Why do Americans still use units that are considered obsolete in the rest of the world? Degrees Fahrenheit and fluid ounces are my least favourite ones, but gallons and pounds are pretty unintuitive too.

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• Exactly right.

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  by DavidHume on March 6th, 2007

• They consider themselves above international law, like they are Gods (they certainly are the economic kings of the world).

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  by Halskiisaklink on March 7th, 2007

• They won't be economic kings any more if the Chinese ever call in their debt.

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  by DavidHume on March 7th, 2007

• What about the United South America that political leaders such as Hugo Chavez are calling to unite? That is certainly something to watch out for.

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  by Halskiisaklink on March 7th, 2007

• Sorry, but you're all full of crap. We don't use metric because WE don't think it makes any sense. All systems are arbitrary and therefore equal. And as far as China is concerned, the day they call in our "debt" is the day their beloved economic machine grinds to a derailing halt.
  
  In regards to United South America, that'll be the day. Millions of Americans will fight and die to prevent and or control that. It's our national policy to control where the dog shits in our backyard.

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  by FLYxNIGHT on March 7th, 2007

• Yeah, you just reaffirmed this answer dickhead.

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  by Halskiisaklink on March 8th, 2007

• I wouldn't have used that last word, but yes, that was a pretty ignorant comment, Fly.

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  by DavidHume on March 8th, 2007

• I'm working-class. According to socialist ideals, I have every 'right' to be angry. :)

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  by Halskiisaklink on March 9th, 2007

Comments

• I agree with you. It can't go on for ever like this.

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  by DavidHume on March 7th, 2007

Comments

• I think that's a lot to do with it, yes. It's a hangover from the idea that the U.S. is special, and doesn't have to play by the same rules as everybody else.

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  by DavidHume on March 6th, 2007

• We just don't let others make rules for us. It's called Independence.

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  by Mirage V2.0 AWOL on March 7th, 2007

• Whose rules? I'm genuinely disappointed in you, DavidHume.

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  by FLYxNIGHT on March 7th, 2007

• The rules of commerce, and of utility. Things like fluid ounces aren't used or understood by 95% of the world population. Why should this be an emotive isssue for you?

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  by DavidHume on March 8th, 2007

• Probably for the same reason it seems to be for so many on the other side of the fence.

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  by FLYxNIGHT on March 8th, 2007

• Do you think then that the 95% should adapt to the 5%? Would you approve of the re-introduction of local measures, so that a foot or a pound would vary from place to place?

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  by DavidHume on March 11th, 2007

Comments

• Over 95 % of the world uses metric.

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  by DavidHume on March 7th, 2007

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• Absolutely!

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  by DavidHume on March 8th, 2007

• All serious science is metric, even in the U.S. As you say, it is a real pain having to add in all these conversion factors whenever you do a calculation. The Space Shuttle was built in feet and inches; I wonder if the new one will be metric?

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  by DavidHume on March 8th, 2007

Comments

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• This question was really about units other than currency, where it is the norm for countries to have their own. You may have heard of the Euro though; it's a Europe-wide currency which all EU countries other than Denmark, Sweden and the UK have committed to join. Non-Americans (and even some Americans) sometimes like to go to countries other than their own, and using the modern units makes it a lot easier to travel, as well as greatly streamlining trade.

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  by DavidHume on March 8th, 2007

• Yes, yes. I'm sure that's all true as hell but I miss the old money. It was pretty and interesting. It made you feel you were someplace else. Some holdovers are more romantic than others and I see the units of measure and America's Maverick Nature personified. They are their own universe and they like it that way.

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  by debsmooth on March 9th, 2007

• See, if everybody thought like that, we'd still be lumbered with such lovely, romantic, but essentially useless units as the ell (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ell), the Russian sazhen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obsolete_Russian_units_of_measurement) and the league (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/League_%28unit%29).
  I adore local colour as much as you do, but if I was buying land and the landowner quoted its dimensions in leagues, I would know I was dealing with a dunderhead, and likely take my business elsewhere. This is a thought for olde-worlde America; once your military might is exposed as ineffective, will the Chinese continue to find your use of feet and inches cute?

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  by DavidHume on March 11th, 2007

Comments

• Good answer. If China and in fact nearly every other country in the world could afford it, what makes you think it would be beyond America's means?

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  by DavidHume on March 6th, 2007

• I agree David. It didn't put we Canadians into bankruptcy. If anything, over the years it's saved us money.

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  by scubabob on March 6th, 2007

• Thanks. Do you remember the Gimli glider?

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  by DavidHume on March 6th, 2007

• we aussies changed over and we are doing fine economically.

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  by singwell-is off researching a lot on March 6th, 2007

• Yes, almost all countries have changed over and are doing fine econmically.

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  by DavidHume on March 6th, 2007

• Actually, yes David. That was one mix up of fuel measurements and an isolated case. Hasn't happened since and I think it actually boiled down not to the failure of the change over, but an individual's laziness.

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  by scubabob on March 6th, 2007

• Yeah exactly. I don't think it demolishes the case for changing over, I just thought it was a good story and wondered if you'd heard of it.

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  by DavidHume on March 7th, 2007

• Hehe, yeah, I was alive back then and reading newspapers. Boggles the mind that it could have happened. What were the pilots thinking as well. I dunno about everyone else, but I look at the gas gauge before making a trip to the store :)

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  by scubabob on March 7th, 2007

• The fuel gauge was broken, and two separate people made the same error in converting the fuel from litres to kg. Bloody good story, and what a great happy ending!

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  by DavidHume on March 7th, 2007

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gimli_Glider

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  by DavidHume on March 7th, 2007

• I had the opposite happen to me at Heathrow. It was a flight home on a 747 and we'de just left the gate when they figured out the plane wasn't going to get airborne even with divine intervention. Too much fuel. Policy, apparently dictates that they have the drain ALL of it and start from scratch because of possible contaminants or something like that. They then put us on an L1011 instead because the wait time would have been longer to service the 747. Mid Atlantic and we got that chilling intercom message from the pilot informing us that Toronto may not be where we're going. Not enough fuel and to prepare for a possible Gander or Montreal landing. Tail winds were with us though and we apparently scraped in just under the mark for a 45 minute reserve. That was a charter from USA Air. Never again with those fools.

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  by scubabob on March 7th, 2007

• Yes, I sometimes think it's a blessing we don't know everything that goes on behind the scenes when we fly!

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  by DavidHume on March 8th, 2007

Comments

• It means you weigh 70 lbs, or about 32 kg.

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  by DavidHume on March 6th, 2007

• That's spot on for a little green monster.

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  by PrettyPirate on March 6th, 2007

• A very little one apparently.

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  by DavidHume on March 6th, 2007

• That cracked me up.

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  by debsmooth on March 7th, 2007

• A Euro is US$1.32 at the moment. And climbing. As symbols of the value of American independence go, maybe the dollar wasn't the absolute best example to choose, given that its value is entirely underpinned by the Chinese, and that it is nevertheless still falling.

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  by DavidHume on March 8th, 2007

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• No, Imperial are definitely more complicated. Hence the rest of the world's adoption of them.

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  by DavidHume on March 6th, 2007

• Compare 16 oz = 1 lb to 1000 g = 1 kg

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  by DavidHume on March 6th, 2007

• i tried it in the '70s and never liked it.i've heard your answer many times before and i would like to believe you are right.

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  by Spunts.answered 67 questions in 1 hour. on March 6th, 2007

• still i get scared with too many figures.
  ok i failed math,i just had to let you know that.

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  by Spunts.answered 67 questions in 1 hour. on March 6th, 2007

• Well, it's actually much easier for those poor at maths to convert grams to kg than ounces to pounds etc.

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  by DavidHume on March 6th, 2007

• ok, you are correct,even though i continue to have the same problems with maths.
  throughout my school career,i've always done better in other subjects over the students that were good in maths.my average in maths was always in the 60s=failed but i received distinction in most other.those scores don't count because maths rule the world.it's a little late for me now,i left school summer of '75.
  thank you for for a great question plus the debate.
  
  

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  by Spunts.answered 67 questions in 1 hour. on March 7th, 2007

• You are very welcome. Thanks for your contribution to the debate.

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  by DavidHume on March 7th, 2007

Comments

• Can you explain what you mean here please?

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  by DavidHume on March 7th, 2007

• Horses are measured in hands. Horseracing is over mile distances etc.There can be no satisfactory metric
  equivalent IMO

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  by smart9426 on March 7th, 2007

• Do they even use hands, furlongs etc in the U.S.? Excuse my ignorance.

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  by DavidHume on March 7th, 2007

• I'm not sure re U.S.I would imagine so, as even in the UK the equine world remains imperial

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  by smart9426 on March 7th, 2007

• I am not an equine person myself, but I would have no problems with keeping exceptions like this. Other examples are the Marathon in athletics and jewellery which has its own weight standard, the Troy ounce. I do think though that for most day to day business, metric is far less confusing and allows easier trade between nations.

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  by DavidHume on March 7th, 2007

• Yes and yes. Hands and furlongs.

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  by debsmooth on March 7th, 2007

• Keep those for horse racing and jewellery, no problem. Keep pints for beer if you really want. But for most things, from paper sizes to space exploration, it is easier to use the system the rest of the world has adopted.

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  by DavidHume on March 8th, 2007

Comments

• I would respectfully suggest that there are more important aspects of your heritage than obsolete units. It doesn't "hurt" me, but it's damned inconvenient to have to look up a conversion factor to see what people mean when they quote fluid ounces or degrees Fahrenheit here.

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  by DavidHume on March 8th, 2007

Comments

Comments

• A good reason would be the efficiency gained in import and export of goods.

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  by DavidHume on March 6th, 2007

• The metric system is not english it's French. England as far as i know still uses the imperial system.

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  by Nuclear Kitten on March 6th, 2007

• Not just England but all Britain still uses a lot of Imperial units, although many items (eg fuel and foods) are metric. As of 2007, only the United States, Liberia and Myanmar (Burma) still widely use non-metric units over metric ones. What proud company to be in!

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  by DavidHume on March 6th, 2007

• Yes, that makes sense; sell fuel in litres and measure economy in miles per gallon.

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  by FLYxNIGHT on March 7th, 2007

• Litres per 100 km makes a lot more sense really.

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  by DavidHume on March 7th, 2007