Why are Americans taught that they are the only ones who still use miles not kilometers?

Question

I asked a question about the Simpsons and the fact that they think we use kilometers and was surprised how many people are taught that America is the only place still using miles! I'm wondering why they are taught something that is wrong. I live in the UK by the way and we definately use miles!

For everyone who 'doesn't care', please don't bother answering just for point. For any one who was actually interested, we use the metric system for everything else.

Answer 1

There has been a movement in the U.S. since the 1970's to go completely metric. I remember being told in grade school that we would go metric by the year 2000. That was in the 1980's, and we are still on the old system. I found out later, that the U.K. still uses miles. But you are right, we are taught that everyone but us uses the metric system. Like I said, I think it has to do with people trying to force a move over to metric. Also, Canada does use kilometers. A lot of Americans assume that since Canada is a commonwealth member, that it must mirror what is done in the U.K.

Answer 2

I was taught that the US was the only place that had not converted to the metric system (although we study it in school and it is used for science and medicine, among other things). Perhaps because the UK uses metric for most things, the fact that you use miles has been overlooked. By the way, I live in China and they use inches to describe the size of pictures and tailors use inches when they make clothing. So the generalization has more than one exception.

Answer 3

Just like any other country there are ignorant ones, smart ones and just plain arrogant ones. The ignorant ones don't know any better but sometimes come around when you try to explain that their money IS metric and try to explain to them what Pounds, shillings and pence involves and they get really confused! The smart ones, scientists, engineers and the medical profession already do use metric! Oh, and of course the arrogant ones just think the rest of the world should change to their way of doing things. I don't really know if it's true or not, but I heard that a whole ship load of washing machines got returned to the US from Europe once because they arrived with 2 yard power cords unstead of the specified 2 metres. I think that's pretty funny if its true but nowadays there is at least ISO9000 and a bunch of other specs companies have to adhere to. BTW kilo means a thousand but that looks like a typo on your part. If I remember correctly (and most people don't need to!) 1=units, deca=10, centi=100, kilo=1000 mega=1 000 000 Going the other way: deci = .01, milli = .001, micro = .000 001, nano = .000 000 001 and pico = .000 000 000 001 The terms billions, trillions and zillions is just an American thing. I'm English and have lived in the USA about 30 years. Since just after the UK started minting metric money (as in 10 pence coins not florins) and I remember older people converting back to shillings (20 to a Pound) and old pennies (12 to a shilling) before doing math and then converting back again. Can you imagine that? That's like taking 100 meters x 25 meters and converting it yards feet and inches before you try to calculate the area and then try to convert it back again. Try that even WITH a calculator and tell me it's not confusing! American medical students first couple of college years are full conversion calculations that they wouldn't even need to know for an exam if they just went metric and got it over with. In that past 30 years the UK has pretty much gone metric and my guess is that those who haven't gotten used to it are well over 65. I think they could have done it much quicker. I refuse to believe Americans would take longer! The government does need to help though. I will give you an example of how the government can help. They have to act like they mean it. For example, they keep saying they want to do away with the dollar bill (not the dollar, just the paper note) and replace it with a coin. Let's face it, it's only worth a rupee now anyway. But until the government mints the coins AND takes the paper bills out of circulation it will never happen.

Answer 4

I don't know why we all think that. Maybe because we are always told that the rest of the world uses the metric system (and it is actually being used here in many instances, i.e. we no longer buy a half gallon of Coca Cola but we buy a 2 liter bottle)

I have always been under that same assumption. kilometers is metric, so if other countries use the metric system, they must measure distance in kilometers.

I guess it is a wrong assumption.

Answer 5

That is news to me. I thought all of Europe was on the metric system. I was in the Cayman Islands (British west indies) in the spring of 2004 and I was told by several people there that Europe was on the metric system.
It originally evolved when a costumer asked if a water heater was US gallons or Imperial gallons. The boss man said there is no more Imperial gallons it is all metric now.

Answer 6

i don't think it matters much to most americans who uses miles or kilometers or any other unit of measure until they travel to a different country and need to know what that country uses. i'm american and i've always known the uk uses miles. perhaps that's because i live there half time but i don't remember ever not knowing it.

Answer 7

To live in the past is charming... In New Zealand kilometers are definitely used...

Answer 8

Americans aren't taught they are only to use miles instead, but considering that miles is the rate of meaurement here in America it would be pretty dumb and pointless to do it in kilometers only to have to convert it, dontcha think?

Answer 9

I once had an argument with an American about this. I really don't know why he was trying to argue with me because I am actually from England, but he was convinced that we used Kilometres.

Answer 10

I was not taught that. Americans assume if it is not US, it is metric. They did not listen in class.