Will America ever use the metric system?

[Laize]

I'm an American. I grew up with American standard.

Then I began taking science courses in high school and college where we used the metric system. Got several jobs in manufacturing where we also used the metric system.

After that, it began leaving a bad taste in my mouth whenever I had to use American standard... especially miles instead of km and Fahrenheit instead of Celsius.

American standard units just make no sense whatsoever. Our units don't even have their own definitions... they're pegged to metric units! The inch, for example, is pegged directly at 25.4 mm.

I simply don't understand why we keep using this ridiculous system of measurements. I know we're "technically" a metric country... but it's soft metric... they'll sell a gallon of milk and put, in parenthesis, "3.78 liters". That's not metric. That's a cop out.

[Deleted]

People gonna stick to the old and won't learn a new system. Gonna take quite some time I guess.

[Deleted]

Old habits die hard. That's all it is to it.

[Lodreh]

Doubt it will ever change... though I agree it would be better to use a common standard measurement with the rest of the world.

[Tonyman64]

As a fellow US American, I agree wholeheartedly that we should switch to metric.
One of the major reasons we haven't is the cost of replacing signs and tools and the difficulty of educating the adult populace.
Having said that, plenty of countries have already switched, so it's clearly doable.

[Xanjori]

Well you probably need to start training current generation in both Imperial and Metric, and by the time you get to a generation or two down the road you'll be able to fully convert to Metric as everyone will understand it. Britain still teachs in both (and still occasionally uses both at the same time.)

[Tidow]

I can only take a guess or two about this, no need to flame if Im wrong ;3 but I think the reason is that either
1# The cost to convert the whole country from Imperial to Metric will be enormous, think about all the books, cars, traffic signs etc that currently use the Imperial system, replace all those components. Just a big nightmare

2# People are just used to use the Imperial system because they are grown with it and it associate with everyday measurement (a thumb being a thumb, feet, cup etc)

[Ineko]

I have no idea why America hasn't adopted the metric system. It just doesn't make sense why they continue to use such a confusing and in-convenient system.

[Laize]

Old habits die hard. That's all it is to it.

Should probably change soon since in one instance it's already cost American taxpayers $325 million.

Granted American manufacturers now almost invariably use metric as the standard of measurement (Since no one in the rest of the world is going to work with inches/feet)... but the colloquial use is dying hard.... and schools are doing nothing to hasten it.

[Catta]

I'm an American. I grew up with American standard.

Then I began taking science courses in high school and college where we used the metric system. Got several jobs in manufacturing where we also used the metric system.

After that, it began leaving a bad taste in my mouth whenever I had to use American standard... especially miles instead of km and Fahrenheit instead of Celsius.

American standard units just make no sense whatsoever. Our units don't even have their own definitions... they're pegged to metric units! The inch, for example, is pegged directly at 25.4 mm.

I simply don't understand why we keep using this ridiculous system of measurements. I know we're "technically" a metric country... but it's soft metric... they'll sell a gallon of milk and put, in parenthesis, "3.78 liters". That's not metric. That's a cop out.

Yes, yes...

Let the logic flow through you!

[Aqueous]

I'm a Brit and we also use the Imperial system.

To be honest I think it's fine for general everyday things such as measuring beer or milk, or how far you've got to drive etc. It's only really mathematics that requires the use of the metric system for smooth calculation which is specialised enough to not necessitate converting to it...at least not just yet

[Deleted]

Should probably change soon since in one instance it's already cost American taxpayers $325 million.

Granted American manufacturers now almost invariably use metric as the standard of measurement (Since no one in the rest of the world is going to work with inches/feet)... but the colloquial use is dying hard.... and schools are doing nothing to hasten it.

Oh wow, that's one major fuck up.

[Dezerte]

It's costly, and I imagine this is the primary reason.

[Raptor With a Saber]

Who knows 2 other countries use it also forgot which 2 but heard it the other day.

[Naxere]

I'd like to see us go to the metric system. Also, roundabouts.

[Yunru]

Same goes for a clock. Its so easy to mix up AM and PM as evropean. How hard is to say its 17.59 and not....em something pm. Anoying to calculate it every time.

[Laize]

I'd like to see us go to the metric system. Also, roundabouts.

YES PLEASE!

I live in NJ where our solution to left-hand turns is the "jughandle". Oh god you can't imagine the clusterfuck. I LOVE roundabouts and people act like I'm nuts.

[The One Percent]

Derp dies harder than Bruce Willis.

[Laize]

Same goes for a clock. Its so easy to mix up AM and PM as evropean. How hard is to say its 17.59 and not....em something pm. Anoying to calculate it every time.

I agree with this as well, though there are plenty of european nations that still use am/pm.

I would also like it if more people in this country used ISO 8601 dating format.

- - - Updated - - -

Who knows 2 other countries use it also forgot which 2 but heard it the other day.

What's funny is those countries don't even use the same Imperial system. Their miles and feet are completely different lengths than ours.

[Catta]

I mean - the imperial system wouldnt be so bad if it wasnt for the fact it is not divisible by 10.