Why oh Why
By saw2207
@saw2207 (1359)
United States
July 2, 2009 9:19am CST
Does the US not change to the metric system like the rest of the world???
The cost to the US for not being on the metric system is no doubt high but when there was some multi-million dollar probe off Mars was destroyed it was claimed that this happened because some scientists in one group did their calculations using the metric system and another group did not.
When I was in school in the late 70's early 80's, there seemed to be an effort to move metric as we had to learn about the metric system but still used inches and feet to really measure anything.
Is America slowly getting its act together on this issue? Almost all packaged goods have both the standard and metric measures on their label. My favorite can of Diet Root Beer I like to drink is labeled 12 FL OZ (355 mL).
Maybe the metric system would be easier, because everything is based on 12ths, and the metric system is based on 10ths. Isnt counting by 10s is easier than counting by 12's.
Does it all comes down to money and who is going to pay the price of conversion. Or are we Americans just to lazy to change so that we can share measurements with the rest of the world? 
I think it is difficult to learn it the way it is taught to us by comparing things, who wants to deal with strange equations that are hard to remember and calculate . . we just need to just learn metric for what it is and forget the comparisons! Teach it like Rosetta Stone . .and actually put what is already in place to use.... (like the root beer I mentioned up above and the fact that all our cars here in the US have speedometers that are in both KPH and MPH)
Hmmm I like the thought of weighing 50 kg . .sounds alot better than 110 lbs.
and just think .. .
half a liter is more than a pint, which means, MORE BEER FOR EVERYBODY
The cost to the US for not being on the metric system is no doubt high but when there was some multi-million dollar probe off Mars was destroyed it was claimed that this happened because some scientists in one group did their calculations using the metric system and another group did not.
When I was in school in the late 70's early 80's, there seemed to be an effort to move metric as we had to learn about the metric system but still used inches and feet to really measure anything.
Is America slowly getting its act together on this issue? Almost all packaged goods have both the standard and metric measures on their label. My favorite can of Diet Root Beer I like to drink is labeled 12 FL OZ (355 mL).
Maybe the metric system would be easier, because everything is based on 12ths, and the metric system is based on 10ths. Isnt counting by 10s is easier than counting by 12's.
Does it all comes down to money and who is going to pay the price of conversion. Or are we Americans just to lazy to change so that we can share measurements with the rest of the world?
I think it is difficult to learn it the way it is taught to us by comparing things, who wants to deal with strange equations that are hard to remember and calculate . . we just need to just learn metric for what it is and forget the comparisons! Teach it like Rosetta Stone . .and actually put what is already in place to use.... (like the root beer I mentioned up above and the fact that all our cars here in the US have speedometers that are in both KPH and MPH)
Hmmm I like the thought of weighing 50 kg . .sounds alot better than 110 lbs.
and just think .. .
half a liter is more than a pint, which means, MORE BEER FOR EVERYBODY2 people like this
5 responses
@lampar (7584)
• United States
3 Jul 09
The reason why USA is not using metric is because it is a big country, and we expect smaller countries to follow us instead of the other way around, after all, USA is at the font front of technology and science. It is not so much of whether using metric or American unit of measurement that matter the most, it is the conversion table they use need to be accurate and the scientists must know how to do conversion with the right scale. Due to lowering standard in our education system, sometimes we have researchers that don't even know how to do conversion from one unit of measurement into another , not mentioning don't even know different unit of measurement are used internationally , that is why stupid human mistake like you mentioned above can even happened in Mars exploration project, because they don't seem to be able to read or understand the unit or symbol next to a number.
1 person likes this
@lampar (7584)
• United States
3 Jul 09
Unless USA is way behind in field like technology, science and mathematics, then i will say it is imperative we change to metric system like some countries in order to do some catch up, if not i don't see the unit of measurement is a big problem facing the education system here, that are much more urgent matters in education that need to attend to than this unit of measurement we used. I also doubt that USA is expecting or wait for others to change to standard measurement unit, it is very much each country own prerogative to decide for themselves, nobody can force them to change or follow USA if they believe they are more advance in using the present unit of measurement, why should we want them to change into standard measurement unit.
@mysdianait (66009)
• Italy
4 Jul 09
When I moved over here to Italy I was used to feet and inches and I thought I would never get used to metric - but I did and quite quickly too. It makes feet and inches seem so antiquated too. Life is so much less complicated when everything is in tens.
Ah but there is one exception!
Eggs are still in dozens - I guess chickens are opposed to the change 
)
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
3 Jul 09
over here mostly we use standard, not metric
in my homeland we use metric, but I'm used to to standard now
some labels can include both measurements
there are people who can't read standard here either
I wish I could use just metric but most companies I deal with use standard so
I have to just go with the flow
but if they ever change to metric here it won't be as hard for me to convert
because I have used metric system long before I moved here anyway
@LittleMel (8742)
• Canada
3 Jul 09
over here = Canada where I'm located now
homeland = Asia where I was born
I wish metric is used everywhere but yeah that will take a lot of money and time to change
@saw2207 (1359)
• United States
3 Jul 09
Hi LittleMel,
So where is over here in your homeland??? And what do you do that your have dealings with companies that require measurements??
It would be nice if everyone in the world used a universal measuring system . .after all we all use the same sun and moon
hope you are having a great day and thanks for stopping
Happy MyLotting to you!
in your homeland??? And what do you do that your have dealings with companies that require measurements??
It would be nice if everyone in the world used a universal measuring system . .after all we all use the same sun and moon
hope you are having a great day and thanks for stopping
Happy MyLotting to you!1 person likes this
@spicysweetie21 (2573)
• United States
3 Jul 09
I think it would take a long time for us to convert to the metric system, I think that it would make sense for us to use it, but because our system is taught in schools then most people would have to "unlearn" things. I get confused when I see things in metric system terms, because for my whole life i used a different system. SO it will take a while for things to change.
@saw2207 (1359)
• United States
3 Jul 09
spicysweetie21,
that is the whole point. . we have already started to adapt things to the metric system. I am not sure when you or maybe you still are in school. . but back in the day i was in school we had to learn the metric system. though we only learned it in theory for in practice we had to still use the imperial system.
So change has started . . maybe it is just time to implement the change already!
thanks for stopping by and sharing. .
Happy MyLotting to you..........
Happy MyLotting to you..........
@kspezza09 (86)
• United States
3 Jul 09
I personally feel that the metric system would make alot more sence but this country is stupid honestly i see and hear stupid people who cant even get the system we use now hardly so understanding a new system would be very very challenging maybe when we catch up to other countries education then we could make change.
@saw2207 (1359)
• United States
3 Jul 09
kspezza,
i agree with you . .most people can not understand inches and yards and feet and then throw in square feet . .and how do you measure a plot of land and how much gas in your tank will it take to get you there.....phew...
so much to know so many confusing details .
metric x 10 just would be easier
thanks for sharing your thoughts
happy mylotting to you
