Should America go metric?

[Dasffion]

Well "we don't care" sounds like a reasonable argument to me. "We'd have to spend tons of money switching all the signs" doesn't.

They're tied together. We don't care enough to have to spend that much money doing it, and if you don't think it would cost additional money even if we do have to replace the signs eventually, then you're crazy.

[Reeve]

They're tied together. We don't care enough to have to spend that much money doing it, and if you don't think it would cost additional money even if we do have to replace the signs eventually, then you're crazy.

It'd cost some amount, but it's not a large amount. It'd be a relatively minor part of any state budget with comparison to all the other stuff we're doing.

[Toccs]

I'm a little confused here, I'm from the UK and i was taught in school (1997) that things are measured in (MPH, STONE, INCHES etc) that's the imperial system right? If so then wouldn't that make us an imperial measuring nation?

I'm really bloody tired so sorry if it makes little sense.

[Kobor]

I could live with that, but in many cases it is not the standard

In fact YYYY-MM-DD is the ISO 8601 standard fromat.

[Anjerith]

I use the metric system in my worklife (American working for French company) but I hate it frankly. This is, of course, due to my upbringing - I freely admit it.

Not saying we arn't going to get there eventually. Or, hell, it's more likely a new system come about that the entire world has to embrace. I shall refer to this as the "Good Enough" Measurement system.

[Lolercaust]

The US has already tried to go metric, during the Reagan(?) years. It was a disaster.
I'm American and I think we should try again. It's a bandaid that has to be pulled off.

[Masark]

The US has already tried to go metric, during the Reagan(?) years. It was a disaster.

No, metrification was started under Ford in 1976, then Regan scrapped it in 1982.

[Washuwa]

repeat with me, america is a continent, united states of america is a country

[Katchii]

As an American working in the manufacturing industry as an engineer...I have to say yes, for all things good and holy, please yes convert to metric.

Why we're the only (or one of a VERY few) country that still uses this retarded measuring system is beyond me, every professional I speak to who does some type of measurement always uses metrics...and when necessary converts to the dumb American system because the item he's working on is being distributed in America.

I see no reason to waste time in elementary school learning a system of units that no discipline uses.

I could have shortened my post by a lot if I had just posted this and said: ^This......

[smelltheglove]

repeat with me, america is a continent, united states of america is a country

maybe to you. here north america = continent, south america = continent, america = generally accepted as short version of united states of america. but however you like it i guess, you're not going to change anybody's minds here

[Reeve]

repeat with me, america is a continent, united states of america is a country

The world uses America as shorthand for United States of America. Get over it.

[mittacc]

i'm not american and yes, they should go metric. And we need to ditch litres and say cubicmeters instead because litres is one useless unit!

[Gamdwelf]

i'm not american and yes, they should go metric. And we need to ditch litres and say cubicmeters instead because litres is one useless unit!

What about when you want a liter of cola?

[Bakis]

What about when you want a liter of cola?

You say "I would like a cubicmeter but much, much, much, much, much less of Coke please" !

[Cattaclysmic]

i'm not american and yes, they should go metric. And we need to ditch litres and say cubicmeters instead because litres is one useless unit!

A liter is just a convenient everyday amount. Its the same as a cubic decimeter. And a deciliter is a common household measurement which would be 10 cubic centimeters if i am not mistaking

[Frontenac]

i'm not american and yes, they should go metric. And we need to ditch litres and say cubicmeters instead because litres is one useless unit!

1L = 1 dm3, not 1 m3.

1 m3 would be 1 kL. Which is a little big a unit to buy milk. "Hey Honey, would you buy 0.001 m3 of milk while your at the grocery store?"

[det]

WOW...40 pages..and you wonder why the UN can never agree on anything?

[Jarl Balgruuf]

In fact YYYY-MM-DD is the ISO 8601 standard fromat.

The metric system argument for measurements is a valid one, but the MM-DD-YYYY/DD-MM-YYYY/etc is just completely stupid.

Who the hell cares.

[Gamdwelf]

You say "I would like a cubicmeter but much, much, much, much, much less of Coke please" !

But a cubicmeter is much more than a liter isnt it? m^3 would be a lot of liquid where a liter is like about 1 quart isn't it?

---------- Post added 2012-12-14 at 04:48 PM ----------

1L = 1 dm3, not 1 m3.

1 m3 would be 1 kL. Which is a little big a unit to buy milk. "Hey Honey, would you buy 0.001 m3 of milk while your at the grocery store?"

yeah thats what i though a cubic meter of water is like almost a bathtub amount

neat thing about a liter is of pure water it is exactly 1kg of mass because of waters density.

[Frontenac]

A liter is just a convenient everyday amount. Its the same as a cubic decimeter. And a deciliter is a common household measurement which would be 10 cubic centimeters if i am not mistaking

I think it would be 100 cm3.

1 cm3 = 1 mL
1 dL = 100 mL
So 1 dL = 100 cm3.

Yeah, that's right... I had to write it though...