Why doesn't the U.S. use the metric system?

**Valigarmander** · 08-05-2009, 05:17 AM

Damn it. D:<

Vgfian · 08-05-2009, 05:22 AM

Because we're evil, and we don't like it.>:[D

I am nobody · 08-05-2009, 05:54 AM

I prefer the Fahrenheit system, but every other part of the US system is more frustrating to remember than its metric equivalent. (especially feet - mile and meters - kilometer)

***Ace Mercury*** · 08-05-2009, 07:34 AM

The only reason is inertia. Americans are, on average, the fattest people in the world, so there is considerable inertia.

In Canada, we still used some of the imperial measurements; pounds are more common for mentioning your weight than kilograms, height in feet/inches. Even just having metres, though, makes things so much easier.

***Cosmonautical*** · 08-05-2009, 07:58 AM

Eh, metric sucks for minor increments of distance. Even here in Australia, people on average use a little bit of the imperial system.

***Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds*** · 08-05-2009, 08:04 AM

Until about 15 years ago, it was still very common to teach children to measure height in feet/inches. These days, they're all, "OOhHHHhhhh you're 165cm tall!" (or something) and I'm like, "wtf that sounds huge I'm not some giant leave me alone" (5'5").

I use both metric and imperial to measure by, as the lengths are useful intervals (1in = 2.5cm, 1ft = 30cm).

But, you know, my cell phone-- cheapest one I could get from Target, mind you --has a converter function on it, so I'm pretty certain even the laziest of us have some easy access to figuring the business.

Dizzy · 08-05-2009, 10:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds

I use both metric and imperial to measure by, as the lengths are useful intervals (1in = 2.5cm, 1ft = 30cm).

That is a useful system to remember. I learned that in 3rd grade, when I saw that a decimeter stick had a 4 inch measurement on the other side.

Glux · 08-05-2009, 11:19 AM

1. America thinks it's too good for the rest of the world.
2. We're fat and lazy.

Vgfian · 08-05-2009, 11:21 AM

^You think alot of this great country don't you?

Glux · 08-05-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boner the Vgfian

^You think alot of this great country don't you?

No, not really.

Well, it depends on what the subject is.

Hate it for some, love it for others.

Panfan · 08-05-2009, 11:50 AM

Because Metric is a Canadian band.

I know, I wish we had BSS and their spin-off bands too.

Metal Man · 08-05-2009, 01:13 PM

Railroad barons insist we stay on imperial, so they could exclusively sell all the tools in imperial.

But now we're 10 years behind the world because all our stuff is in the wrong measurement system.

Screw you, long-deceased railroad barons!

Dylan · 08-05-2009, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds

These days, they're all, "OOhHHHhhhh you're 165cm tall!" (or something) and I'm like, "wtf that sounds huge I'm not some giant leave me alone" (5'5").

I could just imagine a giant purple-haired woman running across Australia, trampling towns and villages along the way, then jumping across the Tasman Sea to ~~Middle Earth~~ New Zealand.

**Valigarmander** · 08-05-2009, 02:21 PM

^ In a skirt.

Yeah.

Dylan · 08-05-2009, 04:23 PM

Valigarmander, ladies and gentlemen.

Metal Mario · 08-05-2009, 05:12 PM

Just give Obama another year and he'll have successfully inducted us into the European Union. Then we'll be using the Metric system, the Euro, and socialism like there's no tomorrow.

Sim Kid · 08-05-2009, 05:39 PM

Didn't they actually try that in the 1970s and would have to practically take down every sign in the country and put it up?

Sides...cell phones and PDAs have conversions as SD mentioned. I had a cell phone from before 2003 and it had that function. And that was before the days when Cell Phones became Text Messengers for all intents and purposes.

I REALLY HATE POKEMON! · 08-05-2009, 05:43 PM

I heard (CITE CITE IT NAOW) that abolishing the two-term limit is being considered now.

I don't like it.

**Valigarmander** · 08-05-2009, 05:56 PM

I hear Obama also eats babies while he's worshipping Allah.

Robotazy · 08-05-2009, 06:01 PM

pfft. Why doesn't America use the metric system?

F**k that.

Why doesn't everyone else use Feet to measure things?

08-05-2009, 05:17 AM	#1
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,701 Times in 2,581 Posts Blog Entries: 20	Why doesn't the U.S. use the metric system? Damn it. D:<

08-05-2009, 05:22 AM	#2
Vgfian Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Listening to Seeking 7 Seven and giving out free hugs. :) Gender: Posts: 6,862 Thanks: 2,433 Thanked 398 Times in 311 Posts	Because we're evil, and we don't like it.>:[D

08-05-2009, 05:54 AM	#3
I am nobody Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Over there. Gender: Posts: 5,515 Thanks: 309 Thanked 365 Times in 242 Posts Blog Entries: 7	I prefer the Fahrenheit system, but every other part of the US system is more frustrating to remember than its metric equivalent. (especially feet - mile and meters - kilometer)

08-05-2009, 07:34 AM	#4
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 23,275 Thanks: 568 Thanked 3,297 Times in 1,582 Posts Blog Entries: 1	The only reason is inertia. Americans are, on average, the fattest people in the world, so there is considerable inertia. In Canada, we still used some of the imperial measurements; pounds are more common for mentioning your weight than kilograms, height in feet/inches. Even just having metres, though, makes things so much easier.

08-05-2009, 07:58 AM	#5
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,102 Thanks: 2,157 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	Eh, metric sucks for minor increments of distance. Even here in Australia, people on average use a little bit of the imperial system.

08-05-2009, 08:04 AM	#6
*Saria Dragon of the Rain Wilds* Admin "mine.. not yours. NO. MINE." Epic Ladynerd Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Forteresse de Valois Gender: Posts: 28,504 Thanks: 1,658 Thanked 1,820 Times in 1,042 Posts	Until about 15 years ago, it was still very common to teach children to measure height in feet/inches. These days, they're all, "OOhHHHhhhh you're 165cm tall!" (or something) and I'm like, "wtf that sounds huge I'm not some giant leave me alone" (5'5"). I use both metric and imperial to measure by, as the lengths are useful intervals (1in = 2.5cm, 1ft = 30cm). But, you know, my cell phone-- cheapest one I could get from Target, mind you --has a converter function on it, so I'm pretty certain even the laziest of us have some easy access to figuring the business.

08-05-2009, 11:19 AM	#8
Glux Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Home Gender: Posts: 7,122 Thanks: 647 Thanked 360 Times in 236 Posts Blog Entries: 3	1. America thinks it's too good for the rest of the world. 2. We're fat and lazy.

08-05-2009, 11:21 AM	#9
Vgfian Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Listening to Seeking 7 Seven and giving out free hugs. :) Gender: Posts: 6,862 Thanks: 2,433 Thanked 398 Times in 311 Posts	^You think alot of this great country don't you?

08-05-2009, 11:50 AM	#11
Panfan AND HE PRAYS Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Grayskull Gender: Posts: 18,806 Thanks: 1,405 Thanked 2,251 Times in 1,339 Posts Blog Entries: 15	Because Metric is a Canadian band. I know, I wish we had BSS and their spin-off bands too.

08-05-2009, 01:13 PM	#12
Metal Man Fairy-Slaying Maniac Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: 1592 Miles Away From Here Gender: Posts: 18,062 Thanks: 148 Thanked 683 Times in 482 Posts	Railroad barons insist we stay on imperial, so they could exclusively sell all the tools in imperial. But now we're 10 years behind the world because all our stuff is in the wrong measurement system. Screw you, long-deceased railroad barons!

08-05-2009, 02:21 PM	#14
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,701 Times in 2,581 Posts Blog Entries: 20	^ In a skirt. Yeah.

08-05-2009, 04:23 PM	#15
Dylan Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Teenage Wasteland Gender: Posts: 7,790 Thanks: 1,632 Thanked 1,816 Times in 773 Posts	Valigarmander, ladies and gentlemen.

08-05-2009, 05:12 PM	#16
Metal Mario Veteran Member Join Date: Dec 1999 Gender: Posts: 16,435 Thanks: 72 Thanked 190 Times in 127 Posts	Just give Obama another year and he'll have successfully inducted us into the European Union. Then we'll be using the Metric system, the Euro, and socialism like there's no tomorrow.

08-05-2009, 05:39 PM	#17
Sim Kid Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: The state of Denial Gender: Posts: 8,884 Thanks: 80 Thanked 198 Times in 122 Posts	Didn't they actually try that in the 1970s and would have to practically take down every sign in the country and put it up? Sides...cell phones and PDAs have conversions as SD mentioned. I had a cell phone from before 2003 and it had that function. And that was before the days when Cell Phones became Text Messengers for all intents and purposes.

08-05-2009, 05:43 PM	#18
I REALLY HATE POKEMON! Goku lives on the Sun Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: California, U.S.A Gender: Posts: 12,717 Thanks: 1,334 Thanked 275 Times in 234 Posts Blog Entries: 1	I heard (CITE CITE IT NAOW) that abolishing the two-term limit is being considered now. I don't like it.

08-05-2009, 05:56 PM	#19
Valigarmander The Bee's Knees Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: The land of rain and trees (Oregon) Gender: Posts: 29,755 Thanks: 1,649 Thanked 5,701 Times in 2,581 Posts Blog Entries: 20	I hear Obama also eats babies while he's worshipping Allah.

08-05-2009, 06:01 PM	#20
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,483 Thanks: 529 Thanked 1,254 Times in 897 Posts Blog Entries: 46	pfft. Why doesn't America use the metric system? Fk that. Why doesn't everyone else use Feet to measure things?**