Should America go metric?

[Amsden]

I agree with all but the Date. I already know metric measurements and celsius, but changing the order of the date would confuse the hell out of me. It makes more since the American way because it's ordered how you would say it, you say "December 21st, 2012" not "21st of December 2012" or anything like that... as far as I know anyway.

Anyway it's not really that big of a deal. The conversion is not difficult and if you can't do it I'm sure there's an app for it

[bitterbrew]

gross. Canadian here. i perfer imperial to metric. mainly because most of the oil/gas industry (which im in) uses it.

[Howlrunner]

Well, seeing as the Imperial system can be divided more often (great for trade and whatnot), then no, makes sense for USA to stay Imperial.
But seeing as the whole world is pretty much Metric now, I am inclined to say "yes, they should", if only for uniformity.

[Binary Speaker]

America should, but won't, because old habits do die hard. And metric is too rational

Pretty much this. Having to learn such an easy system?! Ain't nobody got time for dat. But yea I'd rather use Metric here. xD

[Didactic]

Let's do this. Of course we will have to change to decimal time and the French Republican Calendar too.

One step at a time.

[Valanna]

Let's do this. Of course we will have to change to decimal time and the French Republican Calendar too.

That sounds insanely impractical, considering that time isn't based around anything arbitrary, i.e. we actually do revolve one round around the sun in 365.25 and some days. If you somehow successfully build a system that divides that into tens, I'd be happy to listen.

[Didactic]

That sounds insanely impractical, considering that time isn't based around anything arbitrary, i.e. we actually do revolve one round around the sun in 365.25 and some days. If you somehow successfully build a system that divides that into tens, I'd be happy to listen.

Decimal time isn't arbitrary, per se, but it requires differing lengths for a second, minute, etc.

I am very well-disposed towards the French Republican Calendar, however. Under that calendar you have twelve months of thirty days, three weeks of ten days per month, with four or five intercalary days to account for leap years.

[Fuzzzie]

As a Canadian I know both systems pretty well. Everything in Canada is a mix of both systems. we measure things in both feet and inches as well as metres and centimeters. Weights go the same way.

I honestly think the metric system is a little bit better. In the end it's easier to manage when scaling things from a few milligrams to tonnes etc. Same with measurement. I can give you the distance from my house to the local shop in a measurement scheme used to analyze bacteria if need be without really thinking about it.

The biggest problem with using Inches is when yo go anything less.. okay.. so you've got half inches, then quarters, then eighths. It's all fine and good, but that's not accurate.

They really should adopt what the rest of the world does. Any professional business uses the metric system anyways. It's only consumer products that end up getting the old system.

[Treghell]

i did rofl so much when reading this thread ppl changed subject from metric system to history. I can understand some1 is proud of their country, even i am proud of my country. But when your talking about 600 years of history and all inventations made in america during that, did your mind ever cross where your roots are? or did columbus instantly turn american, when he "found" it (which he didint, but this is just example).