...but as soon as we left, everything was still in Imperial? Why is that? Why didnt the UK change to the metric system when they changed to decimal currency?
2006-12-09 01:18:40 · 11 answers · asked by Mark J 2 in Social Science ➔ Economics
This was just one of those times when Jo Public put two fingers up to the EEC and chose to do the "British" thing by remaining Imperial as far as possible.
2006-12-09 01:22:18 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's been the same for years, I left school in 1986 with virtually no comprehension of Imperial measurements, but as soon as I left and started work everything was Imperial and I was totally lost.
It is not the way of working that needs changing, it is the way we are educated. Back in the 1980s we were told that by the time we left school everything would be metric an Imperial would be obsolete, but as yet nothing has or ever will change.
2006-12-09 01:33:31 · answer #2 · answered by Hendo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They should adopt the metric system so we could all speak the same language. But... UK has adopted the metric system in 1971. We are, I believe, in 2006. They have had enough time to switch to metric, but, although they teach it at school, they still use yards, inches, pounds (which, funny enough, has the same pronunciation and spelling than the "other" pound, leading to many confusions: "Give me a pound of beef" is not the same as "Give me (for) a Pound of beef"). So, if the Brits have not been able to adapt yet, after 35 years, how do you expect Americans to manage it???? That is why everybody else is learning to speak English. If we did not, how would we speak to them (both Brits and Americans)? Actually, the only reasonable people I know are airline pilots, the FAA and the CAA: they have adopted English as THE mandatory language. Think of a pilot flying from north Russia to Marocco: he would have to speak 21 languages to be understood by the traffic controls... BTW: the aircraft that crash landed several years ago, near Winnipeg, ran out of fuel because "someone" (pilot, loaders and others) could not use metric and make conversions...
2016-05-22 22:41:14 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
With the exception of our currency, why did we need to change to the European model in the first place. The Americans still measure in pounds (lbs) and miles. The EU agenda has obviously been going a long time. Eventually, they will have us driving on the right (wrong) side of the road.
2006-12-09 04:25:23 · answer #4 · answered by Veritas 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The U.K. is in breach of european laws as all other countries are currently using the metric system. Even your road speed signs are in contravention of E.C Laws.
Why not ask your local M.P about this issue as you seriously need to to implement the current regulations....and as for the decimal currency......Britain would be far better off if they changed to the Euro as it is absolutely brilliant not having to change currencies when travelling abroad and it makes life so easy!
So for the moment you need to learn how to convert LBS. to KGS. and M.P.H. to KMS.
2006-12-09 01:25:59 · answer #5 · answered by loulou150653 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the country is not run by (very) young people, and we oldies are still trying to understand metric (and failing), so we put up every barrier we can to show what we think of having this completely mystifying system hoisted onto us.
2006-12-12 08:39:46 · answer #6 · answered by xyz 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In the UK most items are marked with both systems, which is quite legal. You can buy a pound of tomatos even if they are priced in kilos, at the check-out they are re-weighed and charged in kilos.
One item which dose amuse me is wood, when you buy it at a builders yard, you choose the width and depth you require and then the length. The , guy at the yard I buy from, will sell me 2 metres of 3"x2", he can`t get out of the habit of calling it `three by two` !
2006-12-09 12:22:28 · answer #7 · answered by Social Science Lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because every corporate execute is an old-timer and learned the Imperial system in school. I didn't learn much metric in school in the 1970's & 80's. Anyway, there's nothing wrong with inch, foot, yard, and mile, etc... etc...
2006-12-09 01:34:41 · answer #8 · answered by ? 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Successive governments know that an all out change is ultimately very sensible yet so politically and electorally damaging because it would be hugely unpopular with the voting public.
2006-12-09 01:27:52 · answer #9 · answered by ♥Robin♥ (Scot,UK) 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Erm, but most food is in grammes and litres,
Materials are usualy by the metre.
Miles and pints survive, for drunken drivers.
2006-12-09 01:21:49 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 2⤋