The metric system sucks
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From: Andrew Usher on 9 Feb 2010 22:47 On Feb 9, 9:50 am, "François Grondin" <francois.dot.gron...(a)bpr- cso.dot.com> wrote: > Let me give you another example. You should define and use an equivalent > "Imperial" system for currencies : > - 12 pennies in a dime > - 2 dimes in a quarter > - 4 quarters in a dollar > - 16 dollars in a "twenty-dollar" bill > - etc. A system of currency only makes sense when it's a standard. Our standard now is the decimal system. It may not 'suck', but that doesn't mean it's necessarily perfect, either. > It would be more "natural". You wouldn't be forced to count on your finger. > But tell me : would it really be better? No, because you are actually using > a 10-based currency system. Does it suck? I don't think so, neither are you. > It's only a matter of use and education. Replacing a system with another > requires a lot of efforts and money. Most humans would rather stay in their > comfort zone than make an effort to improve their situation. There will > always be people like you who are reluctant to change. How is this an argument for anything? Andrew Usher
From: Darwin123 on 9 Feb 2010 23:33 On Feb 9, 4:35 pm, "Bob Myers" <nospample...(a)address.invalid> wrote: > Darwin123 wrote: > That's the most sensible solution I've seen here yet - which, > of course, is why it will probably never happen! > > Bob M. I was actually suggesting this as a straw man solution. It is very much not a sensible solution. It is taking Andrew's argument to its absurd extreme. To remove all regulations concerning units is more similar to anarchy. Capitalism isn't quite the same as anarchy. You can't have assembly line production without some degree of standardization. You can't repair things when things break, you can't readily replace something that breaks. If it isn't regulated by a government, you need the domination of a large monopoly. I think units are one place where government regulation may be better than direct manipulation by a large company. I heard the following story. It may be a mere anecdote, since I have no reference to it. The consumer and manufacturer would waste their time trying to sort out what is equivalent to what. In medieval Europe, for instance, there was a time when volume wasn't standardized. Bottles were made in all sorts of shapes. The consumer could not tell how much liquid was in each bottle. One could say buy one and measure, but this is confusing. I did say I am in favor of the United States continuing with the English system for a while, especially with regard to traffic signs. The schools teach both systems anyway. We all learn Roman numerals as part of our historical heritage. I suspect that the English system of units will eventually fade away on its own. Or wind up being used for very specific purposes forever. The British have not completely eliminate the English system. They still use British thermal units, horsepower, and other holdouts from the English system. However, the metric system is slowly taking over even here in the states. There is nothing that can slow a thing down so much as a government mandate for the particular thing. I just think we should allow the metric system to happen, not force it. If the incompatibility becomes noticeably important, there will be time enough to change it.
From: Robin on 10 Feb 2010 08:14 On 09/02/2010 12:11, Andrew Usher wrote: > On Feb 8, 10:12 am, Robin<b.ro...(a)neurol.org> wrote: > >> China, Europe, Russia, South America, Japan speak metric.. >> Where do you want to sell "inched machines" or inched materials? > > It's not likely that they should care what units their machines are > made to; or if they do, it's only because of laws or standards > organisations or other bureaucratic nonsense demanding metric. > > Andrew Usher So, you'll want to export your "inched" equipment and machines to where? Are you taking into account the clients' will in your sales dpt?
From: Androcles on 10 Feb 2010 08:28 "Robin" <b.robin(a)neurol.org> wrote in message news:4b72b152$2(a)news.x-privat.org... > On 09/02/2010 12:11, Andrew Usher wrote: >> On Feb 8, 10:12 am, Robin<b.ro...(a)neurol.org> wrote: >> >>> China, Europe, Russia, South America, Japan speak metric.. >>> Where do you want to sell "inched machines" or inched materials? >> >> It's not likely that they should care what units their machines are >> made to; or if they do, it's only because of laws or standards >> organisations or other bureaucratic nonsense demanding metric. >> >> Andrew Usher > > So, you'll want to export your "inched" equipment and machines to where? > Are you taking into account the clients' will in your sales dpt? Machines today are CNC, so you can have both. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Numerical_control Somebody is getting senile.
From: jmfbahciv on 10 Feb 2010 09:10
Bob Myers wrote: > Darwin123 wrote: >> How about removing all regulations concerning units and see what >> individuals and companies would do? > > That's the most sensible solution I've seen here yet - which, > of course, is why it will probably never happen! > The only reason you are able to read these posts is because we introduced and developed standards. don't throw the bath water out with the babies. /BAH |