Comments on: The Metric System Is for Lovers—A Valentine’s Day Manifesto

By: Walter Stachowicz

Walter Stachowicz — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 00:29:44 +0000

We got part way there in the
We got part way there in the 70's, until we ran out of money and common sense. Remember all of the public service ads - "Take 10, America" and the Metric Marvels cartoon show? Anyway, to my friends in Canada, -40 degrees = -40 degrees no matter how you look at it.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 11:03:58 +0000

Semi entranced by ya'll unit
Semi entranced by ya'll unit slingers & history romancers, but how about a man who drives his wife sauvage!

By: AlexandraFunFit

AlexandraFunFit — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:24:55 +0000

I wouldn't mind the metric
I wouldn't mind the metric system, and I love speaking and hearing French, but I have absolutely no idea what John Poole is saying in his first comment. What language was he typing in - Metringlish?

By: Donald B.

Donald B. — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:44:17 +0000

If for no other reason than
If for no other reason than to be able to drive "100" again.

That and there's something about a speedometer that goes to "240"!

Donald
♫ I can't drive, 88.5! ♫ ;-)

By: mike eliason

mike eliason — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 01:09:37 +0000

many orgs and industries in
many orgs and industries in the US already heavily use metric: dept. of defense, GSA, nuke industry, medical industry, nutritionists, science/research, sports (swimming, olympics, track & field)...

if it's good enough for the army, surely it's good enough for PHIUS or the rest of us...

By: John Poole

John Poole — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:57:03 +0000

Hey! I never said that
Hey! I never said that mathematics and computer science prove that SI is better! I said that, personally, I'm fine with either system, and can happily transition back and forth between both...
(But in all seriousness, I do realize that supporting dual systems of metrics adds much cost to industry, and that standardization is inevitable. And no, never lived in NH! :-).

By: Allison Bailes

Allison Bailes — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 23:33:51 +0000

Chuck H.:
Chuck H.: Many of the units we use apply to quantities we didn't know about 250 years ago, or had only a glimmer of what they were about, so actually our system has changed over that time.

Colin: Hear, hear! That Retrotec spends that much money each year because of our unwillingness to change is indeed a powerful argument in favor of changing. Any company that wants to do business with the rest of the world has to use SI units. It makes the US look weak and egotistical (if a country can be that) not to change. And you're absolutely right - it's not that hard to figure out the metric system.

By: Colin Genge

Colin Genge — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:58:36 +0000

I forgot to add:
I forgot to add:

Less Enegy = More Peace

By: Colin Genge

Colin Genge — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:57:21 +0000

I believe the Mesopotamians
I believe the Mesopotamians had a number system base on 12 (ours is ten) which is where a dozen eggs or roses comes from. How romantic. But romantic at what cost? It costs my small company about $80,000 per year to use both units. The military and scientists in the US use Metric and the proletariat was nursed back to Imperial units (Now called US units) by Pres Reagan who said "Metric is downright UnAmerican". Correction, British Imperial units are unAmerican. Remember the war against the British for independence.. and who helped us? The French! The Metric French who I believe gave us the Statue of Liberty!

Anyone who has been to Europe knows that virtually everyone there speaks English. No small thing when you consider it takes years to learn. You could get a Masters Degree in anything you like for the effort it takes a European to learn English. We benefit doing business, travel etc. Since learning Metric could be accomplished with almost no effort by comparison why don't Americans sign up to be co-operative and learn Metric? One generation and poof, its done.

I know all my equations in both metric and Imperial and convert back and forth daily. Surely the masses can all learn that 50 MPH is 80KPH and that 20C is room temperature pretty quickly. We can still learn stuff can't we? If not, at least our kids can speak International units when they grow up. After all they didn't have to spend years learning English like all their counterparts in other countries.

By: chuck halloran

chuck halloran — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:47:13 +0000

“…vast amount of the
“…vast amount of the majority the world uses” I thought we in America was all about diversity, and minority culture interests, Changing Our adopted system of measurements has work for us about 250 plus years..why change? Its not culturally corrected to do so.