A decimal system a la metric is just so much more elegant, it's the everyday method of counting pretty much everything, but then it gets messed up by miles and yards and feet and inches, and pounds and ounces. Also, with the metric system, a new prefix can dramatically re-calibrate numbers for elegance. You can have 1 nanometre instead of writing 0.000000001 metres, but there's no way you can do that with miles, using current conventions.

Finally, the advantages are to do with established practices and legacy. It would be better in the longer term to switch everything over to metric.

And that oatmeal comic says it all.

And it's "imperial", not "standard". If you didn't put metric next to standard most would probably assume standard to actually be metric (at least non-Americans).

Bashnek

Australia895 Posts

December 09 2011 05:21 GMT

#63

On December 09 2011 14:17 Lightswarm wrote:
standard is the metric system fyi

This. Metric is used everywhere except america isnt it?

Deleted User 183001

2939 Posts

December 09 2011 05:22 GMT

#64

I don't see why we don't use metric. It just makes so much more sense :|. It's also the measurement scheme for practically everything in the sciences and engineering in the US anyways.

DoctorHelvetica

United States15034 Posts

December 09 2011 05:22 GMT

#65

Standard, there's no real reason to use the metric in the US unless you are involved in the sciences or travel a lot I suppose. I know how to convert from metric to metric I mean it's just divisions of 10s but I couldn't convert from standard to metric off the top of my head I just remember that 1 meter is roughly 3 feet (but not exactly)

SoraLimit

Canada747 Posts

December 09 2011 05:22 GMT

#66

On December 09 2011 14:21 Bashnek wrote:

Show nested quote +

This. Metric is used everywhere except america isnt it?

Yeah, I've never heard of Imperial as Standard. If I didn't know any better, I would assume that Metric would be called standard. 0.o

Probe1

United States17920 Posts

December 09 2011 05:23 GMT

#67

AMERICA.
...
No seriously I use both. I use our system when I'm buying shoes or talking about height to an American. I use metric for everything else.

paperwing

49 Posts

December 09 2011 05:23 GMT

#68

America is one of few remaining countries that use the Imperial system (aka "Standard"). Its scientific community uses the metric system, though.

Kira__

Sweden2672 Posts

December 09 2011 05:24 GMT

#69

"1. Standard goes more naturally with fractions - quarter of a pint, half foot, etc. Technically, you don't say half meter but rather 50 centimeters or 500 millimeters.

2. Standard units are more practical and convenient. No one goes to the grocery to buy 400ml drink, instead, they buy it in 12 ounces. No one buys 5 meters of wood, instead, they buy it is 1x1x12, all in feet."

You say half a meter. People go to the grocery store to buy 400ml drinks. Not everyone lives like in the States. Please don't be so ignorant

Frozzen

Sweden73 Posts

December 09 2011 05:24 GMT

#70

I'm all for a metric system of time, please make it happen already!

bellweather

United States404 Posts

December 09 2011 05:24 GMT

#71

On December 09 2011 14:16 Pondo wrote:
I could always understand why Americans made spelling simpler (e.g. colour -> color etc.). I don't agree but I understand it. But the imperial system is just so silly and arbitrary. Reminds me of American dates month/day/year. wtf? why!? where do you get that order from?! D:

I reckon this poll would correlate almost perfectly to a "Do you live in the US?" poll.

Oh and going out to buy 12 ounces of milk sounds totally wack to me. Probably how going out to buy 400ml of milk sounds to you. And I say half a litre, half a km etc. all the time. I don't see how that is any different to saying half an foot? You could go down to the lower unit in both cases?

Yes, absolutely agree with the dates thing; drives me up the wall at work. I imagine it derives from how you say things in general, "March 5th 2011" instead of "the 5th of March 2011."

Amui

Canada10567 Posts

December 09 2011 05:25 GMT

#72

I know my height and weight in imperial or "standard" as you call it, but for most purposes I use metric. How you are supposed to accurately change feet into miles for example, or ounces into pounds without a calculator. Metric makes sense, you can convert without a calculator with ease by adding/subtracting multiples of 3 magnitudes.

chaynesore

Australia175 Posts

December 09 2011 05:26 GMT

#73

Lol, metric is standard.. Imperial?

Introvert

United States4922 Posts

December 09 2011 05:26 GMT

#74

For the average person, it doesn't really matter. I'm going into a scientific field, so I know the metric system, but I also know American standard.... There is no reason for the U.S. to change it. People who don't need it are fine without it, and those who do already use it. No need to go through the hassle. Converting between things like ft-->inches is really not that hard. So if the majority of Americans don't want it changed, then that's fine. I will continue to use whichever one is easiest at the moment.

Kermine

Finland33 Posts

December 09 2011 05:29 GMT

#75

I guess it requires an American to come up with advantages to imperial units... Anyways one of my physics teachers once called imperial units "sick system of units". Obviously, he prefers the SI system

Slaughter

United States20254 Posts

December 09 2011 05:31 GMT

#76

My field (anthro) uses metric so I use it when im doing that but otherwise standard. Though metric creeps more and more in.

AngryFarmer

United States560 Posts

December 09 2011 05:32 GMT

#77

I think it's actually called SI. Standard international. And it's kind of dumb how ppl use diff units. One of the reasons why the boeing 787 was delayed was because a part designed in France didn't fit properly when they tried to use it. Lol.. i say we all change into SI since everyone uses it and is somewhat easier to remember.

Whole

United States6046 Posts

December 09 2011 05:32 GMT

#78

I use Standard (and metric in science class), but only because I live in America and I don't really have a complete grasp of metric. I get the concept easily, but I can't visualize a liter as well as a gallon. I wish America would be not stupid and use metric though.

Reminds me of how my 9th grade science teacher did a 10 minute rant on how stupid the standard system is lol

Abraxas514

Canada475 Posts

December 09 2011 05:32 GMT

#79

I'm sorry, but calling English or Imperial units "standard" is like calling native north Americans "Indians".

Jeez English units are so stupid, I study mechanical engineering and I refuse to solve problems with "slugs". Ugh.

nekoconeco

Australia359 Posts

December 09 2011 05:34 GMT

#80

"Standard" I've never heard it called that before. I thought was called the "imperial" system. In America it might be the standard system but it isn't the standard in other countries. There is no good reason to using the imperial system other that forgoing the costs of converting to metric.

2. Standard units are more practical and convenient. No one goes to the grocery to buy 400ml drink, instead, they buy it in 12 ounces. No one buys 5 meters of wood, instead, they buy it is 1x1x12, all in feet.

Um that is exactly what people do. I've never bought anything in 12 ounces I don't even know how much that is imperial units are really hard to work out if you don't grow up with them since they are like something out of medieval times. See 500ml bottle of coke http://tizona.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/img0262.jpghttp://tizona.files.wordpress.com/2009/08/img0262.jpg

And yes we do buy wood using metric measurements too. Generally by cm or mm so you would ask for 1200cm x 900cm.

Can you calculate 14.752 feet to inches instantly in you head? With metric it is easy since you just shift the decimal point.