Comments on: Metric system holdouts http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/ Speak Victorian, Think Pagan Wed, 17 Mar 2010 06:07:49 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: sun bin http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/comment-page-1/#comment-376327 sun bin Wed, 04 Jul 2007 08:34:46 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/#comment-376327 @ commentators above, you can come up with many reason to defend being in the same league with myanmar. :) but you need to do the numbers first. as for the other pal liberia, it was sort of an abandoned state of the US, right? so there is no coincidence there. @ commentators above,

you can come up with many reason to defend being in the same league with myanmar. :) but you need to do the numbers first.

as for the other pal liberia, it was sort of an abandoned state of the US, right? so there is no coincidence there.

]]> By: James Bennett http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/comment-page-1/#comment-376325 James Bennett Wed, 04 Jul 2007 04:07:16 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/#comment-376325 The big advantage of SI was that one could rapidly calculate measurements in one's head -- with the advent of the calculator that's not a big deal. The UK and the commonwealth countries probably wasted the money they spent on conversion. The big advantage of SI was that one could rapidly calculate measurements in one’s head — with the advent of the calculator that’s not a big deal. The UK and the commonwealth countries probably wasted the money they spent on conversion.

]]> By: Nathan M http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/comment-page-1/#comment-376307 Nathan M Tue, 03 Jul 2007 02:02:52 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/#comment-376307 We use both metric and customary units in the military, depending on the use and location. For obvious reasons, overseas bases use metric more often. As a surveyor, engineering technician, construction inspector, and soon engineer, I'm fully comfortable working in both systems (or any arbitrary make-believe units for that matter). That being said, however, I much prefer working with customary units. Partly because I grew up with them, so they're far more intuitive, and partly because they're honestly easier to use in many applications. The costs of a full-scale conversion to SI units in the US far outweigh any potential benefits. We use both metric and customary units in the military, depending on the use and location. For obvious reasons, overseas bases use metric more often.

As a surveyor, engineering technician, construction inspector, and soon engineer, I’m fully comfortable working in both systems (or any arbitrary make-believe units for that matter). That being said, however, I much prefer working with customary units. Partly because I grew up with them, so they’re far more intuitive, and partly because they’re honestly easier to use in many applications.

The costs of a full-scale conversion to SI units in the US far outweigh any potential benefits.

]]> By: captbbq http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/comment-page-1/#comment-376306 captbbq Tue, 03 Jul 2007 01:22:29 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/#comment-376306 The problem for the US is retooling all its factories to support metric measurments. Not cheap... In the end that what matters and thats where you get the benefit also. The problem for the US is retooling all its factories to support metric measurments. Not cheap… In the end that what matters and thats where you get the benefit also.

]]> By: Shadowgallery http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/comment-page-1/#comment-376301 Shadowgallery Mon, 02 Jul 2007 18:01:07 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/#comment-376301 The Challenger accident was a failure of the booster's O-rings due to very cold temperatures before launch. You're thinking of the Mars Climate Orbiter, that crash-landed on the surface after a unit mix up. It seems odd that the United States doesn't use metric as a whole, seeing as how scientists and the military all use is, and also as it is taught in school at the primary level. Personally, I have more trouble with customary units then I do with Metric units. The Challenger accident was a failure of the booster’s O-rings due to very cold temperatures before launch. You’re thinking of the Mars Climate Orbiter, that crash-landed on the surface after a unit mix up.

It seems odd that the United States doesn’t use metric as a whole, seeing as how scientists and the military all use is, and also as it is taught in school at the primary level. Personally, I have more trouble with customary units then I do with Metric units.

]]> By: Where art thou, young progressive bloggers? | Prose Before Hos http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/comment-page-1/#comment-376300 Where art thou, young progressive bloggers? | Prose Before Hos Mon, 02 Jul 2007 17:15:13 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/#comment-376300 [...] Metric System Holdouts [...] [...] Metric System Holdouts [...]

]]> By: alec http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/comment-page-1/#comment-376299 alec Mon, 02 Jul 2007 15:54:30 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/#comment-376299 While it's true that other countries still use localized/regional measurement systems, I think my general concern is that if you asked the average American how many meters are in kilometer or how many millimeters are in a centimeter, they'd be stumped. This doesn't bode well and America hasn't learned some important lessons from using universal measurement systems, especially considering the Challenger disaster was caused by a misconversion of the metric system to the English system. While it’s true that other countries still use localized/regional measurement systems, I think my general concern is that if you asked the average American how many meters are in kilometer or how many millimeters are in a centimeter, they’d be stumped. This doesn’t bode well and America hasn’t learned some important lessons from using universal measurement systems, especially considering the Challenger disaster was caused by a misconversion of the metric system to the English system.

]]> By: Younghusband http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/comment-page-1/#comment-376297 Younghusband Mon, 02 Jul 2007 14:33:03 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/#comment-376297 Read more on "metrication in the US":http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_the_United_States. In Canada height, weight, and cooking measurements tend to be in Imperial, whereas distance, temperature and volume are in metric. Tools come in both varieties, as do guns. My parents still use miles and yards for distance though, there is somewhat of a generational gap. Read more on metrication in the US.

In Canada height, weight, and cooking measurements tend to be in Imperial, whereas distance, temperature and volume are in metric. Tools come in both varieties, as do guns. My parents still use miles and yards for distance though, there is somewhat of a generational gap.

]]> By: Curzon http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/comment-page-1/#comment-376296 Curzon Mon, 02 Jul 2007 14:30:53 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/#comment-376296 Yeah, this doesn't tell the whole storyu. Plenty of other countries such as the UK use non-metric measurements when they feel like it. Just ask a Japanese person how many _tsubo_ their home is. Yeah, this doesn’t tell the whole storyu. Plenty of other countries such as the UK use non-metric measurements when they feel like it. Just ask a Japanese person how many tsubo their home is.

]]> By: a517dogg http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/comment-page-1/#comment-376295 a517dogg Mon, 02 Jul 2007 14:21:07 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/#comment-376295 And we'd seem even lighter if we measured our weight in stone, not kilos! And we’d seem even lighter if we measured our weight in stone, not kilos!

]]> By: Jenny Craig http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/comment-page-1/#comment-376294 Jenny Craig Mon, 02 Jul 2007 13:37:51 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/#comment-376294 Obese Americans would seem lighter if their bathroom scales gave weights in kilograms instead of pounds. Obese Americans would seem lighter if their bathroom scales gave weights in kilograms instead of pounds.

]]> By: Nathan M http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/comment-page-1/#comment-376293 Nathan M Mon, 02 Jul 2007 13:31:58 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/#comment-376293 Don't forget the UK. They still use miles for their roads, and stone and pounds to measure weight. Don’t forget the UK. They still use miles for their roads, and stone and pounds to measure weight.

]]> By: Richardson http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/comment-page-1/#comment-376291 Richardson Mon, 02 Jul 2007 12:03:42 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/#comment-376291 I don't think the Marshall Island have adopted the metric system. I don’t think the Marshall Island have adopted the metric system.

]]> By: The Marmot’s Hole » In Good (Non-Metric) Company http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/comment-page-1/#comment-376290 The Marmot’s Hole » In Good (Non-Metric) Company Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:48:45 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/#comment-376290 [...] The United States finds itself in good company with Liberia and Myanmar as one of only three countries that have yet to adopt the metric system. (HT to Coming Anarchy) [...] [...] The United States finds itself in good company with Liberia and Myanmar as one of only three countries that have yet to adopt the metric system. (HT to Coming Anarchy) [...]

]]> By: Dan tdaxp http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/comment-page-1/#comment-376286 Dan tdaxp Mon, 02 Jul 2007 11:15:28 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/#comment-376286 To <a href="http://donklephant.com/2007/06/30/nations-who-havent-adopted-the-metric-system/#comment-364577" rel="nofollow">steal a criticism</a>, are the highlighted countries places where SI is not official, where any version of the metric system is not official, or where use is not normative? To steal a criticism, are the highlighted countries places where SI is not official, where any version of the metric system is not official, or where use is not normative?

]]> By: Grendel http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/comment-page-1/#comment-376285 Grendel Mon, 02 Jul 2007 09:38:17 +0000 http://cominganarchy.com/2007/07/02/metric-system-holdouts/#comment-376285 telling :-) telling :-)

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