DAMN America! Switch to Metric!

[96firebird311]

I mean what the hell? THE ENTIRE WORLD uses the metric system....except for us. Why. (note the . instead of ?) THERE IS NO ADVANTAGE TO THE AMERICAN MEASUREMENT SYSTEM! But there is to the Metric system. So WTF?

"Oh, it would be to hard and cumbersome for us to change now" So are we going to just use a clearly inferior system for the rest of our human existence? You have to make that change sometime. Nobody said it would be an easy overnight thing, but it must be done sooner or later. We're the only ones left for a reason. :rolleyes:

"We use it because of tradition" That has to be the most ignorant thing I've ever heard. :mad: Hey, I need some water. Can you run down to the old well and crank me up some?

[bret_xi]

i hear what ur sayin... i live on a farm and more stuff than you think is metric on tractors and such.. we have to keep full sets of standard and metric tools around most of the time.. we have 2 shops... each with their own sets of standard and metric.. then a truck with a set of each.. then just random wrenches and sockets in tractor toolboxes for emergencies.. it gets pretty expensive having to buy 2 sets of them for stuff. but thats really one reason america's not switching completly to metric.. because everybody still has stuff that runs on standard.. its prally about half and half on all our farm stuff... so we cant be COMPLETLY metric like other countries.. where they make everything to have all metric. but i agree with you completly. we should change over, but i doubt it will be for a while

[96firebird311]

Originally posted by bret_xi:
but thats really one reason america's not switching completely to metric.. because everybody still has stuff that runs on standard..

Like I said,

So are we going to just use a clearly inferior system for the rest of our human existence? You have to make that change sometime. Nobody said it would be an easy overnight thing, but it must be done sooner or later.

Slowly start phasing it out. ALL manufactures of ANYTHING could switch over all at once and overnight. That would have no impact on us. As long as the standard tools and measuring devices continued to be produced so we can work/use the older stuff, we'll be fine. Over a period of time (15 years maybe), slowly stop producing the tools. Automobiles/Tractors/etc will suffer the most by this. They probably last longer and require the most maintenance then just about anything else.

EDIT: Or would you rather be forced into carrying two completely different sets of tools for the rest of your life?...And your kids life.... and their kids.... [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[ September 05, 2005, 03:34 PM: Message edited by: 96firebird311 ]

[V6Bob]

What! You want to give up the good old 'merican system for something that was invented by the (oh the horror of it!) French?

[img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img] [img]smile.gif[/img]

[Fbody3400]

How tall are you? "I'm 2 meters, 10 centimeters." Just doesn't flow...

[vanbibber]

im fine with what we use now.

[FirebirdGT]

The EU has mandated that as of 2009? there can not be any English (American) units on any product imported into Europe. Labeling must be in metric units ONLY.

[camaro_speedemon]

There are already a lot of things that use metric. IE You buy a 2 liter of soda, you pay for power in kilowatt hours ect..

Have you even thought of the logistics nightmare it would be to change. All speed limit signs would have to change, all mile markers would have to change, gas stations would have to change their pumps. Then there's the Standard equipment that's still out there, what happens 10-15 years from now someone needs say a gasket that's in standard, but you can only buy it in metric. As we all know, metric and standard sizes aren't always interchangable.

Not even to mention the massive campaign that would have to be done to educate people on how to use the metric system.

We're changing, slowly but surely, but its going to take a long time. You make it sound like if you just switch overnight on the manufactoring end, it won't affect anything on the consumer end.

[96firebird311]

Originally posted by camaro_speedemon:
Have you even thought of the logistics nightmare it would be to change. All speed limit signs would have to change, all mile markers would have to change, gas stations would have to change their pumps.

These are very good points. [img]redface.gif[/img]

Originally posted by camaro_speedemon:
Then there's the Standard equipment that's still out there, what happens 10-15 years from now someone needs say a gasket that's in standard, but you can only buy it in metric. As we all know, metric and standard sizes aren't always interchangable.

Like I said, continue to produce the tools/etc. for standard for years....but slowly phase them out. Maybe more then 15 years, but eventually all together. Automobiles will suffer the most on this. As previously stated. Campaigning? Ehhh, a little. Don't think that would be too too bad though.

Alls I'm saying is that the change HAS TO BE MADE SOMETIME. We can't keep this pointless stuff up forever....

[4thgenowner]

Almost every damn bolt in my car is metric and its a pain in the ***. Who cares.

[96firebird311]

Originally posted by 4thgenowner:
Almost every damn bolt in my car is metric and its a pain in the ***. Who cares.

Wouldn't be such a pain in the *** if every bolt and every tool you owned was metric huh? Maybe the switch won't be complete in your lifetime. But it will for your children. This is going to take awhile, no doubt. So start now...

[4thgenowner]

I have both metric and standard tools. I just don't like fiddling with like 3 wrenches to get one to fit.

[96firebird311]

Originally posted by 4thgenowner:
I have both metric and standard tools. I just don't like fiddling with like 3 wrenches to get one to fit.

EXACTLY MY POINT! We could have one set of tools. One wrench that fits. Simple. Make a decision one or the other. Metric works in units of ten so it is FAR easier to use. The rest of the world uses Metric for a good reason.... why are we refusing to switch....ever! :mad:

[3.4 slow to go]

have you switched to FIreFOx yet? I bet that's metric.

OMG tradition, f*ck tradition!!! we MUST CONFORM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[4thgenowner]

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