Why Do Americans Use Feet?

P-KhanP-Khan Join Date: 2003-05-27 Member: 16776Members
in Off-Topic
<div class="IPBDescription">And not meters?</div> I'm not trying to criticise the American culture, or anything like that.

Is just that, almost the whole word uses meters, cm, kilograms, etc as estabilished by the SI (Systeme Internacional d'Unites), and the Americas still uses feet, pounds, inches, miles etc.
I mean, I just think it would be better if they used the units estabilished by the SI. Thoughts on this?
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Comments

  • TychoCelchuuuTychoCelchuuu Anememone Join Date: 2002-03-23 Member: 345Members
    Sure, we'll switch. Just front the bill for all the changes that have to be made; redoing every single measurement on every single thing is going to be a lot of trouble.
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  • X_StickmanX_Stickman Not good enough for a custom title. Join Date: 2003-04-15 Member: 15533Members, Constellation
    England still use feet, miles and so on. Imperial system i think it's called. Mainly because it's a pain in the **** to re-teach the entire country a completely new way of counting, measuring etc. Or at least, that's my opinion.
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  • P-KhanP-Khan Join Date: 2003-05-27 Member: 16776Members
    I'm not say "Change everything from one day to the other"
    Start slowly, gradualy. I mean, I agree that it's a pain in the **** changing it quickly.
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  • BogglesteinskyBogglesteinsky Join Date: 2002-12-24 Member: 11488Members
    i believe the name is Impirical system.

    its nice.

    keep it.

    screw you EU
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  • KeitaroSempaiKeitaroSempai Join Date: 2003-06-04 Member: 17003Members
    The system the US uses is very frustrating in one of my culinary art classes (commercial food preparation). With trying to make 1/3 or 1/4 of a recipe while the units are in cups rather than liters or milliliters is a pain in the ****.
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  • JavertJavert Join Date: 2003-04-30 Member: 15954Members
    Tell that to NASA.
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  • BogglesteinskyBogglesteinsky Join Date: 2002-12-24 Member: 11488Members
    i agree. Cups as a unit of measurement for recipies is absolutely atrocious. ok, its useful if you are in the middle of knowwhere and all you have is a cup, but a cup is measuring volume, not mass ( a cup of margarine weighs more than a cup of flour) and is so very difficult to convert into more conventional units
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  • zoobyzooby Join Date: 2003-08-26 Member: 20236Members
    I will tell it to NASA. NASA wasted millions of taxpayers money because they f___ed up their measurements, forgetting to convert feet to meters or something, which caused a Mars probe to malfunction. So yes, I will gladly tell that to NASA. And they will gladly sit there and listen to me rant.
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  • SkulkBaitSkulkBait Join Date: 2003-02-11 Member: 13423Members
    I'm not entirely sure why the US continues to use such an archaic system of measurement, it would be rather easy to phase out over the course of a generation or so. I guess people are just stubborn, the same people who continue to believe America is the flagship of the free world nomatter what evidence arises to the contrary. Personally, I realy like the SI units, and I really like 24hr clocks, and UTC....
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  • BigMadSteveBigMadSteve Join Date: 2003-02-12 Member: 13472Members
    edited September 2003
    What's really crappy is that Britain still uses the imperial system yet we get taught (in school) the metric system! When I was younger I found this very confusing (miles instead of km etc) but it's not so bad now.
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  • NumbersNotFoundNumbersNotFound Join Date: 2002-11-07 Member: 7556Members
    I wish the US would switch over to metric.. I already have to learn to use both...

    In computers i use metric most of the time (celcius, etc) and for anything official and exact they use metric. (like science competitions, etc.)

    I have to know all the conversions from imperial - metric... bleh it's terrible.


    Down with imperial, up with metric!
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  • BlackMageBlackMage [citation needed] Join Date: 2003-06-18 Member: 17474Members, Constellation
    so we can walk and stuff, duh.
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  • RPG_JssmfulhudRPG_Jssmfulhud Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4006Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--TychoCelchuuu+Sep 21 2003, 10:08 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (TychoCelchuuu @ Sep 21 2003, 10:08 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Sure, we'll switch. Just front the bill for all the changes that have to be made; redoing every single measurement on every single thing is going to be a lot of trouble. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Actually, if I'm not misinformed, US of A are already slowly changing to the metric system...
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  • enf0rcerenf0rcer intrigued... Join Date: 2003-03-16 Member: 14584Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--Javert+Sep 21 2003, 03:20 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Javert @ Sep 21 2003, 03:20 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Tell that to NASA. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    har har har <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
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  • DreadDread Join Date: 2002-07-24 Member: 993Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--RPG_Jssmfulhud+Sep 21 2003, 11:08 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (RPG_Jssmfulhud @ Sep 21 2003, 11:08 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> <!--QuoteBegin--TychoCelchuuu+Sep 21 2003, 10:08 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (TychoCelchuuu @ Sep 21 2003, 10:08 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Sure, we'll switch. Just front the bill for all the changes that have to be made; redoing every single measurement on every single thing is going to be a lot of trouble. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Actually, if I'm not misinformed, US of A are already slowly changing to the metric system... <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Huh?

    And the change wouldn't be <i>that</i> bad. Many EU countries changed their currencies to Euros and did just fine. I know it's a big job to go from imperial to metric but give it 5 years change so that everything is marked both with metric and imperial before changing completely to metric and I think it would work.
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  • MoralDKMoralDK Join Date: 2003-02-25 Member: 13987Members
    We tried to convert in the late 70's. I think it was Jimmy Carter who got all behind it, started a national movement, started changing the road signs, etc.

    It just didn't stick.
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  • GeminosityGeminosity :3 Join Date: 2003-09-08 Member: 20667Members
    someone mentioned that england uses imperial too. Add scotland, Ireland and wales to that while you're at it because we do too <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
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  • LukinLukin Join Date: 2003-08-23 Member: 20098Members
    The US Military uses some metric measurements.

    Like the term "Click" which is slang for kilometer.

    And the M16A2 is effective w/o scope up to 550 meters.

    But we still refer to speed as "MPH"
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  • DubbilexDubbilex Chump Join Date: 2002-11-24 Member: 9799Members
    Oh...I was about to say "<i>for walking</i>" but whatever.... <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
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  • SovietDictatorSovietDictator Join Date: 2003-01-19 Member: 12461Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--SkulkBait+Sep 21 2003, 03:40 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (SkulkBait @ Sep 21 2003, 03:40 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I guess people are just stubborn, the same people who continue to believe America is the flagship of the free world nomatter what evidence arises to the contrary. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    ... <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo-->

    Anyway, Myanmar uses the English system as well.
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  • deaincaelodeaincaelo Join Date: 2003-09-11 Member: 20739Members
    Anyway, America uses the english system for some stuff and the metric for others. they've been trying to switch to metric for more then one or two generations, but it doesnt quite work.
    and NASA didnt screw up the probe because they misconverted. They screwed up because the brits sent them a mesurement in english that no american in thier right mind would use english for.
    they way it tends to break down is:
    practical stuff, like how fast your driving, how tall something is, how much something weighs. are easyer to do in english.
    scientific stuff, like anything nasa does, is done in metric to be easy to manipulate, convert, and calculate.

    as for why english is still used in america, its simple. English is easyer for <i>us</i> to use in everyday life
    *I* at least perfer to be 5'4" then 184cm. and degrees are just as easy as radians, etc.
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  • NumbersNotFoundNumbersNotFound Join Date: 2002-11-07 Member: 7556Members
    Heh.. radians..

    How cool would it be to say "I did a complete Pi on that one" instead of "I did a complete 180 on that one"

    Wewt wewt for radians!
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  • CrystalSnakeCrystalSnake Join Date: 2002-01-27 Member: 110Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--deaincaelo+Sep 21 2003, 11:27 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (deaincaelo @ Sep 21 2003, 11:27 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->practical stuff, like how fast your driving, how tall something is, how much something weighs. are easyer to do in english.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    Why?
    (except for the fact that you're used to it)
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  • GeminosityGeminosity :3 Join Date: 2003-09-08 Member: 20667Members
    the word is 'imperial' not 'english' ><
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  • MrMojoMrMojo Join Date: 2002-11-25 Member: 9882Members, Constellation
    The metric system makes sense in our minds. It's based on measures of 10. We have 10 fingers, 10 toes. You gotta agree that 100 + 1000 is easier to add than 232+5420 ( yes, you can give me an answer, but it would take you much longer).


    Also, the measurements are basically the same ( one or more zeros) for each one.
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  • WindelkronWindelkron Join Date: 2002-04-11 Member: 419Members
    <a href='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=28&t=24604&hl=metric' target='_blank'>http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/in...24604&hl=metric</a>
    <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
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  • OttoDestructOttoDestruct Join Date: 2002-11-08 Member: 7790Members
    Well if it was up to Bush he would probably ask for another 87 billion to change it.
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  • RPG_JssmfulhudRPG_Jssmfulhud Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4006Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--OttoDestruct+Sep 22 2003, 12:58 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (OttoDestruct @ Sep 22 2003, 12:58 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Well if it was up to Bush he would probably ask for another 87 billion to change it. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    LMAO! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
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  • JefeJefe Join Date: 2003-04-21 Member: 15734Members, Constellation
    Metric rocks my face.
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  • Hand_Me_The_Gun_And_Ask_Me_AgainHand_Me_The_Gun_And_Ask_Me_Again Join Date: 2002-02-07 Member: 178Members
    Bah. Everyone should be using electron volts (eV) as the base unit for everything. Much simpler. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
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