What are your opinions on the Imperial system?

**mretzloff** · 08-07-2009, 01:08 PM

I am talking about the Imperial system of measuring. What are your opinions on it? Should the US finally switch?

I think so. The Imperial system is so awkward with it's numbers. For example, 12 inches is a foot, 5280 feet is a mile, etc. The metric system is so much easier. My only gripe is that the metric system jumps from centimeters to meters. I feel there should be something there. I also think there needs to be something larger than the liter.

Your thoughts?

**luvmysuper** · 08-07-2009, 01:11 PM

I agree with you 100%. The US and a small country in Africa are the only ones who use the system, and yet we have the audacity to call it "Standard".

Same goes for cell phone frequency and 110VAC vs 220VAC.

**Robxcarlson** · 08-07-2009, 01:17 PM

I get confused dealing with metric equivalents - but only because I'm not familiar with them... I wouldn't oppose switching to the metric system - but I think some people would view it as a conspiracy...

**Nils** · 08-07-2009, 01:20 PM

Originally Posted by mretzloff

I am talking about the Imperial system of measuring. What are your opinions on it? Should the US finally switch?

I think so. The Imperial system is so awkward with it's numbers. For example, 12 inches is a foot, 5280 feet is a mile, etc. The metric system is so much easier. My only gripe is that the metric system jumps from centimeters to meters. I feel there should be something there. I also think there needs to be something larger than the liter.

Your thoughts?

There is something in both cases: In Germany we have the "decimeter" (10 cm), but it is very rarely used. The "Hektoliter" (100 litres) is very common, however.

**sparkchaser** · 08-07-2009, 01:28 PM

Originally Posted by mretzloff

I am talking about the Imperial system of measuring. What are your opinions on it? Should the US finally switch?

I think so. The Imperial system is so awkward with it's numbers. For example, 12 inches is a foot, 5280 feet is a mile, etc. The metric system is so much easier. My only gripe is that the metric system jumps from centimeters to meters. I feel there should be something there. I also think there needs to be something larger than the liter.

Your thoughts?

There is. It's called a decimeter.

Want something larger than a liter? Decaliter.

**sparkchaser** · 08-07-2009, 01:29 PM

It's a moot point.

The Imperial system is the gentlemanly system. It's what Holmes used!

**professorchaos** · 08-07-2009, 01:47 PM

Nope, no switch. That the rest of the world uses something else isn't a sufficient reason. Should we also switch to Mandarin Chinese because it is the most spoken language in the world? Or should UK drivers start driving on the other side of the road because that is how most of the world does it? There is nothing inherently wrong with the Imperial system, nor is there anything wrong about measuring things differently.

I barely recall the last effort back in the 70s. Not exactly a resounding success. Practically speaking, I suspect that the majority of Americans are entirely comfortable and would view the change as needless trauma.

**mretzloff** · 08-07-2009, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by professorchaos

I suspect that the majority of Americans are entirely comfortable and would view the change as needless trauma.

True, but they would only see it as a needless trauma because they do not know that many things are already measured in the metric system. Drinks are a perfect example.

**Kratos** · 08-07-2009, 02:22 PM

The metric system make a lot more sense, bottom line. Many people don't even know how many feet are in a mile, or yards, for that matter. Pints, quarts, cups? Huh? Then you have bushels and pecks and whatnot. Furlongs, fathoms, most people have no clue. And forget about knowing how to convert anything. Math! And thought! Ewwww!

**mretzloff** · 08-07-2009, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by Kratos

Pints, quarts, cups?

If you would cook, you would know

**mretzloff** · 08-07-2009, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by Nils

There is something in both cases: In Germany we have the "decimeter" (10 cm), but it is very rarely used. The "Hektoliter" (100 litres) is very common, however.

What is measured in hektoliters? I was born in Germany, visit once a year, and have never heard about it before. Then again, it took me forever to finally learn what "z.B." stands for

**ClubmanRob** · 08-07-2009, 02:29 PM

As someone who uses both all day long, side by side, ad redundancy

, I still don't want America to give up what makes us unique in the civilized world. Even though it would make my life and job a million times easier.

**Kratos** · 08-07-2009, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by mretzloff

If you would cook, you would know

True, but some people's idea of cooking is boiling Ramen.

**blantyre** · 08-07-2009, 02:35 PM

Be careful what you wish for! I lived in the UK when the metric system was forced on an unwilling public by the EU (or EEC as it then was). It meant about 4 types of threads that all needed their own wrench set and were completely incompatible, water pipe that was 1/2" became 12 or 13 mm and did not quite fit, so you needed an adapter. Stoves, fridges, cabinets, timber, etc/ became some new size that did not quite fit with anything Imperial - like kitchens. All scales and food packaging had to be changed. In short, it was hell. I don't know if anyone ever tried to estimate the cost and lost productivity but it must have been enormous. I have little doubt that some inside group pressed for it and made a fortune providing services needed to come into compliance with the new rules. A bureaucrat's paradise, a public nightmare.

While we are at it, let's change all our voltages, frequencies, telephone standards and start driving on the left. At least HDTV was real progress, changing to metric would just be a PITA IMO.

**garyg** · 08-07-2009, 02:35 PM

And for "switching" the US gets what exactly? Will some Metric Authority send new sockets for the socket wrenches, as well as new bolt heads for everything I own? No, wait, I need a new socket set because mine is 1/4, or 1/2 or 3/4 . Wait, I got to replace me cookbooks? IMHO only, anyone who is spending time promoting standardization should take up wet shaving, or something useful (kmrra) ..

Granted the metric is simpler, so can be more easily grasped by simpler people, but, seems like a huge waste of resources to change the definition of how far? when the country is already reeling in economic pain.

**DirtyDave** · 08-07-2009, 02:35 PM

As Kathy Shaidle likes to say: 'cuz metric is for sissies.

**ogopogo** · 08-07-2009, 02:45 PM

Originally Posted by mretzloff

I am talking about the Imperial system of measuring. What are your opinions on it? Should the US finally switch?

It is ridiculously outdated, and doesn't make one bit of sense. We should've switched a long time ago. But I guess it could be worst. We could still be using "hogshead".

**Kratos** · 08-07-2009, 02:46 PM

I'm not advocating switching, it would be a logistical disaster. That doesn't change the fact that metric is way more logical, and a too-large portion of the population isn't even proficient in Imperial measures.

**ogopogo** · 08-07-2009, 02:48 PM

Originally Posted by sparkchaser

The Imperial system is the gentlemanly system. It's what Holmes used!

Except that his pint is 4oz more than our pint.

**Doc4** · 08-07-2009, 02:50 PM

How sad and ironic that the English Measurements, often called "Imperial" once the British Empire really got going in the latter 19th century, is now used NOT by the English or their ex-empire Commomwealth, but by that saucy band of rebellious colonists who think proper tea is made with Boston harbour water.

Metric proponents always trumpet how metric is "easier" ... wait for 2-blade metric, and then 3-blade, 4-blade metric with a battery inserted so it vibrates on your face ...

Metric is easier? Meh. English measurments "make sense". What's an inch? It's about the width of your (rule of) thumb. How long is a foot? About the length of your foot. Cup-pint-quart-gallon ... all make sense and are usefull (meaning you will use a pint or quart or whatever of something) where metric really gives us nothing between a millilitre and the litre. Metric was made up by some math geek who lived in whatever the 18th Century equivalent of his parent's basement and liked re-reading Voltaire's "Ocean Trek" ... to boldly sail where no man has sailed before ...

The English system evolved over centuries of real people in real live needing real units of measurement that they could actually use for daily life.