It's time for the US to dump our archaic system of weights and measures...

[MoSurveyor]

The reason why I like Fahrenheit is because really hot is 100 degrees F. That just feels right to me.

Also, I think that Fahrenheit is more graduated than Celsius is, but I don't know for sure.

It is more graduated - 9/5°C to 1°F. That doesn't really bother me, though. How often to I care if it goes from 100°F to 102°F instead of 100°F to 101°F? Either way it's too friggin' hot to be outside unless you're at the lake!

 

[PeteEU]

Working in the engineering industry as I do, I work with 16yr old apprentices, right up to 50+ near on retirement types and near on most use what is convenient. If a measurement falls closer to a metric value that is what they call out and vise- versa. I would be inclined to worry more if an engineer was not familiar with both systems of measurement, than anything else.

Paul

true dat, but you have to admit that having one universal system would be better... and way cheaper.. ask NASA.

 

[Dittohead not!]

A metric system is easier, by design. Jobs that don't change their tools/parts, probably will just keep the units they're already using; it's not like the imperial system will be illegal.

Of course not. That would be like outlawing vinyl records or incandescent light bulbs. The old system will just be allowed to fade into history.

 

[samsmart]

It is more graduated - 9/5°C to 1°F. That doesn't really bother me, though. How often to I care if it goes from 100°F to 102°F instead of 100°F to 101°F? Either way it's too friggin' hot to be outside unless you're at the lake!

Honestly, the reason why I care is because one can get more detailed records the more graduated a system is. That's important for things like weather measurements and the like.

 

[spud_meister]

Honestly, the reason why I care is because one can get more detailed records the more graduated a system is. That's important for things like weather measurements and the like.

Have you Americans heard of the decimal point? It allows you to be as precise as you want.

 

[Dittohead not!]

Honestly, the reason why I care is because one can get more detailed records the more graduated a system is. That's important for things like weather measurements and the like.

If you really need to have more detailed records than it's 40 degrees or 41 and too (bleep!)ing hot, you can use decimals. The temperature is 40.32 degrees, and still too (bleep!)ing hot.

 

[Rainman05]

Can we keep Fahrenheit? I just can't grasp Celsius. Sounds more logical but hard to convert.

You can make the switch to Kelvin.

 

[Grand Mal]

Was it Carter who put all those goofy speed signs up so we could be like Canada? What ever happened to all those things?:lol:

Most American tourists I talk to up here get a kick out of seeing '110' on a speed-limit sign!

 

[specklebang]

There is no formula for converting Fahrenheit to Celsius. Meters are relatively easy to grap but you either grow up with Celsius (or Fahrenheit) and you can't make sense of the other one.

The reason why I like Fahrenheit is because really hot is 100 degrees F. That just feels right to me.

Also, I think that Fahrenheit is more graduated than Celsius is, but I don't know for sure.

 

[clownboy]

We seriously tried this before and it went over like a lead balloon.

 

[MoSurveyor]

Honestly, the reason why I care is because one can get more detailed records the more graduated a system is. That's important for things like weather measurements and the like.

Actually, I believe meteorologists already use °C and convert to the nearest °F for public use in the US. Most scientific instruments are calibrated and graduated to metric standards.

 

[Dittohead not!]

We seriously tried this before and it went over like a lead balloon.

True, but that was because the government tried to impose it on us.

Ain't no gummint gonna make us use that there socialistic meters and centimeters stuff, no siree, we're Americans!

 

[American]

Let me get this straight, the United States being the most technologically, economically and militarily advanced country the world has ever known, is archaic? :shock:

 

[MoSurveyor]

Let me get this straight, the United States being the most technologically, economically and militarily advanced country the world has ever known, is archaic? :shock:

Or you can pick "self centered", which also applies. Personally, I think it's a little of both.

 

[Hard Truth]

Americans foolishly oppose the metric system because they think that they will have to do the conversion formulas forever. But they don't consider all the math required for simple conversions within our current system.

For example: How many inches in a mile? Compare that calculation process to the question: How many centimeters in a Kilometer?

 

[Hard Truth]

Most industries already use metric since we are in a global market. It is mostly in local areas with 50+ year olds running businesses that still use old type measurements.

I'm 56 years old and learned metric system in grade school. I liked it and was looking forward to the conversion to a more sensible system.

 

[MoSurveyor]

Americans foolishly oppose the metric system because they think that they will have to do the conversion formulas forever. But they don't consider all the math required for simple conversions within our current system.

For example: How many inches in a mile? Compare that calculation process to the question: How many centimeters in a Kilometer?

I agree metric is more sensible but using this type of comparison is kinda' "out there". I don't know of anyone who breaks a mile down into smaller units than feet or yards, and then it's usually 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile, etc. If anyone were to use precise measurements over large distances it would be surveyors, but we use decimal feet for US units of measure, not inches. 0.01' is slightly less than 1/8".

 

[Dittohead not!]

I agree metric is more sensible but using this type of comparison is kinda' "out there". I don't know of anyone who breaks a mile down into smaller units than feet or yards, and then it's usually 1/4 mile, 1/2 mile, etc. If anyone were to use precise measurements over large distances it would be surveyors, but we use decimal feet for US units of measure, not inches. 0.01' is slightly less than 1/8".

0.01 inches is 1/100 of an inch, which is a lot less than 1/8.
That's the problem with using such an out of date system: It lends itself to mathematical errors.

 

[Rainman05]

Let me get this straight, the United States being the most technologically, economically and militarily advanced country the world has ever known, is archaic? :shock:

The people who actually advance those technologies and that military use metric system. Not imperial.

 

[ARealConservative]

There is no formula for converting Fahrenheit to Celsius. Meters are relatively easy to grap but you either grow up with Celsius (or Fahrenheit) and you can't make sense of the other one.

sure there is

(°F - 32) x 5/9 = °C

 

[Binary_Digit]

The metric system is decimal, and 99% of the world's population uses decimal as its numbering system. That's why conversion within the metric system is easy, and why the SAE system makes no sense and should be phased out in favor of the one that is clearly superior in every way.

 

[Mach]

Metric. PLease.

I do love the protests, that while it's clearly inferior, surely we're smart enough to use the English system? When you talk about an entire nations worth of engineering and measurements, the number of errors and additional overhead long-term for English has to be staggering. There is never a good time to change, but it's strictly true that the earlier you change, the longer you reap the benefits.

It is unfortunate we have to spend money to make the change, but long term its' the right decision. Yes there will be conversion issues in assuming something old was metric when it's really English, but that happens even today.

Look at it this way culture-phobes. English language won, at least we can give out the consolation prize of adopting metric.

 

[ARealConservative]

"My car gets forty rods to the hogs head and that's the way I likes it!"

 

[MoSurveyor]

0.01 inches is 1/100 of an inch, which is a lot less than 1/8.
That's the problem with using such an out of date system: It lends itself to mathematical errors.

You need to look at my post, again, and a little closer this time. After specifically stating surveyors use feet, I said 0.01' (that's one hundredth of a foot) is a little less than 1/8" (one-eighth inch), the difference between 0.12" and 0.125" (both in inches), which also happens to be ~3 mm (3.175 mm to be exact). I've been working with decimal feet in a professional capacity since 1983. I can walk you through any US system of distance you'd like to discuss from the old 39.37" (that's inches) per meter to the modern version, which is 2.54 cm (centimeters) per inch - a slight but important difference in surveying. I've seen miles written out as 80 ch. (that's 1 chain = 66 feet). I've seen property descriptions in rods, which is 1/4 chain or 16.5 feet. I've also used the metric system in survey control work since 1992, when Missouri finished and published the GPS derived control station work in the KC area. My calculator doesn't care one whit whether I'm feeding it decimal feet or meters and I have no problem converting from/to either one, myself, without the calculator in small numbers.

However, I've seen mistakes made in construction using meters because the construction guys have no "feel" for meters, so they don't catch what would be an obvious error if units were in feet. This would change in time as the young bucks moved into the field but it would take at least a decade for them to learn enough to be put in supervisory positions. IN the mean time, everyone will have to watch everything they do with special scrutiny and anyone having construction work done should expect an increase in costs while the industry is changing over.

 

[clownboy]

True, but that was because the government tried to impose it on us.

Ain't no gummint gonna make us use that there socialistic meters and centimeters stuff, no siree, we're Americans!

And that's what this would be, same thing all over again. Any indivdual is free to use the metric or any other system of weights and measures. If the product needs to be in feet and inches - just do the conversion as you're suggesting the rest of us do now.