I watch a few car shows with English presenters like, Top Gear and Wheeler Dealers. Aren't they supposed to be using metric standards?
However, the presenters seem to use miles & kilometers and other units interchangeably.
So, I'm confused.

OldEarl Loc: Northeast Kansas

Indi wrote:

I watch a few car shows with English presenters like, Top Gear and Wheeler Dealers. Aren't they supposed to be using metric standards?
However, the presenters seem to use miles & kilometers and other units interchangeably.
So, I'm confused.

We currently have a Toyota pickup and a Honda CRV so all my SAE wrenches and sockets are unnecessary--Right? Wrong. The manual says you need both and it appears to be random as to which parts are which.

Unlike our European friends, we have no governmental unit with absolute power to prescribe measurements, but metric will come industry by industry. I used to purchase certain libations by the fifth, and the tenth and the Imperial pint. That is obviously nature's way.

A question: Where do you find a cubit and why is it still important?

mas24 Loc: Southern CA

If you go a High School Track Meet, everyone runs in meters. In the Fall, that same High School plays on a 100 Yard long football field. And the wide receivers and running backs are timesd running 40 yards for qualifying. Now that is American versatility.