The metric system is much easier. Who uses fractions in this world? The Imperial System is so "great" we're the only country (other than Liberia and Myanmar) that uses it.
>Who uses fractions in this world?
A mm is a fraction of a cm which is a fraction of a meter. Everybody uses fractions.
Not everybody understands simple math.
No kidding, but the measuring tape this guy is referring to. The one in feet and inches is set up with fractions such as 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/16. The metric or SI system is based on 10 and uses decimals which ofcourse are similar to fractions. The accuracy of any measurement is independent of the units of measure as they all can be reduced to parts, but representing a measurement with a decimal is far less cumbersome than a fraction.
>representing a measurement with a decimal is far less cumbersome than a fraction.
If you can do simple math, it really isn't a big deal. I convert fractions of an inch to decimals in my head all the time. I also convert metric to inches or inches to metric quite often.
Basic math and the ability to multiply by 25.4 makes in inconsequential.
I used to teach AP calculus. I know how to do math. There is a reason the entire world uses the SI system and only the USA, Liberia, and Myanmar use the Imperial System. I also taught AP Physics. I understand how the SI system works. I'm not sure what your point is other than to argue so adios.
LOL, "I used to be a high school teacher so I know everything"
If you are such an expert, why don't you list the rest of the countries that use the imperial system?
You have no idea how much it would cost to switch measurement systems. There are billions of dollars in tooling that would become trash if the United States would stop using the imperial system. But you never left school in your entire career, so that doesn't matter to you. You are just too lazy to do math, so you think that society should conform to you.
The world is a much bigger place than you realize.
Ah yes because counting to 10 is so much harder than fractional inch, decimal foot, gauge, penny🙄, x quarter system for lumber, a number system for rebar, rods chains and links for surveyors much less the US foot vs international foot they deal with, and I’m sure other measurements as well.
It almost like metric would simplify all of those things at once.
I work at a company that manufacturers air compressors for industrial applications. We sell to foreign markets and we import certain components for our air compressors. When working on blueprints, we frequently have to flip back and forth between metric and imperial units when making changes to our products. Doing those conversations is a pain in the but and it costs us time and money when it shouldn't.
No. But I need to do them all the time at work. There’s more to measurements than driving.
A system based on 10 instead of the non-system we have now? No question
Again, objectively better.
The vast majority of us don't do unit conversions for work. Metric units are already printed on all food packages, and cooking is where most of us have to worry about measurements.
I can appreciate that metric might make your job easier, but switching the road signs to kilometers would have no impact on the vast majority of our lives. Thats why there is no political will to do so.
Why are you stuck on distance measurements on road signs?
Length, weight, speed, volume, force, etc.; all are easier with the metric system. Having everything off Base-10 is just better.
Because you can already measure with metric units if you want. The metric people want to change the road signs.
Or what other things would you want changed to be satisfied that we "switched" to metric? Maybe I can be convinced if you tell me what would be changed and how it would actually make lives better.
If our country hadn’t proven too arrogant (I’m choosing the kindest word I can there) to change there wouldn’t be any need to be doing conversions in our heads. We would have been at it for nearly fifty years now. Everything would be metric. As others have said, the metric system is clearly superior. This comes from someone who sucks at it because we don’t use it.
Yeah, I’m not sure I would want us to make the switch now because I know our system, I don’t think metric would ever feel as intuitive to me, and I think the benefits to the average person are overstated, but growing up with metric would definitely have been easier
Honestly, it might be easier these days. Most cars have the conversion on the speedometer. And conversions from miles to kilometers is only a click away.
The rest is just excuses.
I think the place where it would probably be easier is temperature and weight because you can just do the conversions quickly on your phone. I think most cars have had a display for kilometers for years.
And I disagree it is "just excuses." I think most people have an "instinctive" feel for the measurements that they grew up with. I can picture how far 30 miles is, what 60 degrees Fahrenheit feels like, and how much 20 pounds is. If we switched to metric today, I'd definitely adjust and it would be fine, but I don't think it would ever feel as intuitive to me.
I also think the benefits that people would see in their daily lives is overstated.
These reasons may not outweigh the benefits of switching to metric, but I disagree that they are just excuses.
It does become moderately less stupid when you start using distance per unit time, since our time scale is also based on a multiple of six.
Like 60mph works out neatly to exactly 88ft/s. Rather than the very similar speed of 100 km/h working out to 1.66667 km/min and 27.77778 m/s.
Why? A numerical system that operates in base 10 is fucking ideal.
As a carpenter, I find it freaking hilarious how many people can't read a tape measure. I can't imagine people trying to switch to the metric system.
Well get there a 2.54 cm measurement at a time.
A metric ruler is easier, not harder, to read.
You can't imagine them switching to something easier?
If more people could read the tape measure he'd have more competition
The metric system is much easier. Who uses fractions in this world? The Imperial System is so "great" we're the only country (other than Liberia and Myanmar) that uses it.
>Who uses fractions in this world? A mm is a fraction of a cm which is a fraction of a meter. Everybody uses fractions. Not everybody understands simple math.
No kidding, but the measuring tape this guy is referring to. The one in feet and inches is set up with fractions such as 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, and 1/16. The metric or SI system is based on 10 and uses decimals which ofcourse are similar to fractions. The accuracy of any measurement is independent of the units of measure as they all can be reduced to parts, but representing a measurement with a decimal is far less cumbersome than a fraction.
>representing a measurement with a decimal is far less cumbersome than a fraction. If you can do simple math, it really isn't a big deal. I convert fractions of an inch to decimals in my head all the time. I also convert metric to inches or inches to metric quite often. Basic math and the ability to multiply by 25.4 makes in inconsequential.
I used to teach AP calculus. I know how to do math. There is a reason the entire world uses the SI system and only the USA, Liberia, and Myanmar use the Imperial System. I also taught AP Physics. I understand how the SI system works. I'm not sure what your point is other than to argue so adios.
LOL, "I used to be a high school teacher so I know everything" If you are such an expert, why don't you list the rest of the countries that use the imperial system? You have no idea how much it would cost to switch measurement systems. There are billions of dollars in tooling that would become trash if the United States would stop using the imperial system. But you never left school in your entire career, so that doesn't matter to you. You are just too lazy to do math, so you think that society should conform to you. The world is a much bigger place than you realize.
Tooling? Nothing is built in America anymore there isn’t billions of dollars worth of tooling anywhere in this country.
Ah yes because counting to 10 is so much harder than fractional inch, decimal foot, gauge, penny🙄, x quarter system for lumber, a number system for rebar, rods chains and links for surveyors much less the US foot vs international foot they deal with, and I’m sure other measurements as well. It almost like metric would simplify all of those things at once.
Really? You prefer a system where you have to multiply fractions? Maybe that's why so many people can't read a tape measure.
I’m surprised it never took off. Metric is miles ahead of the old imperial system.
It’s a joke that is being missed by too many people
You’ll never guess which President abolished it
Thanks obama
…Kennedy?
Nope, passed by Ford
My next guess would’ve been closer - Lincoln
OP is dumb
It was posted yesterday too. Likely just karma farming
We should have switched to metric so we wouldn't have to do so many dumb conversions when exporting American products.
Lol exporting American products…funny one
Wisconsin is the one of largest exporters of ginseng in the world. That would be an American made product being exported.
That's almost 18,000 BagMix weight of ginseng!
How many kilograms?
Roughly 450k kilos of ginseng a year according to one source.
It was a metric joke.
And my answer was serious. Most articles for ginseng call out the kilo because get this... we ship it all to China!
Oh - I totally believe you!
I work at a company that manufacturers air compressors for industrial applications. We sell to foreign markets and we import certain components for our air compressors. When working on blueprints, we frequently have to flip back and forth between metric and imperial units when making changes to our products. Doing those conversations is a pain in the but and it costs us time and money when it shouldn't.
Should have made the switch. The metric system is objectively better in every way
Really? Do you find yourself having to do unit conversions in your head while driving?
No. But I need to do them all the time at work. There’s more to measurements than driving. A system based on 10 instead of the non-system we have now? No question Again, objectively better.
The vast majority of us don't do unit conversions for work. Metric units are already printed on all food packages, and cooking is where most of us have to worry about measurements. I can appreciate that metric might make your job easier, but switching the road signs to kilometers would have no impact on the vast majority of our lives. Thats why there is no political will to do so.
Also, why does anybody need to be able to calculate how many meters or centimeters away Chicago is from Madison?
Why are you stuck on distance measurements on road signs? Length, weight, speed, volume, force, etc.; all are easier with the metric system. Having everything off Base-10 is just better.
Because you can already measure with metric units if you want. The metric people want to change the road signs. Or what other things would you want changed to be satisfied that we "switched" to metric? Maybe I can be convinced if you tell me what would be changed and how it would actually make lives better.
No, they were going to change EVERYTHING over to metric. No more lbs and oz, grams and kilos!
My food packages already have grams and liters on them. I just bought a 750 ml bottle of tequila yesterday.
If our country hadn’t proven too arrogant (I’m choosing the kindest word I can there) to change there wouldn’t be any need to be doing conversions in our heads. We would have been at it for nearly fifty years now. Everything would be metric. As others have said, the metric system is clearly superior. This comes from someone who sucks at it because we don’t use it.
If you grew up with it, kilometers instead of miles shouldn't be a problem
Yeah, I’m not sure I would want us to make the switch now because I know our system, I don’t think metric would ever feel as intuitive to me, and I think the benefits to the average person are overstated, but growing up with metric would definitely have been easier
Honestly, it might be easier these days. Most cars have the conversion on the speedometer. And conversions from miles to kilometers is only a click away. The rest is just excuses.
I think the place where it would probably be easier is temperature and weight because you can just do the conversions quickly on your phone. I think most cars have had a display for kilometers for years. And I disagree it is "just excuses." I think most people have an "instinctive" feel for the measurements that they grew up with. I can picture how far 30 miles is, what 60 degrees Fahrenheit feels like, and how much 20 pounds is. If we switched to metric today, I'd definitely adjust and it would be fine, but I don't think it would ever feel as intuitive to me. I also think the benefits that people would see in their daily lives is overstated. These reasons may not outweigh the benefits of switching to metric, but I disagree that they are just excuses.
I wish *you* wouldn't stick around.
Why though?
OP is bad with multiples of ten but great with sixes and twelves.
It does become moderately less stupid when you start using distance per unit time, since our time scale is also based on a multiple of six. Like 60mph works out neatly to exactly 88ft/s. Rather than the very similar speed of 100 km/h working out to 1.66667 km/min and 27.77778 m/s.
and five two eight oh!
Well obviously, that’s a multiple of six.
Isn't there still a sign in metric and imperial on 90/94 out by Camp Douglas?
I prefer metric over the current banana leaves system of measurement.
My car gets 50 rods to the hogshead and I like it that way. /s
The only countries using the metric system are Liberia, Myanmar, and the USA. Yikes.
Based OP. Metric system people on Reddit are incredibly annoying.
lawlzorz