Should the US get off the pot and go metric?

jimintoronto said:
So what you are really saying is that the USA is 54 YEARS behind Canada in terms of adopting the Metric system? Canada switched to the Metric system in 1970. In 54 YEARS the USA could have made all the changes you pointed out in your post. As for learning the system, that takes place in Grade 4 in Canada. Are you saying that American kids can't learn Metric, if it is taught as a part of the curriculum, nation wide ?
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All we did in whatever early grade we started metrics in was doing conversions from American to Metric in arithmetic. I think that is the worst possible way to learn and teach metrics. It's just drudgery of formulas with no purpose. Why would anyone want to convert from one to the other if you are never going to use the other? Of course today, the computer does that part anyway for the few times you need it. The last time I used it was to buy shoe laces for hiking boots, when I didn't have a metric measuring device to measure my old laces.
 

JustDave said:
All we did in whatever early grade we started metrics in was doing conversions from American to Metric in arithmetic. I think that is the worst possible way to learn and teach metrics. It's just drudgery of formulas with no purpose. Why would anyone want to convert from one to the other if you are never going to use the other? Of course today, the computer does that part anyway for the few times you need it. The last time I used it was to buy shoe laces for hiking boots, when I didn't have a metric measuring device to measure my old laces.
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If the rest of the world is using the Metric system, maybe it’s time to consider switching. 🤷‍♀️
 

I bought a digital kitchen scale that can be set to weigh grams, kilograms, ounces, or pounds, because some weights for recipes or calories don't always come one way or the other. This is how you learn metrics. It's direct and painless. It actually doesn't require learning. Recipes call for 2 grams of "X"? Just weigh it out and put it in the bowl. It's not like it's "too much trouble." Now if the US wants to continue being different than everyone else, that's a choice, and I can live with it. But people exaggerate way beyond reason the difficulty in changing, even when it's to a system that is easier to use.
 
JustDave said:
I bought a digital kitchen scale that can be set to weigh grams, kilograms, ounces, or pounds, because some weights for recipes or calories don't always come one way or the other. This is how you learn metrics. It's direct and painless. It actually doesn't require learning. Recipes call for 2 grams of "X"? Just weigh it out and put it in the bowl. It's not like it's "too much trouble." Now if the US wants to continue being different than everyone else, that's a choice, and I can live with it. But people exaggerate way beyond reason the difficulty in changing, even when it's to a system that is easier to use.
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Way back in time, during WW2 the British had designed and built a number of modified Sherman tanks that could do various things. There was the flail tank that used spinning chains to detonate mines, the flame thrower tank and the bridge laying tank. All of these designs were offered to the US military to be built in the USA. The US military only built the amphibious Sherman. The reason given for refusing the other Sherman modified models was.......We didn't design it, so we won't build them. So the idea of we didn't think of it, so we won't use it, is not a new thing.
 
Here's my choice:

In the English apothecary system, a dram equals 1/8 ounce, 60 grains, or 3.89 grams. One scruple (э) equals 1.3 grams, 20 grains, or 1/24 of an ounce.
 
The US uses both systems.

All of our rulers and tape measures have metrics along one side and empirical measures on the other. Medical scales, measuring cups used in cooking and baking, and products in cans and bottles have both, too. Everyone from surveyors to astronauts use both metrics and empirical in the US.

Most US high schools teach both metric and empirical measures in math classes above the fundamental level, and all US trade skills trainees learn both; all US plumbers, mechanics, engineers, construction workers, scientists and doctors use both.

Again, there isn't a pot to get off of. The metric system is widely used in the US.
 
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HoneyNut said:
I think it would be easier to adjust to if we made a full leap. If my car speedometer (hey, why is 'meter' in that word?) was in kilometers and the speed limit sign was in kilometers and the distance to the next city was in kilometers, then my brain would sort that out easily. Same if the thermostat was in Celcius, I would pretty quickly know which number was too cold or too hot.

The slow weird way we are changing (2 liter coke, 5k organized walks, 9 millimeter gun, etc) may take the 'scary change' out of the experience, but I don't feel like it is easier.
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The US uses both systems. No reason to exclude one.
 
fuzzybuddy said:
The metric system is an easy to use, verifiable, worldwide, reliable scientific system of measurement. So, let's keep using the same imprecise measurement system based on some king's body parts, who lived 600 years ago. Ya know, Hieroglyphics work just as well as any of those new fangled Roman letters.
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Which body part in particular?
 
Murrmurr said:
The US uses both systems. No reason to exclude one.
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Well, American science is devoted almost exclusively to the metric system, and yes, it's based partly on the reason that everyone else uses it, along with the fact that it makes more sense. A standardization is advantageous when science relies on peer review and grows globally, not just in the US. We don't need to exclude the American Standard. We can still keep it, but it's not being done based on practicality and efficiency. It's simple resistance.

I believe eventually, the US will go metric. It's already creeping into our way of life like an insidious but imaginary monster. How many milligrams do your common medications come in? We may not be dragged into metrics kicking and screaming like spoiled children. Children eventually grow out of things.
 
JustDave said:
Well, American science is devoted almost exclusively to the metric system, and yes, it's based partly on the reason that everyone else uses it, along with the fact that it makes more sense. A standardization is advantageous when science relies on peer review and grows globally, not just in the US. We don't need to exclude the American Standard. We can still keep it, but it's not being done based on practicality and efficiency. It's simple resistance.

I believe eventually, the US will go metric. It's already creeping into our way of life like an insidious but imaginary monster. How many milligrams do your common medications come in? We may not be dragged into metrics kicking and screaming like spoiled children. Children eventually grow out of things.
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How will A.I. affect measurement? Destroy it like everything else that converts to AI? :poop:
 
JustDave said:
Well, American science is devoted almost exclusively to the metric system, and yes, it's based partly on the reason that everyone else uses it, along with the fact that it makes more sense. A standardization is advantageous when science relies on peer review and grows globally, not just in the US. We don't need to exclude the American Standard. We can still keep it, but it's not being done based on practicality and efficiency. It's simple resistance.

I believe eventually, the US will go metric. It's already creeping into our way of life like an insidious but imaginary monster. How many milligrams do your common medications come in? We may not be dragged into metrics kicking and screaming like spoiled children. Children eventually grow out of things.
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Yeah, almost all of us on this forum know milligrams.

I agree, if we ever go 100% metric, there won't be any kicking and screaming. It'll be a practically imperceptible transition. And when our great-great(xxx)-grandkids come across an old ruler, and look at it with wonder, I'm confident they'll find plenty of explanations for such an oddity on the internet...possibly entire websites dedicated to it. (joking)
 
Uncle Bozo said:
How will A.I. affect measurement? Destroy it like everything else that converts to AI? :poop:
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I've been puzzling over what AI will end up creating. It's odd. I keep hearing dire warnings without specifics, but big tech is putting all it's resources behind it. Ha, I know! Big companies what to use it to control humanity, and turn us into the equivalent of human robots carrying out their commands. Evil commands for sure.
 
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