Metric or Imperial?

[Kevrumbo]

Aesthetically, imperial is far superior to metric. Using simplistic metric measures can make one intellectually lazy and, judging from this discussion, tends to create a dour and humorless perspective.

I doubt very much that using metric measures has ever saved anyone's life, and it's unlikely that the imperial system has ever resulted in a fatality.

In any case, working with simplistic decimals is not as deeply satisfying as making fractional calculations. Imperial measurement systems are rich in metaphor. The metric system's terminology is deadly dull, not a trace of poetry, just the bleak efficiency of of a soulless machine.

Go Imperial for the benefit of your soul!

Nah! . . .Actually I think it would be pretty fun & unique if the NFL switched over to the metric system!

 

[TMHeimer]

Actually, even the CFL still goes in yards (though we have 10 more of them, and 10 more in the end zonee). BUT, only 3 downs, so maybe that's Metric???

 

[Centrals]

The penalty spot is still 12yds from goal. And the goal is measure 9' x 24'.
I am also talking about football where all the outfield players can only use feet, except throw-in, to play the ball.

 

[agilis]

And a cricket pitch is still exactly one chain (22 yards in newfangled terms).

When I lived in a small fishing village in Jamaica in the early 1970s short distances were estimated in chains. It's a useful measure still.

 

[MaxBottomtime]

 

[Nemrod]

They still do metric, wasn't that just like a silly fad?

N

 

[JohnnyC]

I didn't know Myanmar has landed on the moon!!!!! That's amazing! Good for them! They could use a little more international respect.

 

[Kevrumbo]

The US military uses metric measurements more than civilians, but it is not universal. Ground forces measure distances in "klicks", slang for kilometers. Most military firearms are measured in metric units, beginning with the M-14 which was introduced in 1957, although a few legacy exceptions exist, such as .50-cal guns. Aircraft Ordnance is normally measured in pounds. Heavy weapon caliber is measured in millimeters. Military vehicles are generally built to metric standards. An exception is the U.S. Navy, whose guns are measured in inches and whose undersea fleet measures distances in terms of "kiloyards" (equivalent to 914.4 m), depth as "feet", and velocity, in some cases, as "feet per second". The Navy and Air Force continue to measure distance in nautical miles and speed in knots . . . Furthermore in military aviation NATO countries use feet for flight heights, as they do in the civilian aviation.

A lot of the usage is guided by NATO STANAGS (standardization agreements) with the goal of having all members use the same standards for measurement to minimize misunderstanding. Another possible but reasonable explanation for the military electing to use metric would be to "improve" relations with our allies. Nothing turns off your friends more than you accidentally getting them killed because you're using two different rulers.

For instance, all military maps are laid out in kilometer grid squares (or the Military Grid Reference System). Everything from Land Navigation to Mortar and Artillery Call for Fire (CFF) procedures are based off of the standardized mapping system. Thus, no matter what, when you look at a grid square, you know that halfway across the square is 500 meters, a tenth of the way across is 100 meters. If the grid squares were in miles, now you have a situation where Lance Corporal Hooyah is trying to divide 1760 by 2, or 5, or 10, or 1/4.

 

[Jailer6]

So long as you know and understand both then go with what you are comfortable with. As has been mentioned over and over again metric is easy, but if the people you dive with use imperial and are not familiar with metric then don't let them use your gear or educate them to understand metric. Just remember to communicate in imperial when diving with your buddies.
Just my two cents.

 

[dmaziuk]

I doubt very much that using metric measures has ever saved anyone's life, and it's unlikely that the imperial system has ever resulted in a fatality.

Fly space shuttle much?