Re: Metric

"steve robinson" <steve@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:xn0gezo46162f4g000@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Robatoy wrote:


What a lot of contributors here at Wreck are missing is the OP's (me)
original post.
Practically the whole world runs on metric.
Why not the USA? Is it because the extreme Right is so nationalistic
as to think that they are always right, better, smarter than the rest
of the planet?
Is it because they're afraid that they are being trapped into a New
World Dimension Order?
Is it because that their very symbol of liberty was designed/built in
metric, in France? (Statue of Liberty)
Or is it chauvinism, plain and simple?

The UK still uses both systems so do many other countries and ex colonies

The uk switched to metric to bring us in line with the EEC as it was then however
most people over 45 still tend to use imperial measurements because thats what we
are used too although most can use metric if they need to

Road speed signs are still in imperial as are clothes sizes with the metric
equivelent written next to them Shops were supposed to switch to metric however
most still advertise foodweights in pounds and ounces as well

Time is rarely displayed in metric.

Alcohol is sold in imperial and metric measurements , fuel is now sold in litres so
it looks cheaper on the forcourt (£1.05p a litre sounds better than £4.80p a gallon
as does a penny a litre rise against a 5 p a gallon rise )





Australia began the process of converting to the metric system in 1970. (The use of metric measurement has been legal here since 1947 and our currency went metric in 1966.) It was completed in stages in various sections of government and industry over a period of about 18 years.
Most of us, (me included,) stubbornly resisted the change at first. This was followed by a period of grudging acceptance of that which was foisted upon us. For a short while I coped by thinking in terms of imperial measurements and converting those to metric when necessary.
It was not until I decided to start visualising in metric terms that it became easy. After couple of years I found that I liked it. It's simple and logical.

For woodworking, I use only metres and millimetres. Up to 2m in length, I use millimetres. Beyond that it's metres, taken to the third decimal. e.g. 3.750m, 1755mm. With a standard tape measure or rule, it is easy enough to measure to within .5mm. (Approximately 20 thousandths of an inch) Beyond that I would need to consider ambient temperature and moisture content and who knows what else. I find that degree of accuracy is more than adequate for my humble needs.

There is no denying that it was confusing and difficult for the aged part of our population. It took many years for my Mother to come to terms with Kilograms,Grams, Litres and Millilitres in the supermarket. She never did adapt to Kilometres, Metres and Centimetres. However, she coped.

And there was a cost to the everyday man in the street. As an example, during the changeover period, It became necessary to to purchase metric spanners, tape measures and various other measuring instruments. I guess the upside of that was a boost to the economy from purchases that otherwise would not have been made.

Everyday units of measurements are commonly expressed as follows:
Length - Metres, centimetres, or millimetres. e.g. 1.325m = 132.5cm = 1320mm. For everyday household use, centimetres are used. e.g. SWMBO is 172cm tall, the TV has a 30cm screen. I have yet to see anyone use decimetres and decametres. They seem to be superfluous.
Mass - Kilograms, grams, milligrams e.g. 3.5kg = 350g = 3500mg
Volume - Litres, millilitres 1.3l = 1300ml
Fuel Consumption - litres/100km. (I still prefer to visualise miles per gallon, but I had to get over it.)

Common hardware items in other than metric sizes are still available in many places, although becoming less common. - Whitworth, UNC and UNF bolts for example.

Almost forty years later, with our daily lives and commerce based on the metric system, I believe that it was a farsighted decision for us to convert. We now live in a global economy. Having a common global system of measurement makes economic sense.

I, for one, would not wish to go back to the Imperial system.

Notwithstanding the above, I can understand why the US populace would be reluctant to change, (as we once were.) For that matter, I see no reason why they should if they have no wish to.








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