Why do many people continue to use prehistoric measurements such as feet, pounds, stones?

Question

Why not progress to metric measurements like most of the civalised world ?

Or is it a non-issue ?

Answer 1

they are pre-historic to those who think we should change, those of us who have and do use them , consider them current units of measure

Would you like to spend millions of pounds (that is money £s !!) changing all the road sign and vehicles to Kph rather than Miles?

The unit of measure we use are irrelevant as long as we all understand them

Answer 2

We tried to "Go Metric" in the states back in the 1970's and 1980's. The problem is, it's a big country, and there's a LOT of infrastructure that would need to switch over. Just changing all the speed limit signs was an expensive prospect.

Ultimately, it came down to education. The US school system could barely teach kids how to read and write. Teaching how to use two different measuring systems during what would likely be a generation long transition proved to be more than the US Education system could handle. Since the transition never really "Took Off" in the states, most schools dropped Metric from their curriculum after a decade or so.

Remember, the United States are 37th, 38th in the industrialized world in Math.

A national "Everything must be Metric by XXX" referendum would fail miserably, as the entrenched unions and lobbyist groups would make a massive stink. The "Baby Boomers" never learned metric and don't want to now. They're going to be the dominant voting block until the generation has largely died off, so the US won't have another shot at going Metric until then.

In other words, the states MIGHT try going Metric in another 40 to 60 years, but don't hold your breath.

Answer 3

It's not really 'prehistoric', as that would imply that these measurement system predate writing, but systems like the Imperial system could definitely be called 'archaic'.

The United States is the only really big hold-out on the switch-over, mostly because they're all a bunch of sissy-babies who are afraid to learn anything new.

They go on about 'it would be too hard to change all the road signs' or 'old people wouldn't be able to understand it', or 'all my tools are Imperial'.

But Canada managed to do it without much fuss. It was simply decided back in 1979 that 'We're metric'.

Only metric system measures were taught in schools. Weather forecasts on the news were done in metric. All the road signs, on the thousands of miles of roads in Canada were all switched to metric.

It took a few months, and some old geezers still whinge on about it, but now everyone's metric. I have no idea what those stupid Fahrenheit measures mean. I know 72 is about a nice room temperature, because a lot of places still have old thermostats, but otherwise, the metric version works a lot better.

For other systems, we use whichever one is more convenient. Since our roads are still laid out in mile wide grids, we usually measure close road directions by miles. Longer distances were always measured by hours anyhow (i.e. Calgary's about 3 hours away, Jasper's about 5), so it doesn't matter which system you use. People's height and weight are more convenient in Imperial (5' 10" is easier to visualize than 1.78 metres).

But when doing engineering or anything else, metric is so much easier because you don't have to do weird, convoluted conversions to figure out how long or how heavy something is if you scale it up.

So just switch over and quick belly-aching you Americans. Man up already.

Answer 4

I don't really think it's an issue. I use imperial for somethings (such as my weight and height) and metric for other things (such as small measurements and weighing ingredients). It's not actually a case of people trying to keep a tradition going, it's simply that a lot of older people were brought up using them and it's difficult to change over, and to be honest, why bother if you already have a perfectly good system of measurement in your head? Most people who use imperial know how to convert metric units to their preferred units and I don't see why anyone should bother geting worked up about this since it doesn't cause anyone using metric any real inconvenience.
The fact that they work in imperial units means that they talk about weight and height in imperial measures and this gets passed on to their children, who like me end up understanding both. I think it's better to know about both. Britain, despite attempting to convert to metric in the 70's still works to a large extent in imperial (no matter what the official rules say about displaying only metric weights). It didn't work very well for many of the same reasons described by others who are talking about the US attempts at conversion in their answers above.

Answer 5

A few reasons:
Historical precedent is hard to overcome. It requires retraining the entire society, which takes a period of years where the new system is introduced alongside the old one, taught in schools, etc., while the old system is gradually phased out. This requires effort that does not necessarily need to be expended.
It's also unclear what benefit would be gained. While metric units are convenient for most scientific applications (and indeed are used by scientists universally), "imperial" units are often more practical for daily use. E.g. if you've ever baked, cups, tablespoons, etc., are a lot more intuitive and easy to work with than, say, 350 ml, etc. Many people cite this as the reason to refrain from switching away.
Finally, at least in the U.S., there was widespread opposition to adoption of the metric system for reasons of nationalist pride. Efforts in the late 70s were met with violent disapproval (people shooting down signs marked in km/h, for example). Also the perceived connection to communism (i.e. anything "foreign" or European) didn't help.

Answer 6

Because 'prehistoric' measurement units were/are interesting and understanding them was part of your education. They weren't difficult for people to understand.

Unfortunately, even with moving to the metric system, the quality of education is so poor now that most youngsters can't even work in a base 10 system (Go on - ask what a base 10 system is).

Answer 7

I think one point that has been missed is that learning the old fashioned way in LSD taught you to get a grip on the subject whereas the decimal system is so easy that no real thought is called for. I remember building a raft for a race and working out the flotation needed, eight blokes at about ten stones each= 80 stones=1.120 pounds= half a ton.=112 gallons @ 10 lbs per gallon, then to give it freeboard double it 224 gallons =44 five gallon drums. Now decimal would have been so much quicker with hardly any thinking to do

Answer 8

We use them because they are an accepted standard which we can visualise and calculate in our heads.
As a kid I could calculate £/S/D into parts of pounds and ounces. considering 144d in a pound of money and 16 ounces in a pound weight.
Most people cannot do that with metric measurements.
Go into any shop and ask the person buying to add up what they bought or the person behind the counter to calculate the change without using a machine, you will be shocked.
Easier is not always better.

Answer 9

For the same reason there are different languages around the world; different nationalities have different ways of doing things ... such as measuring, for example. It would be a really boring world if everyone was exactly the same.

Worry about something a little more important, like world peace.

Answer 10

I was brought up with metric measurements but I still think it is insane to start charging shopkeepers for selling goods in pounds.
People often don't like the metric system because they've been brought up with imperial measurements (e.g. "Why don't they let us old folk die off before they start using the metric?").

And because metric is a French invention.

Answer 11

It is an issue, but we 'Imperialists' are beginning to see the advantages of the 'Metric System'.

Our system, to you, may seem pre-historic but, it has served us for hundreds of years. It is apparent however, that the metric system is easier to work with but, it takes a long time for people to re-adjust to change and that some older people find it very difficult.
Come to that, why is the US gallon, pint and other units different to anyone else's and they are still using some of their own units.
(I'm pleased that my education has covered UK (mainly), and Metric and US systems).

(By the way, I like a good old 20 ounce pint (not 16 oz) of ale and a 4.5 litre gallon of PETROL ... my car doesn't run on GAS).