all these stones and feet.... it's so primitive. and its bloody annoying!!!!
2006-11-04 08:05:55 · 21 answers · asked by leon 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
I would help you, but I seriously have no I idea what your talking about. Lol! Peace out. Lataz. Luv/Kodi
2006-11-04 08:07:27 · answer #1 · answered by Kodi F 1 · 2⤊ 3⤋
The US continues to use the old system because it is economically feasible to continue using it, and would cost more money to revamp everything than go to the metric system.
By law, the metric system is a legal system of measurement (though this didn't outlaw the old system). In the 1970's, many highway markers began showing distances in both miles and kilometers (these signs have since been replaced with miles only). This actually made the problem worse. If the government really wanted to have people go to it, they should have simply started posting all signs in kilometers and left miles out. This also compacted the problem by making the metric system confusing. People were more worried about how many miles in a kilometer than how many meters in a kilometer.
Personally, I like the metric system, but I'm actually more comfortable in the old system. I suspect the old system will be around for a long time to come.
2006-11-04 22:39:51 · answer #2 · answered by The Doctor 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because we're Americans, which means rebelliously unique. Well not really, I've been using SI since grade school but I learned standard units, as they are called first, it is still hard for me to think of the SI units first the standard just pop into my head, so chill, most "official" work is SI.
2006-11-04 22:27:20 · answer #3 · answered by just a girl 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's an integral part of our BRITISH culture!!!!! And proves that the yanks can be taught to use correct English with patience!!!! And also perhaps because that's what we've used for yearts and people don't really know what a CM or a metre looks like ! whereas when you say three feet, they can picture it in their mind!
2006-11-05 05:59:55 · answer #4 · answered by pugsley 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is so true. The whole world has gone metric including countries like Zambia. We are always doing different from the rest of the world. Why do not we bloody write the date then month and then year just like the rest of the world?
2006-11-04 16:10:15 · answer #5 · answered by Sam P 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
I'm a Brit & I was brought up to use Stones, Pounds & ounces, Feet & inches, £'s Shillings & pennys
the only reason we are getting rid of them is because we're in euroland
2006-11-04 16:11:30 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
The problem here only refers to U.K. and the U.S. I used to work for a manufacturing company that went metric in the 1970's. But it was too expensive for them to replace all their equipment with the metric equivalent. So I suppose it's all a matter of economics.
2006-11-04 17:47:54 · answer #7 · answered by stef555stef 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Because having grown up with inches, etc. and not being in a science program (where we learn the "correct" units!), all the old people are too stubborn/lazy to learn a new measurement system.
2006-11-04 16:18:16 · answer #8 · answered by shortstuf_2 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Because 12 is nice for carpenters. Try dividing 10 into fourths. Not too bad. Now thirds. Pain in the ***, no? (No one cares about fifths.)
2006-11-05 15:12:24 · answer #9 · answered by tomservo552 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
So are you going to pay the billions and billions of dollars it would take to convert the U.S. economy (not just the government) to S.I.? If you have the money, sure, pony it up and we'll convert. Otherwise, shut up about it.
2006-11-04 21:21:53 · answer #10 · answered by Taivo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Actually, what we use is a system that originated in the U.K.
Foot pounds of torque...a yard of dirt, horses are measured in "hands"...and beer comes in pints...a fifth of vodka...horsepower...
But I agree, it's a headache to work with.
2006-11-04 16:18:00 · answer #11 · answered by Jedi Baptist 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋