• Welcome to the Fantasy Writing Forums. Register Now to join us!

Random thoughts

Reaver

Reaver

Staff
Moderator
When I was known as Little Reaver back in the late seventies, the government tried to get the USA to switch over to the metric system. I was all like: "What?!?!? And be like Canada with their square wheels, maple syrup on all the food and 24/7 Anne Murray on the radio?!?!? Forget it!"
 
C

Chessie

Istari
I wasn't born yet...and didn't live in this country yet...so I don't recall that BUT that would be weird. We're not taught the metric system here as children. Expecting Americans to just switch over to metric system wouldn't go over very well.
 
Velka

Velka

Mystagogue
map_of_countries_that_dont_.png

Metric-vs-Imperial.jpg
 
Devor

Devor

Fiery DEATH!
Moderator
Brian Scott Allen said:
It'd have to be slow and it would take years and cost u told amounts of money and what would it benefit.
Click to expand...

We, too, could measure temperature down to the decimal and count out up to ten tiny millimeters every time we use the tape measure. That would be the benefit of an expense measured in the hundreds of billions of dollars.

Using 12 inches to a foot:

1/2 foot = 6 inches.
1/3 foot = 4 inches.
1/4 foot = 3 inches
1/5 foot = 2.4 inches (can't win them all)
1/6 foot = 2 inches

Meanwhile:
1/2 meter = 50 centimeters
1/3 meter = 33.333 centimeters
1/4 meter = 25 centimeters
1/5 meter = 20 centimeters
1/6 meter = 16.667 centimeters

If you're looking at a third of a unit, would you rather count up to 33.33 or to 4?

I mean, the metric system is great, especially for scientific areas. But the imperial system isn't always as bad as it's made out to be. And contrary to popular belief, the metric system is taught in schools and used regularly in the US in all the places that it actually matters. There really isn't a benefit to the cost of switching out all the tools and machinery and signage that really doesn't make a difference.
 
Brian Scott Allen

Brian Scott Allen

Dark Lord
Devor said:
We, too, could measure temperature down to the decimal and count out up to ten tiny millimeters every time we use the tape measure. That would be the benefit of an expense measured in the hundreds of billions of dollars.

Using 12 inches to a foot:

1/2 foot = 6 inches.
1/3 foot = 4 inches.
1/4 foot = 3 inches
1/5 foot = 2.4 inches (can't win them all)
1/6 foot = 2 inches

Meanwhile:
1/2 meter = 50 centimeters
1/3 meter = 33.333 centimeters
1/4 meter = 25 centimeters
1/5 meter = 20 centimeters
1/6 meter = 16.667 centimeters

If you're looking at a third of a unit, would you rather count up to 33.33 or to 4?

I mean, the metric system is great, especially for scientific areas. But the imperial system isn't always as bad as it's made out to be. And contrary to popular belief, the metric system is taught in schools and used regularly in the US in all the places that it actually matters. There really isn't a benefit to the cost of switching out all the tools and machinery and signage that really doesn't make a difference.
Click to expand...
Oh great now I have to change my position because I'm an extremely petty revolutionary. Go metric system instant change right now!!
 
T

TheKillerBs

Mystagogue
Devor said:
We, too, could measure temperature down to the decimal and count out up to ten tiny millimeters every time we use the tape measure. That would be the benefit of an expense measured in the hundreds of billions of dollars.

Using 12 inches to a foot:

1/2 foot = 6 inches.
1/3 foot = 4 inches.
1/4 foot = 3 inches
1/5 foot = 2.4 inches (can't win them all)
1/6 foot = 2 inches

Meanwhile:
1/2 meter = 50 centimeters
1/3 meter = 33.333 centimeters
1/4 meter = 25 centimeters
1/5 meter = 20 centimeters
1/6 meter = 16.667 centimeters

If you're looking at a third of a unit, would you rather count up to 33.33 or to 4?

I mean, the metric system is great, especially for scientific areas. But the imperial system isn't always as bad as it's made out to be. And contrary to popular belief, the metric system is taught in schools and used regularly in the US in all the places that it actually matters. There really isn't a benefit to the cost of switching out all the tools and machinery and signage that really doesn't make a difference.
Click to expand...

While your overarching point is fair, the criticism that a system based on decimals doesn't work as well with fractions using thirds is kind of silly because, well, the system is designed to use decimals. The imperial system is designed to use fractions, mostly in multiples of 2s and 3s. I could make the same critique about the foot using 1/7 of a foot, which is what, 1.71 inches? Doesn't seem so good now. And you would counter, rightly so, that you would never be in a position where you would need to use sevenths of a foot, which is the exact same argument I make about the thirds. Notice how clean the fifth was in metric compared to imperial? It's because, if you converted decimal to fraction, they would be multiples of 2s and 5s instead.
 
T

ThinkerX

Valar Lord
Going full metric would put the automotive tool makers out of business...eventually.

I have assorted sockets and wrenches in both English and Metric denominations. Gets to be a pain sometimes...is that a 10 millimeter or a 3/8ths? At least some of the time its a mix. I have rulers marked in both millimeters and inches. Likewise, I note that a lot of the stuff I buy at the grocery store gives both ounces and grams.
 
CupofJoe

CupofJoe

Istari
ThinkerX said:
Going full metric would put the automotive tool makers out of business...eventually.

I have assorted sockets and wrenches in both English and Metric denominations. Gets to be a pain sometimes...is that a 10 millimeter or a 3/8ths? At least some of the time its a mix. I have rulers marked in both millimeters and inches. Likewise, I note that a lot of the stuff I buy at the grocery store gives both ounces and grams.
Click to expand...
But think of the 20 years of Boom as they get to sell us all our tools again...
And then once we've gone metric we'll have to decide if it is JIS or DIN???
 
Devor

Devor

Fiery DEATH!
Moderator
TheKillerBs said:
While your overarching point is fair, the criticism that a system based on decimals doesn't work as well with fractions using thirds is kind of silly because, well, the system is designed to use decimals. The imperial system is designed to use fractions, mostly in multiples of 2s and 3s. I could make the same critique about the foot using 1/7 of a foot, which is what, 1.71 inches? Doesn't seem so good now. And you would counter, rightly so, that you would never be in a position where you would need to use sevenths of a foot, which is the exact same argument I make about the thirds. Notice how clean the fifth was in metric compared to imperial? It's because, if you converted decimal to fraction, they would be multiples of 2s and 5s instead.
Click to expand...

Let me put it this way: There's a reason the 10 hour metric clock never happened. The 12 hour shifts work for the same reason above, and 60 is even better.

For 60:

1/2 = 30
1/3 = 20
1/4 = 15
1/5 = 12
1/6 = 10

^ This was how the system was designed, deliberately, by the Babylonians. They wanted real people to immediately understand how long a third of an hour was.

So yes, the reliance of decimals in the metric system is a tradeoff, with a downside, just like anything else. Maybe it's really minor in most applications, but it's there.
 
Brian Scott Allen

Brian Scott Allen

Dark Lord

^ That is my kid's favorite cartoon. When he just wants to chill I pull out the ole phone, click the YouTube app, and he says "Dance," And we watch this twice in a row. Kid likes the old classics I guess.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top