Community Chat

[SuhseK]

A post that I just read, brought this to mind:

How many posters, here,  on the forums, know the metric system?

Yes, of course we can Google on how to convert information, but how many of us, are at least relatively familiar with the metric system?

Another question, might be why in the world, isn't the United States, like almost every other country on the planet, on the metric system. But, that's another question for another discussion.😊

[on the bay]

@SuhseK -

Well, remembering when it was tried to change here in the US, I think everyone tried for awhile while still keeping the old system, but then most of us just thought, nope,we are not having it!

I along with I'm sure many others, was relieved. I thought why make all this one more thing to learn and do?

Even if it might be more accurate or so many other countries use it, why change?!

It has served well all these years so should be enough! That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it!

[Anonymous032819]

They tried in the 70's, but Americans were too stubborn to even try to learn it, so the push to convert gave up.

But, we do have some things that are metric, the 2 liter soda bottle for example, plus, tools are in metric.

[Cakers3]

The USA didnt' want to use the metric system since the French developed it (1700"s ??) based on their land.  If I remember correctly the French developed this by using coordinates based on France's land position.

By the time the USA decided to join in sometime in the 19th century, businesses in our country were well entrenched in customary units and so we never converted.

I do remember somewhere-maybe the 1980's??? when the metric was being eased in - we started seeing it on soda bottles, e.g. but it never took off in schools.

Metric is used in the USA; DH and DS are well versed in it and it's used in some industries; just not as a math subject.

I learned this in high school as part of a history class.

[FLGranny]

I think that’s why you’ll find the Metric and the Imperial measurements on everything. It would take who knows how many generations to teach everyone the metric system and to be proficient in it. Kind of like if we were to switch the entire world over to one currency. It would take decades for everyone to learn it and use it. I am not able to use the metric system. I know the basics like a meter is about a yard, a liter is about a quart, etc. but get into centimeters,millimeters and so on, forget it! And being over 65, this old dog ain’t gonna learn it now!

[godi]

I remember when President Jimmy Carter really pushed the metric system. That's  when two liter bottles of soda where born. 🤣🤣. People fought it tooth and nail not to change. I do not know the metric system at all. 

[Sooner]

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@SuhseK wrote:

A post that I just read, brought this to mind:

How many posters, here,  on the forums, know the metric system?

Yes, of course we can Google on how to convert information, but how many of us, are at least relatively familiar with the metric system?

Another question, might be why in the world, isn't the United States, like almost every other country on the planet, on the metric system. But, that's another question for another discussion.😊

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@SuhseK Because we're the US and we aren't like everybody else!  

We often treasure uniqueness in other countries and cultures--why not treasure it in ours?  

[tansy]

My engineer father sure thought the US should adopt that system way back in the 60s.  

[Desertdi]

I can barely convert fractions to decimals.....

[fthunt]

If it ain't broke..........don't fix it.