Why the US has not implemented metric system?

[ATG]

The only countries in the whole world that do not use the metric system are the USA, Liberia, and Myanmar. Any reason to use archaic measurements instead of changing them to simple, extremely easily understood metric units?

[T Bone]

Originally Posted by ATG

The only countries in the whole world that do not use the metric system are the USA, Liberia, and Myanmar. Any reason to use archaic measurements instead of changing them to simple, extremely easily understood metric units?

Don't forget the UK.

The US military is metric....go figure.

[flyinb501]

Good question.

[AJerman]

Because we're stubborn. I've wished we would just use the metric system for a long time. What the hell is 12 inches in a foot, 3 feet in a yard, who the hell comes up with that? Everything is so much more simple and makes more sense in metric measurements.

[ganeil]

Originally Posted by T Bone

Don't forget the UK.

The US military is metric....go figure.

The UK is metric.

We were just discussing this today. The US military is not exclusively metric; it is confused. In the Army at least, ground distance is given in meters but aircraft elevation is in feet, temperature is almost exclusively given in Fahrenheit, fuel is measured in gallons or pounds, ammunition is designated in millimeters....

[solefald]

yeah, there is way more metric in use in the US than you realize

but yes, it was pretty hard for me converting from metric to retarded.
especially after i got a job as a mechanic at a harley shop... i thought my braing is going to explode haha

[T Bone]

Originally Posted by ganeil

The UK is metric.

We were just discussing this today. The US military is not exclusively metric; it is confused. In the Army at least, ground distance is given in meters but aircraft elevation is in feet, temperature is almost exclusively given in Fahrenheit, fuel is measured in gallons or pounds, ammunition is designated in millimeters....

Yeah....now that I think about it..... Clicks vs. feet vs. mm vs. thrust

Kinda funny living in Canada, we can convert back and forth pretty easily.

[FirstClass]

Standard/Imperial measurement > metric. Why do you think they call it standard? I jest of course, but in all seriousness metric isn't universally better for most applications. For the average person, F is better than C because it's better at expression temperatures you may actually encounter. A hundred degree or so range versus a 30 or so degree range. Pounds are more specific than kilograms as well. Do you really want to give your height in meters? Feet is again more specific. For scientific applications obviously metric is the clear choice but I think imperial units are better for the average person.

[scottwww]

I can use either just fine. It's just annoying that when you pick a wrench or socket, it almost fits, but rather than 1/2" you really needed 12 mm. And then you can't find the 12 mm tool.

[solefald]

Originally Posted by FirstClass

Pounds are more specific than kilograms as well. Do you really want to give your height in meters? Feet is again more specific.

grams are more specific than pounds. pound is less than a kilo, so grams are used.

height is in centimeters, not meters. 178 vs. 5'11" makes more sense.

[T Bone]

Originally Posted by FirstClass

Standard/Imperial measurement > metric. Why do you think they call it standard? I jest of course, but in all seriousness metric isn't universally better for most applications. For the average person, F is better than C because it's better at expression temperatures you may actually encounter. A hundred degree or so range versus a 30 or so degree range. Pounds are more specific than kilograms as well. Do you really want to give your height in meters? Feet is again more specific. For scientific applications obviously metric is the clear choice but I think imperial units are better for the average person.

Spoken like a true imperialist.

[AJerman]

Originally Posted by solefald

grams are more specific than pounds. pound is less than a kilo, so grams are used.

height is in centimeters, not meters. 178 vs. 5'11" makes more sense.

Haha, +1. There are smaller versions of each one that you can use, something can always fit. Saying measuring your height in meters is just plain silly. That would be the equivalent of measuring your height in yards in the standard system.

[KonigsTiger]

When you drive accross the boarder from Mexico into the US, some Freeways have both miles and kilometers posted on them for us Mexicans that don't knwo what the hell miles mean.

[dlwhite]

Metric clocks FTW!

[solefald]

Originally Posted by dlwhite

Metric clocks FTW!

[scottwww]

Metric years have 100 days.

[KonigsTiger]

... and 100 hours in a day and 100 minutes in an hour and ....

[e90im]

Because we can do whatever the F%CK we want, like attack sovereign country based on doctored intel.

Just one example....

[vAnt826]

Because 48.26cm rims just doesn't sound as good as 19inches.

[KonigsTiger]

Originally Posted by e90im

Because we can do whatever the F%CK we want, like attack sovereign country based on doctored intel.

Just one example....

Bahahahahaha!! Best reason I've heard!!!

[Billy13]

The answer is people. In daily life Americans prefer to use what they have been using. It is that simple. Saying that other people and other countries have changed to metrics is ho hum over here with voters. (Many European countries had the metric system imposed upon them by Napoleon after conquest - hardly voluntary change). Labor and unions are afraid that their members will be burdened with costs of conversion. This mandatory conversion idea (that's what you are referencing) has been discussed at least since Jimmy Carter's time when a trial balloon was floated in Washington and fell like the proverbial lead one. Industries are voluntarily adopting metric to be competitive (don't we say liters not cubic inches). But to change measurements that ordinary people use regularly will take a very long time. This is a democracy and saying we should change and changing are very different. (I recall that the metric system was adopted by European countries that were not democracies at the time). How will our standard system of weights and measures be changed without political decision? What politician, congressman do you know is willing to take that on? And by the way, what is the necessity of change? Aren't we doing just fine as is? Try and convince the voter that we are not. Let's see how his life will improve by all the confusion you are asking him to endure. Picture him, picture his congressman, picture his congressman picturing the next election.