Make the Metric system the standard in the United States • Hacker News Board

Re: Make the Metric system the standard in the United States

#401

Post by maqr » Wed, Jan 02, 2013, 5:45 PM UTC

derleth wrote: post #274

Svip wrote: post #219

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My understanding of speed limits in the US is that each state defines it. There is no national speed limits (hence why Montana is famous for its high speed limits on motorways, but not much else). But I doubt that Washington D.C. uses kph on its speed signs, though.

> Montana is famous for its high speed limits on motorways This hasn't been true for years. Our current speed limits are in line with the rest of the country.

Ok, I'll bite, so what are you famous for now?

Re: Make the Metric system the standard in the United States

#402

Post by alayne » Wed, Jan 02, 2013, 5:45 PM UTC

brudgers wrote: post #300

jacquesm wrote: post #259

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That's a typical case of theory and practice. Yes, in theory the US is a country that supports metric. In practice, go and ask anybody in the country outside of the military for the following: - An M10 bolt - a 16mm wrench to drive it with - a 3 meter long 50 mm od pvc drainpipe - a tape-measure that measures only in metric - a highway sign that is posted in km And so on. See how many people can point you to any of t…

This is a bunch of fictions. Americans with wrenches tend to have both SAE and metric sizes. The thread pitches of metric bolts differs from SAE standards, and drain pipes are sized on inside diameter not outside because ID is relevant to capacity. Tape measures have standard units because they're standard where tape measures are used - in construction. Where it makes sense, metric is common, e.g. soft drink bottles.

Two liter bottles are an anomaly. Every other pop container is in ounces. Cans are 16 ounces and bottles are usually 20 ounces.

I can't think of a situation where "metric is common" for consumer items.

Re: Make the Metric system the standard in the United States

#403

Post by EdiX » Wed, Jan 02, 2013, 5:46 PM UTC

ElliotH wrote: post #364

stusmith1977 wrote: post #297

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The UK did use legislation to gradually switch to the metric system, with certain exceptions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_the_United_Kingd... One major way in which metrication is being introduced properly is via schools - nowadays schools generally only teach the metric system, and the generation below me genuinely do weigh themselves in kilos, and measure themselves in meters.

Just to backup what you're saying, I'm the generation you're talking about. I have a vague idea of my height in feet and inches, I drink pints of beer and I drive miles in the car. That's about it. People may as well be talking to me in a foreign language if they give me imperial units outside of those contexts.

What do you measure body temperature with? Celsius or Fahrenheit?

Re: Make the Metric system the standard in the United States

#404

Post by pygy_ » Wed, Jan 02, 2013, 5:46 PM UTC

tokenadult wrote: post #198

From the petitions.whitehouse.gov petition kindly submitted for comment here: "The United States is one of the few countries left in the world who still have not converted to using the Metric System as a standardized system of measurement. Instead of going along with what the rest of the world uses, we stubbornly still adhere to using the imprecise Imperial Unit - despite the fact that practically every other country…

In France and Belgium, the metric system is used everywhere, with a few exceptions. Inches are used for hard disks, floppies and computer monitors (but not for TVs).

In open air markets, vegetables are sometimes sent by the pound (500g, une livre in French). That's about it AFAIK.

Re: Make the Metric system the standard in the United States

#405

Post by jonhendry » Wed, Jan 02, 2013, 5:47 PM UTC

Never happen. The crazy right-wingers will see it as a another "sign" of the UN trying to take over the US.

Re: Make the Metric system the standard in the United States

#406

Post by tedunangst » Wed, Jan 02, 2013, 5:48 PM UTC

jlgreco wrote: post #378

tedunangst wrote: post #357

Earlier quoted context omitted.

When someone tells me "half a kilometer" assuming they really mean 500m would usually be a dreadful mistake. It means "some uncertain distance you can probably walk". Decimal units don't magically make people more accurate.

When someone says "half a quart" who the fuck knows how much that is? I sure don't, and I'm American. Hell, even a regular quart throws me, all I have there is a vague notion that milk is sold in that amount. When someone says "half a liter" you can be sure they mean 500ml, and you can instantly know how much that is in any kitchen measuring device you have.

Half a quart = one cup.

Re: Make the Metric system the standard in the United States

#407

Post by mserdarsanli » Wed, Jan 02, 2013, 5:48 PM UTC

lhnn wrote: post #399

acangiano wrote: post #255

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Much better visual evidence: http://signword.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/423399_101506340...

mm/dd/yy makes sense to those who use it, given our cultural adjustment. My father's argument for imperial is how easy it is to divide measurements. In woodworking, especially. 10 is divisible by 2 and 5. Powers of two are more flexible for division.

Does your father change units each time he needs to divide something?

Re: Make the Metric system the standard in the United States

#408

Post by sudowrestler » Wed, Jan 02, 2013, 5:49 PM UTC

I remember being at a 1971 conference in London, when a Brit asked a member of our party "When will the US go metric?"

My buddy quipped without hesitation, "As soon as you Brits learn to drive on the right side of the road!"

Re: Make the Metric system the standard in the United States

#409

Post by zobzu » Wed, Jan 02, 2013, 5:49 PM UTC

jacquesm wrote: post #259

tokenadult wrote: post #198

From the petitions.whitehouse.gov petition kindly submitted for comment here: "The United States is one of the few countries left in the world who still have not converted to using the Metric System as a standardized system of measurement. Instead of going along with what the rest of the world uses, we stubbornly still adhere to using the imprecise Imperial Unit - despite the fact that practically every other country…

That's a typical case of theory and practice. Yes, in theory the US is a country that supports metric. In practice, go and ask anybody in the country outside of the military for the following: - An M10 bolt - a 16mm wrench to drive it with - a 3 meter long 50 mm od pvc drainpipe - a tape-measure that measures only in metric - a highway sign that is posted in km And so on. See how many people can point you to any of t…

I like in the US and am from EU. As a result, while I try to ask for things in imperial units, I happen to ask for tools and related things in metrics from time to time. My experience is as follow:

- most people actually just get me exactly what I want

- nobody ever complained "why do you ask metrics, you're in the US we use imperial!!", ever

- nobody ever told me "I don't know what that makes in inches, do you know it in inches?" (or similar), ever

So while I'm just one person and all, I still have a feeling this could eventually work.

Re: Make the Metric system the standard in the United States

#410

Post by hcarvalhoalves » Wed, Jan 02, 2013, 5:50 PM UTC

Just a note: Brazil adopts the metric system, but we measure diameters in inches and land in acres.

Adopting the metric system doesn't mean getting rid of non-metric units, some things just make sense to measure in units that follow human scale.