Talk:Metric system/Archive1

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[edit] Metric system

There really ought to be an article on the metric system & the American/UKian resistance to it. Anyone? [1]

I believe, totally without foundation, that the US (conservatively) generally despises it (apart from the scientific community?), while in the UK it's just contraryness (and it's French of course) (turns round three times spits and says 'Whurra' to break the bad luck). Anyhoo - I think we've only officially got miles left - all else is metric.

That's odd, I was talking to someone on holiday from England over here just yesterday about the metric system, and she said it was pretty much routine around her place now. km, ml, g, etc. is just part of everyday life, not a big issue. It's more fuzzy here in Canada, where a lot of things like cookbooks are still in Imperial measures, and a person's height is still referred to in feet and inches. --Kels 15:43, 24 July 2007 (CDT)


Yes, us oldies still use ft/in, lb/oz, gallon/pint °F even cups & teaspoons. It is however illegal to sell things in these measures and they're not taught in school. Unless you're homeschooling that is.

Joke:

Man at timberyard:

"I'd like some 3 inch by 9 inch timber please."

"Sorry sir we're not allowed to sell it like that. What you want is 75 centimetres by 225."

"Okay, how much is that?"

"73 pence a foot, sir"

Joke ends. (sorry!)

Keepthe faith 16:10, 24 July 2007 (CDT)

This is quickly turning into an ACD, anyone want to do the honours? --Kels 19:13, 24 July 2007 (CDT)


I was hoping that someone would clear it and start something serious Keepthe faith 19:22, 24 July 2007 (CDT)

Eh, I added more silly, but also some quasi-sensible gibberish, too. I still wouldn't be offended if it went ACD, but it's not that silly of a topic to have in main. PS, that joke (?) above should be moved the article. humanbe in 13:17, 22 August 2007 (CDT)

[edit] Capitalization

Do we like the double capital? If not, I really don't know how to fix it (or if I can). If anyone wants to tell me how to do it on my talk page, I'd be happy to change it. -Smyth 12:05, 27 September 2007 (EDT)

Thanks, got it. Is deleting a page something I can do? -Smyth 12:19, 27 September 2007 (EDT)

As soon as you're demoted to sysop. ;-) Susantalk to me 12:24, 27 September 2007 (EDT)

[edit] Metric isn't identically SI

There are several metric units which are not a part of the SI system. The SI unit of energy, for example, is the Joule. The Calorie is metric, but not SI.

I'm not sure how to wedge that into the article as it stands, but there you have it. Brianetta Brian Ronald, UK. Talk here 20:06, 10 May 2008 (EDT)

I tried to rearrange the intro section to vaguely accomodate your point. See what you think. humanUser talk:Human 14:27, 11 May 2008 (EDT)

[edit] Now I'm not a nutter

But the reason some of us the UK are objectionable is that we have been forced to adopt metric units completely. In engineering and scientific contexts, metric is all there is, but I don't want some Johnny Foreigner telling me that can't buy a pint of beer (which we still can) or a pound of mince (illegal!). Anyway, those 'Murrricans don't even use proper gallons or know how much a stone is..... DeltaStarSenior SysopSpeciationspeed! 20:42, 8 March 2010 (UTC)

  • Are you trolling? Because that's more or less the way every other country in the world has done it... EVDebs (talk) 06:15, 9 March 2010 (UTC)
No I am not 'trolling', and I resent that insinuation. What I am saying is that many Britons are pissed off that they are being forced to stop using imperial units. No one likes to be forced. DeltaStarSenior SysopSpeciationspeed! 12:50, 9 March 2010 (UTC)
Tat's how I read you, DS, it's a bit "Daily Mailish" but reaches every stratum of society. They see the EU as the driving force & don't like it. As the % who've grown up with metric increases though, I think it'll vanish. Imperial is, to me, still the intuitive way to measure by eye or feel but you have to use metric. 13:08, 9 March 2010 (UTC) SusanG  ContribsTalk
The whole "Johnny Foreigner" thing is the reason that it's nuts to reject it - it's totally nonsensical to reject a unit of measurement on those virtually xenophobic grounds. And it's nothing to do with being "forced", people are forced to do many things and don't bat an eyelid (prior to metric, you were also "forced" to use Imperial units), it's resistance to and fear of change. Scarlet A.pngtheist 14:33, 9 March 2010 (UTC)
Yup! SusanG  ContribsTalk 14:40, 9 March 2010 (UTC)
For the real oldies amongst us - remember how we howled with anguish when the currency went metric? Now, would you return to the old system? Some people just don't like change. Jack Hughes (talk) 15:07, 9 March 2010 (UTC)
I agree with everything posted, and yes, with each generation metric will be come more and more natural and common, but I still think it's wrong that the EU have declared that it is illegal for old Mrs. Muggins to buy mince by the pound. Daily Heilish? Yes! True? I'm afraid so! DeltaStarSenior SysopSpeciationspeed! 22:27, 9 March 2010 (UTC)
a stone for those not of the British Commonwealth is of course 14 pounds. That didnt throw anyone though with 12 pence to the shilling an 20 shillings to the pound we soldiered on regardless. The ha'pennies were a bit of a challange though. "thats will be 2 pounds 14 shillings and 11 pence ha'penny. wtf! Hamster (talk) 23:03, 9 March 2010 (UTC)
I remember that there was a whole special arithmetic class when I was a kid teaching us how to add and subtract money. ħumanUser talk:Human 00:13, 10 March 2010 (UTC)
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