US Switch to Metric System?

rever65 Says:

Jan 15, 2012 - Rest assured people, if metric worked in Canada, I would be the first to promote it and give it just rewards, but it hasn't. Sorry to piss on the parade, Ascaithe, (and everyone else) but this isn't about conservatism, it's about being smart.

rever65 Says:

Jan 15, 2012 - @Ascaithe The irony is, I am not the one who is complacent, but you are. While I don't agree with metric in North America, and take issue with some Americans yearning to change (read my many previous comments), I don't believe anything should be forced  on anyone, as was the case in Canada. You seem to. Metric was the answer to a question no one asked in Canada, because, again, they had NO problem with the old system. Maybe with age and wisdom you, and others, in time, will finally get it.

rever65 Says:

Jan 15, 2012 - @Ascaithe I wouldn't exactly say the U.S. has "stagnated, never moved forward" (I assume that is the country you are referring to) They have been responsible for some of the most useful innovations that have ever benefited mankind, and all while remaining Imperial. Your arguments, along with most other "pro-metric" comments simply have no merit. By the way people (especially you chow) if you want to "thumb down" my comments, go ahead. Most people want to view "removed" comments. Curiosity.

navylaks2 Says:

Jan 24, 2012 - Wouldn't it provide 1000s if not millions of jobs making the switch i see no reason not to. For your own good go metric

navylaks2 Says:

Jan 24, 2012 - The thing is there aren't just one type of pound or mile there are several, so you would actually have to be specific

rever65 Says:

Jan 24, 2012 - @navylaks2 True, but I am referring to the units most commonly used in North America, which, with the exception of gallons, were virtually the same.

TheOregonTrucker Says:

Feb 8, 2012 - The best way to get the US to switch to metric is for people to simply start using it in our daily lives. I use metric almost exclusively wherever possible and don't convert for those who don't understand. Weather in Celcius, distances in Kilometers (GPS), human height and weight in cm and kg. You'd be surprised if you started using it, you'd start to be able to think in it "natively" instead of converting in your head. It's not as hard as the ignorant anti-change people would have you think.

mainchow10 Says:

Feb 12, 2012 - I agree with you there.

rever65 Says:

Mar 6, 2012 - @TheOregonTrucker How kind of you not to "convert for those who don't understand". Even in Canada, which has been Metric for over 30 years, I have never met anyone who exclusively uses it. Instead of labeling the detractors as "ignorant anti-change", maybe try thinking about why they would go to all of the trouble to list their reasons not to convert. It sure as Hell is not for the fun of it. It's your choice to use what you want. I would be "ignorant" if I thought otherwise.

KevinRexrod Says:

Mar 7, 2012 - The U.S. should have converted to metric way back in 1971 along with Canada! Come on people if there is 100 cents in a Dollar how hard can it be to switch all units to metric?It,s a system that,s works in tenth,s and it,s a system that makes 100% sense, so let,s all get rid of the old imperial system and do our measurments in metric like the rest of the world.

rever65 Says:

Mar 7, 2012 - @KevinRexrod Judging from where you place your apostrophes, you're not in the best position to comment on what's best for the United States. By the way, the monetary system is quite different from the measurement system. How much does your waist cost?

rever65 Says:

Mar 7, 2012 - Come on, pro Metric people, you can do better than this!

Phalanx3800 Says:

Mar 19, 2012 - I for one do not see how the metric system is superior to American Standard measurement. It works for us, quit being a damn bigot about it. We also spell words differently in America as opposed to England, does that infuriate people too?We call your game of bananas, soccer and we drive on the right side of the road. U mad bro?

Ascaithe Says:

Mar 19, 2012 - Nah I ain't mad bro. I just want to say there are a lot of benefits to the metric system though. Look it up. Easy calculation and switching between units is one of them. Our number system is decimal- makes sense to have a measuring system that is as well. Of course there's also the fact that only two other countries in the world don't use metric (Myanmar and Liberia- and they themselves will probably soon adopt metric)- might make the whole import/export situation easier right?

Phalanx3800 Says:

Mar 19, 2012 - Why bother we don't export anything anymore. Get back to me when we do.

rever65 Says:

Mar 21, 2012 - @Phalanx3800 Not sure if you are an American, but if you have read the novel I've written on this site, and the responses, you will see that it's a safe bet that most of the American's who have posted have no clue to what a conversion entails. I am convinced that most have never even considered or given any thought to the downfalls of conversion I have written, prior to my posts. My words are not just opinion, but facts. Good to see someone intelligent enough to get it. I just about gave up.

jannekei Says:

Apr 6, 2012 - The matter is that 300 million people will understand you, but 6.7 billion people will not. That is the rest of world.

rever65 Says:

Apr 6, 2012 - @jannekei So be it. I wouldn't expect or force the rest of the world to understand the English language either. My comments were specifically aimed at North America.

dofuscato Says:

Apr 6, 2012 - Your monetary system IS metric. It is based on 10-base and those same old latin words:1 dollar = 1 meter1 cent (1/100 dollar) = 1 centimeter (1/100 meter)1 dime (1/10 dollar) = 1 decimeter (1/10 meter)1K (one thousand dollars) = 1 kilometer (one thousand meters)When you count years you also have similar words both then they mean whole numbers instead of fractions. A cent is 1/100 but a century is a 100 years. Deci is 1/10, decade is 10 years, milli is 1/1000 but a millenia is 1000 years.

rever65 Says:

Apr 6, 2012 - @dofuscato Maybe so. But I have focused primarily on measurement and how Metric shouldn't be forced on a nation (U.S.) that is well versed in their present measurement, which was the case in Canada. Several on this site have criticized Imperial and have yet to come up with an answer to my question, (see previous post).

rever65 Says:

Apr 7, 2012 - One other major situation arose with conversion in Canada that you pro-Metric boosters (U.S.) probably haven't given any thought to are those who had companies centered around manufacturing. They were forced to convert their machinery to Metric measurement. Many couldn't afford this due to the extreme cost, and folded. Some would say that's the price you pay for the sake of change, but in a democracy, when one loses their livlihood, because of one mans decision, that's a Hell of price.

MultiAxian Says:

Apr 13, 2012 - What's the problem if China chooses to continue to use the lunar calendar? while everyone's using the Gregorian calendar, should China have the right to not use it and continue officially using the lunar calendar? How about when an aircraft crashes because of an error in calculating the required amount of fuel? It's happened before. As you can see, it's just simpler and easier if we all just agree on a standard convention.

Darusdei Says:

Apr 28, 2012 - americans make me facepalm constantly...

rever65 Says:

Apr 30, 2012 - @MultiAxian Aircraft crashes are a result of human error regardless of the measurement used. If the individual in charge of fueling airplanes (either North American or foreign) cannot properly convert or judge the correct amount of fuel for a flight, they have no business holding the job. Mistakes like this could and would happen even if the entire world was Metric. Until they perfect the human being, lapses in judgment will occur. My main focus here is on measurement, not calendars.

danerman73 Says:

May 12, 2012 - After WWII, the USA put billions of dollars into the European economies with the Martial Plan. A good way to reciprocate this generosity would be for these European countries to fund the full conversion of the US to the metric system. If other countries want the US to be on the metric system that bad then pay for the conversion. Because it will be a cold day in Hell when the US voters ever decide to pay for the conversion themselves.