Why don't we use the metric system?

[ShawnD1]

Since most of the world uses metric, why don't we switch over to metric? Metric and imperial both work but there is a problem with converting units - it's very hard to do without a calculator and sometimes a chart. I don't know how many feet are in 1 mile, do you? If I said I had a garage that was 537 inches long, would you know how long that was? Before being able to imagine how long that is, I would need to know how many feet that is; something which is not easy without a pen and paper (or calculator). When I'm doing physics or chemistry homework, I don't even know what temperatures I'm dealing with half the time since all the temperatures are in Kelvin (which is metric). How hot is 300K? Well it's 27C I think, but how hot is that? Is that hot or cold? We should at least change our temperature system; it's very annoying that the 0 mark means absolutely nothing. In every other scale I know of, 0 has a meaning.

The difference in systems will probably limit me to where I can work even. If I'm not familiar with metric, it would probably be hard for me to get any sort of engineering work in countries that use metric.
The difference in systems has even limitted how much scientists from different countries can work together. Remember that space probe that exploded recently? The reason it blew up was because of an incorrect conversion between inches and millimeters. How many billions of dollars did that little screw up cost us?

It's also annoying that I need 2 different sets of tools

damn, wrong forum

[Xtreeme]

"If I said I had a garage that was 537 inches long, would you know how long that was? "

Its no diff in metric. If I were to say my (whatever) was 3000millimeters would you know? Without converting it? Temp is easy we've been very exposed to Celcius in our school days and every day life. Most all thermometers show temp's in both scales. Its just all relative to what you can relate to. Kelvin scale is usually only used in Scientific stuff. Rest time its either C or F. And a ruler for instance. If you cant strain your eyes to gander at other side of a ruler and see the metric side thats yer fault (j/k!). Its right there we see it. Most just dont pay mind to it. Last time I orderd fans they were sold in mm. I knew exactly what size I was getting. But if they sent them in inches instead-I still would have known how large the fan was. See my point. Its all relative to exposure and prefrence. Pick yer system and use it. LOL.

[ShawnD1]

3000 millimeters is 3m. I could do that conversion in my head in less than 1 second wheras that inch conversion requires that you divide by 12. Who here knows how to divide by 12 quickly?

[brandon184]

Not I.

g'YuK!

I think it's generally accepted that countries "upgrade" to metric... Canada used to work on the Imperial system, and now it's metric. So, I assume that they "upgraded"... Yes? No?

*shrug* .. Or, maybe they just had extra cash to spend on highway signage.

[HeadBand]

the only reason we dont is because it would be too hard for people to change say someone said said its 10 miles away you could know how far it was but if someone said 25 kilomiters it would be hard to judge

[RamonGTP]

Slowly but surly the US will adopt the metric system. It might take quite some time, but it'll happen... Has anyone worked on any late model GM cars lately? I'd say about 80% of the bolts are 13mm, and 5-10% being 15mm... You'll find a few here and there which are of standard measurment, but not many.

[brandon184]

the only reason we dont is because it would be too hard for people to change say someone said said its 10 miles away you could know how far it was but if someone said 25 kilomiters it would be hard to judge

Why?

1km = 1000m

1m = 100cm

1 mile = ?! .. I don't even know.

[ben-the-slacker]

Cuz we just have to be different.

[muno]

I agree with ben (agree on that level that it would be my guess )

The conversion is the only real problem with imperial system. One mile is rougly 1.6km. 1.6km=1600m, 1600m=160000cm
1ml=??????ft, ??????ft=??????"

I don't believe the imperial system is easy for it's users anyway, so to say the transition would make it hard for people, isn't really meaningful when we make the assumption that the current system is equally hard.

Britain is another country that still uses some imperial measurements. I recall hearing some were abolished, like lb's, but they're still widely used - with the same excuse, that people don't understand what kg is.
But even britain and u.s. have different measurements for something, like a gallon. It's not measured the same in uk and us.

Sigh

[Doot]

We have the metric system in the UK, and there have been a few cases where market traders who have been selling e.g bananas in pounds and ounces taken to court and fined for not using the metric system.

All our road signs are imperial as as our speedometers. But in my lorry (truck) it is metric. I work in km`s on my tachograph.