Let's make some more reactionary, xenophobic heads explode: WH Petition for the Metric System

[zipplewrath]

46. Whatever

I have to use both collections of systems extensively, and really have no preference for one over the other. My preference is for the one that is compatible with my data. These days most of my data and references are in US customary units, so I prefer working in that system. Change my references (most of them generated by the US government or their agents) and I'll change systems. For many industries, that'd be VERY expensive.

Most folks don't know it, but neither system is more "accurate" these days.. The US Customary is pegged to the metric system so they have, functionally, the same accuracy. Also, neither is a "system" in and of themselves, but really are collections of systems. The optimum is to have a single set of units that are always used so that conversions aren't necessary. It should also be a "self consistent" set (use Newtons and Kg since Newtons are Kg-m/sec^2).

A few other poorly known facts. Not all metric units are in "tens". Seconds are "metric" and still have 60 in a minute. And I still prefer "degrees" to "radians" even though they aren't part of a consistent set of units. And not all scientific disciplines "love" all metric units. AU's (Astronomical units) are still widely used. Also, there is a reason that the sytem of "12's" was created, and it does have its conviences, which is why it is still widely used, even in metric countries. In retail, 12 is a very "divisible" number. You can divide by 2, 3, and 4. Which means halves, quarters, thirds. You can't do that with 10 eggs, but you can divide a dozen eggs into thirds, quarters. This is also kind of important in a way in the carpentry world, which is why tape measures still tend to have halves, quarters, eighths, sixteenths, ect. (That actually has less to do with dozens, and more to do with a device called a "divider". You tended to call it a "compass" in elementary school).