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30-Year-Old Just Discovered How Ridiculous The Imperial System Is, Can’t Believe Not Everyone Is Using The Metric System
Giedrė Vaičiulaitytė Community member
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Every time the US citizens dare to complain about their weather, people who live outside the states usually mock them for the use of Fahrenheit, as pretty much no one knows temperature they’re exactly describing. But the temperature scale is not the only measurement that has people around the globe confused. Why? Because the USA uses the imperial system while most of the world uses the metric system.
As a system, the imperial unit system was first defined in the British Weights and Measures Act of 1824. It was later reduced and refined, however, most of the countries that used it (the British Empire and colonies) have since moved to metric system units. Well, not our dear ole states. They simply switched some things up, put a label “United States customary units” on it and went on their merry way. Still, doesn’t mean it’s not going to confuse the rest of the world, who are happily using the simplistic metric units of measurement.
And it surely confused one funny Twitter user, Innes McKendrick, who went on quite a rant after taking a closer look at some of the measurements. “The reason I made the horrific discovery was a paragraph in Mike Clelland’s Ultralight Backpackin’ Tips book: “The math here is all done in ounces. With 16 ounces to a pound, conversion gets a little tricky otherwise, unlike that ingenious metric system”. Obviously, I was floored. SIXTEEN. Wow. I guess I figured it would be about 12, but never bothered to check given that I’m more than adequately served by the universally superior metric system” McKendrick told Bored Panda. He also went on to explain that he’d not be coming back to the topic of the imperial system as he feels he does not possess the “mental fortitude to take a second look”. Scroll down below to read what his funny tweets, and don’t forget to tells us what you think in the comments!
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One Twitter use decided to take a closer look at the imperial system and it sent him on quite the rant
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McKendrick is a video game programmer and calls himself “universally unknown,” but says this isn’t the first time he has caused a stir on the internet. “If anyone is aware of me it’s probably because of a time I got really angry about egg cups, or the time I started a petition to be able to drink the cursed liquid found inside an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus. Which failed. They didn’t let me drink it.”
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As the thread continues McKendrick provides more evidence as to why he calls the system a “sadistic horrorshow of mismatched measurements and illogical divisions.” Perhaps a strong reaction to some but as he told the outlet, “Just look at the imperial system Look at it. I would say, if anything, my reaction was not strong enough.”
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To add fuel to the fire McKendrick said the thread had prompted some people to reach out and share their knowledge, “People keep trying to tell me more about the imperial system, which is obviously beyond awful for me. I’m getting DMs from men who really want nothing more than for me to memorize the conversion between different imperial units (I won’t) or to admit that Fahrenheit is at times a more useful system (it isn’t),” he said.
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An oxgang or bovate is a land measurement that was used in England and Scotland in the early 16th century. This measurement averaged 20 acres or eight hectares but could also be as low as 15 acres or 6 hectares. The measurement refers to the amount of land one ox could till in a plowing season.
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For people who thought the reason for his anger had to do with math itself he clarified that that was not the issue “I’m not baffled or incapable of basic maths. I absolutely do not need help understanding imperial measurements. I fully understood, from one glance at a conversion chart and another glance back to our decimal number system, that imperial is an utter shitshow and I’m far better served by the excellent, consistent and logical metric system.”
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Here’s how people responded to the long rant
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As a writer and image editor for Bored Panda, Giedrė crafts posts on many different topics to push them to their potential. She's also glad that her Bachelor’s degree in English Philology didn’t go to waste (although collecting dust in the attic could also be considered an achievement of aesthetic value!) Giedrė is an avid fan of cats, photography, and mysteries, and a keen observer of the Internet culture which is what she is most excited to write about. Since she's embarked on her journalistic endeavor, Giedrė has over 600 articles under her belt and hopes for twice as much (fingers crossed - half of them are about cats).
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As a writer and image editor for Bored Panda, Giedrė crafts posts on many different topics to push them to their potential. She's also glad that her Bachelor’s degree in English Philology didn’t go to waste (although collecting dust in the attic could also be considered an achievement of aesthetic value!) Giedrė is an avid fan of cats, photography, and mysteries, and a keen observer of the Internet culture which is what she is most excited to write about. Since she's embarked on her journalistic endeavor, Giedrė has over 600 articles under her belt and hopes for twice as much (fingers crossed - half of them are about cats).
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What do you think ?
r3dd3v1lL 6 years ago
Caps lock issues aside, the guy is 100% right. Why anyone would use such a ridiculous system is beyond me. I especially love this diagram that "clarifies" everything. I also "love" the Farenheit system- at what temperature does water freeze- 32. Why use 0 when you have 32? It's not like most people go to the beach or under the AC when it's 32 outside in the summer. And that's not even going in the whole AM/PM b******t. Why can't people count to 24? Oh and the month/ day/ year thing needs to die a quick and ignominious death too. english-le...-units.png 
Maci Wilcox 6 years ago (edited)
I go to an American public school, and in science class we actually use a mix of both systems, which is - surprise! - still really confusing XD
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Signe Bjurstrom 4 years ago
Reply to 'Alphaidiot' Nazi Wernher von Braun made it happen with only usable metric system. Imperial system is used only by you r****d imperialist sons of bitches, and not for long.Checkmate, f**k off and die in your rotten country.
Jeff Christensen 5 years ago
The scientist who defined the scheme set zero at the coldest temperature he could find (a salt-ice mixture) and 100 at human body temperature, so it's not totally stupid.
AlphaPuck 5 years ago
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Imperial system landed on the moon. Checkmate and f**k off.
Petteri Moilanen 3 years ago
"Contrary to urban myth, NASA did use the metric system for the Apollo Moon landings. SI units were used for arguably the most critical part of the missions – the calculations that were carried out by the Lunar Module’s onboard Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) during the computer-controlled phases of the spacecraft’s descent to the surface of the Moon, and for the journey of the Ascent stage of the craft during its return to lunar orbit, where it would rendezvous with the Command and Service Module (CSM). Apollo Guidance Computer display readouts were in units of feet, feet per second, and nautical miles – units that the Apollo astronauts, who had mostly trained as jet pilots, would have been accustomed to using. Internally, however, the computer’s software used SI units for all powered-flight navigation and guidance calculations, and values such as altitude and altitude rate were only converted to imperial units when they needed to be shown shown on the computer’s display. You lose
Night Owl 6 years ago (edited)
That diagram looks like a nightmare. Props to whoever created it (the diagram, that is; not the imperial system)
diane a 6 years ago
Am screwed up with measurements. I learned all the UK ones before being cruelly converted to metric and Decimalization age 7. Hence I dont know either. I dont know what a perch, a rod or a pole is, nor can I envisage a hectare, but I know what an acre looks like. I can envisage 1000 lb - but not a cwt. I know how many furlongs in a mile, but I struggle to convert metres to yards. I swam a mile as a kid, but my badge told me I swum kilometres, I will always measure my weight in stones, and my cooking in lbs, oz and pints, - hard to convert it in your head to litres - easier with a measuring jug, I know a pint ofwater weighs a pound and that a litre weighs a kilogramme. I know an inch is 2.3 cm/ish - and that a kilogramme is 2.2something/ish. Kids who grew up in that era are very confused/we had yardsticks - then they gave us different metre-sticks - cant do it age 7. We did the 100 yds race - then they changed it to 100m. 200yds got changed. We didnt have a clue by age 10.
Myriam Ickx 5 years ago
@diane a: I don't know how old you are now, but I hope that you have finally mastered the decimal system. As the word indicates, everything goes by 10. You can safely forget about the furlong, the fathom and the cwt. Don't lose any more time doing conversions either, you must have better things to do. Even in the US, the scientific and technical industries use the decimal system.
Zori the degu 6 years ago
I can't recall who said that wise thing: "At least our system(the metric system) is not invented by a drunk mathematician rolling a dice", but there's never been a bigger true in existence.
Random Panda 5 years ago
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@Cassie, the metric wasn't invented by the Brits, it's French and was used widely across Europe before the Brits adopted it.
Cassie 6 years ago
"At least our system" - they're both Brit systems. Imperial Units came to the US from Britain and then the Brits changed over to metric and the US didn't. We can all blame the Romans to some extent, though, since the the early English systems were largely based on Roman measurements.
António Eliphis 6 years ago
Don't forget either that the metric system was created by Napolean's scientists (I'm Portuguese, and despite having invaded my country, the metric system was actually a very good legacy they left). Therefore adopting the metric system would mean, for those old school British scholars, that the royal empire had lost the fight against the French! Humilliation then! About Americans, they just need to be "special and single" in everything (football; US gallon, etc.).
Myriam Ickx 5 years ago (edited)
Allow me a correction: actually, Louis XVI ordered a scientist to find a basis for the meter, which was a rather complicated and time-consuming issue. Meanwhile, the Revolution intervened, but saw the interest of this work, and the metric system was officially created and adopted by the French in 1795. Napoleon just "exported" it in all the countries where he went to wage wars... Having never been invaded by Napoleon, the British stuck to the Imperial system, which had developed over time since the Dark Ages, and was legally defined in 1824.
WillemPenn 5 years ago
US actually uses the English system (Winchester Standard) that was in place at the time the US claimed Independence from England (1776). The UK moved to ever more "reasonable" Imperial System in 1825. I got this from Wikipedia so it must be true.
Martha Meyer 5 years ago
Just read farther up. At least some of the American here think the metric system was invented by the Brits.
Marvin Doolin - Poppa 5 years ago
His caps lock use appeared to be intentional, FWIW. He WAS yelling most of the time, and rightfully so. Note his shift to lower case occasionally.
Bob Beltcher 5 years ago
100% everything you said. The world needs a global standard for all of this.
Alex Ochiana 5 years ago
Actually, i kinda like the AM/PM thing. Everything else is b******t tho.
Tom Dibble 5 years ago
Although, honestly, day/month/year seems far inferior to year-month-day, so that's at least one Americanism (nee Britishism) you can't bang over our heads too loudly. Of course, the only thing worse than one inconsistent and confusing unit system is two unit systems, which is what we've been suffering through in the US since I was in grade school (and it doesn't seem like we're getting any closer to getting rid of miles/feet/pounds/ounces).
xiaomiao 5 years ago
I think am and pm really came about more because the suns zenith was the most obviousvand fool proof way to determine time way back when. Mechanical clocks being woefully fickle. The month day year thing is beacause we in the usa say the month first, date second and year last, its not wrong, just different.
Cesi Baca 5 years ago
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This is a really lame story though. Just a low key reson to hate on America. A simple app on your phone that can convert measurements and problem solved for both sides.
Thomas Martin 5 years ago
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Why would someone use the ridiculous metric system? Is a base 10 derived from how many fingers and toes we have. If we were smart, we'd be on a base 12 already. It's why in Canada inches is still preferred in construction as it's a crude form of base 12.
rola 6 years ago
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Fahrenheit is based in relation to humans, not water. I'd much rather like to know the temperature relative to myself than to water. I don't care when water freezes; when will *I* freeze?
Bunzilla 6 years ago
Uh.... except it's not? Guess what 0˚F is based off of? Care to guess? It's the temperature of brine. BRINE. (Equal parts water, ice and salt) How is that based off the human body? The guy who invented the system, also randomly decided that if brine was 0˚F, then water freezing at 32˚F was perfectly fine! It's also based off of water, it just makes 1000% less sense than Celsius.
12BadgersInASuit 6 years ago
You're, like, 60% water. If water is freezing, you risk freezing.
r3dd3v1lL 6 years ago
You do realise about 50- 60% of you is water right? And besides you'll know to drive/ walk carefully because there might be ice/ snow on the roads. And water boils at 100 degrees. Well at least no one uses Kelvin where the zero is actually the absolute zero- it was something like -273 in Celsius.
David 6 years ago
I don't understand the replies here... rola's point is fine, don't understand the downvotes. And no, I'm not American, my country uses centigrade, and yes, I'm a scientist, I work with measurements in a variety of contexts. The comments saying that water makes sense because "our bodies are made of water" are... like... I don't understand how you people function on a day to day basis if you believe that your body freezes solid at 0 degrees Celsius. Your body is closer to brine than to water. Fahrenheit is literally just a different scale, no more or less valid than centigrade is. Rola is right, the weather is the most common day-to-day use of temperature scales. So like, step back, you people are so unbelievably over-the-top. Take some Valium ffs.
triumvarate complete 6 years ago
I still don't understand why we don't just convert to the metric system like the rest of the world
Bunzilla 6 years ago
The US is apparently actually SUPPOSED to be using metric... it's just that nobody wants to bother switching over. And school systems aren't teaching it for some reason? Considering the fact that the rest of the world uses metric, you'd think it'd be a priority to teach it to school children.
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MBZ MetalsmithArtist 6 years ago
They started teaching metric in US schools in the seventies...claiming we were going to switch by the end of the century. I remember being excited about how much easier it was going to be, it was simple and universal. We all become proficient quickly....then POOF! The metric initiative disappeared, around the same time as the pet rock. We just couldn't handle the beautiful logic and simplicity I guess
SirWriteALot 5 years ago
Too busy teaching the earth is flat, 2000 years old and the sun revolves around the earth. Oh, and vaccines cause autism.
MBZ MetalsmithArtist 6 years ago
Ps though I primarily use imperial measurements in my home life, as an (American) jeweler I use metric every day. I was amazed when my adult jewelry students had no concept of how long a millimeter was. Certainly a teachable moment!
Tony Reynolds 5 years ago
I was in elementary school in the 70s and they did teach us the metric system in school then. But that was under the Carter (Democrat) administration. When Reagan (Republican) came into office, his administration killed the program that taught kids metric (because 'Murica!, apparently), and that was that. I am proficient in both systems but I constantly decry the idiocy of hanging on to this antiquated Imperial system. Apparently multiplying by 10 is too difficult for my fellow Americans.
John Baker 6 years ago
I learned the metric system in elementary school - and that was over fifty years ago.
Kim Lorton 5 years ago
Nurses and doctors use metrics, and ratio and proportions. And you do use them. I memorized the metric table so on tests I wouldn’t have to freak. And I was a nurse !
Meowton Mewsk 6 years ago
They do teach the metric system in school. We just never use it again after that.
Myriam Ickx 5 years ago
Considering the poor state of your public schools system, I am not surprised.
Samhhain Cat 5 years ago
Teaching ANYTHING to school children (except hateful religion) isn't a priority at all. Especially science. There's a reason the rest of the civilized world a) beats American on EVERY SINGLE LIST about education and b) the rest of the world takes CLIMATE CHANGE seriously. The average American knows F**K ALL about science, the scientific method, and critical thinking.
Bobbi Newell 6 years ago
We were all set to switch. President Jimmy Carter instigated it in the late 70s with highways posted in metric as well as imperial. TV stations nationwide aired PSAs. Our school district introduced elementary students to the idea by giving real-world comparisons (a centimeter is about as wide as your pinkie), and a full-on assembly in junior high complete with cheesy skits. Then Ronald Reagan was elected in 1980, reversed the decision, and seemingly nobody in DC has brought it up since. Science classes will teach in metric units, weights and volumes on food packaging are printed for both systems, as well as on various measuring tools, and I know that's what my daughter works with as an engineer, so we are exposed to metric; it just flies under the radar. Personally, I would prefer metric for weight/volume/length, but Fahrenheit for temperatures, because you can get more nuanced readings than with Celsius.
SirWriteALot 5 years ago
more nuanced readings than with celcius ... ever heard of the numbers that come after the comma?
Susan Forbes 5 years ago
I remember Canada switching over in the 70s, before that I remember my dad buying gas on vacation in "Imperial gallons"
Whomst’d’ve 6 years ago
I mean, it'd be nice to switch obviously, but it's not that easy. I mean, EVERY SINGLE THING that displays a measurement would have to be switched out, and on top of that, it would take forever having to wrangle with the sedentary system that is the States' politics. I'm sure that we'll get to it eventually, but right now we have a LOT of things that have a higher priority right now. For example, gun control and healthcare (two of the big ones!) and the ever pressing environmental issues.
Jörg Zingler 6 years ago
Napoleon prolly did not conquer your country in the late 1700s to early 1800s? That's how we got it.
Night Owl 6 years ago (edited)
Because tradition. And in praxis it wouldn't be possible to suddenly switch overnight so for some time there would be both systems in use which could make things confusing and complicated for a while until the switch is completed but it seems there are already some serious starts in all fields, especially anything connected to science and trade https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_the_United_States Edit: Ups, I just assumed but don't know where you're from and there are mertrications all over the world so... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_the_United_Kingdom https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_Canada https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_Australia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_New_Zealand
KatHat 6 years ago
Every other country that converted from Imperial to Metric (and there's a lot of them) have coped with the switch. Much of science and engineering, at least, already uses it as they have to when working with virtually every other country. It needs planning and yes, time, but it can be done :)
Stannous Flouride 6 years ago (edited)
It is estimated that it costs the US an extra $1.5 TRILLION* to maintain two separate measuring systems. Not to mention the loss of a $125 million Mars Orbiter satellite: http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/9909/30/mars.metric.02/
Joyce Wilson 5 years ago
Been living in the US for 4 months. Tried buying a ruler or a tape measure with both inches and centimetres. We’ve found none! We eventually bought a sewing kit (which makes sense enough to use the imperial system with) and it comes with a tape measure that included the metric measurements. 🤦🏻♀️
elfin 5 years ago
I suspect it's because people are used to the current system and a switch would be expensive. We should definitely get rid of daylight savings time, though. That's just nasty.
Jim Williams 6 years ago
How about a barrel of oil isn't 55 gallons but 42 instead. We tried to convert. Nobody wanted to so they called it off and just let everyone use both systems now. Seems to work. A CM is about a half inch, a meter is about a yard, a kilo is a little over 2 pounds and a KM is like 2/3 of a mile or some s**t.
Flyre Bird 6 years ago
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Actually, a cm is about a third of an inch and a meter is about three yards
Myriam Ickx 5 years ago (edited)
Actually, the metric system is already in use in the USA in most scientific and technological fields. (FYO, two space missions failed badly because of error in conversion between metric and Imperial systems which caused pieces not to fit exactly and create a tiny leak), but for some unknown reason, the metric system has never been officially adopted. I put this down to Americans' reluctance to change and adopt a basically "foreign" system, and overall conservatism. Note that the USA are in good company in sticking to the inches and ounces: the only 2 other countries in the world not using the metric system are Liberia (that's in Africa) and Myanmar (ex-Burma, in SE Asia). What does that tell you?
Darryl Kerrigan 6 years ago
He should move to the UK. I'm a Gen X mess: Distance and speed on the roads: Miles Distance from Office to Fire Escape: Metres Height: Feet and inches Body Weight: Stone Weight of a block of cheese: Grams Soft drinks: 500ml bottle Milk/booze: Pints Cocaine: Grams Weed: Ounces
Darryl Kerrigan 6 years ago
Sorry for the lack of full stops everyone. Wrote it in a list and it autocrrected.
Load More Replies... Jörg Zingler 6 years ago
How do you know cocaine is weighed in grams? Asking for a friend.....
Stannous Flouride 6 years ago
I'm 66 and watch a lot of UK panel shows and it was just this year that I figured out that when someone says "full stop" they mean what in the US is "period." Used with the same intent, i.e., "that's it, the matter is settled." Except in URLs when we say, as does the rest of the world "dot."
Greg Krasichynsky 5 years ago
In America there are no full stops. It's called a periodic demi (or period for short) or more properly, a chiggler's tord. It's one seventh of a heptord.
Marc O'Callaghan 5 years ago
In some cases I find the imperial system can be handier - if I'm talking about 1.5 kilometres I'll tend to say a mile, and if I'm talking about 500 grams I'll say a pound. All mathematical conversion logic aside, a gram is a completely meaningless unit in daily use, because anything used in cooking weighs at least tens, if not hundreds on grams, so in that case I'll just say an ounce, half a pound or a pound.
Meowton Mewsk 6 years ago
In the US, we also buy cocaine in grams. But weed comes in ounces and grams depending on how much you need.
diane a 6 years ago
Hogshead. The hogshead of beer and ale was equal to a quarter of a tun, half a butt, a barrel and a half or three kilderkins. This unit is close in size to the wine hogshead. From the mid-15th century until 1824, the ale hogshead was defined as 48 ale or beer gallons (221.8 L). It gets worse the more you look into it
r3dd3v1lL 6 years ago
Caps lock issues aside, the guy is 100% right. Why anyone would use such a ridiculous system is beyond me. I especially love this diagram that "clarifies" everything. I also "love" the Farenheit system- at what temperature does water freeze- 32. Why use 0 when you have 32? It's not like most people go to the beach or under the AC when it's 32 outside in the summer. And that's not even going in the whole AM/PM b******t. Why can't people count to 24? Oh and the month/ day/ year thing needs to die a quick and ignominious death too. english-le...-units.png
Maci Wilcox 6 years ago (edited)
I go to an American public school, and in science class we actually use a mix of both systems, which is - surprise! - still really confusing XD
Load More Replies... Signe Bjurstrom 4 years ago
Reply to 'Alphaidiot' Nazi Wernher von Braun made it happen with only usable metric system. Imperial system is used only by you r****d imperialist sons of bitches, and not for long.Checkmate, f**k off and die in your rotten country.
Jeff Christensen 5 years ago
The scientist who defined the scheme set zero at the coldest temperature he could find (a salt-ice mixture) and 100 at human body temperature, so it's not totally stupid.
AlphaPuck 5 years ago
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Imperial system landed on the moon. Checkmate and f**k off.
Petteri Moilanen 3 years ago
"Contrary to urban myth, NASA did use the metric system for the Apollo Moon landings. SI units were used for arguably the most critical part of the missions – the calculations that were carried out by the Lunar Module’s onboard Apollo Guidance Computer (AGC) during the computer-controlled phases of the spacecraft’s descent to the surface of the Moon, and for the journey of the Ascent stage of the craft during its return to lunar orbit, where it would rendezvous with the Command and Service Module (CSM). Apollo Guidance Computer display readouts were in units of feet, feet per second, and nautical miles – units that the Apollo astronauts, who had mostly trained as jet pilots, would have been accustomed to using. Internally, however, the computer’s software used SI units for all powered-flight navigation and guidance calculations, and values such as altitude and altitude rate were only converted to imperial units when they needed to be shown shown on the computer’s display. You lose
Night Owl 6 years ago (edited)
That diagram looks like a nightmare. Props to whoever created it (the diagram, that is; not the imperial system)
diane a 6 years ago
Am screwed up with measurements. I learned all the UK ones before being cruelly converted to metric and Decimalization age 7. Hence I dont know either. I dont know what a perch, a rod or a pole is, nor can I envisage a hectare, but I know what an acre looks like. I can envisage 1000 lb - but not a cwt. I know how many furlongs in a mile, but I struggle to convert metres to yards. I swam a mile as a kid, but my badge told me I swum kilometres, I will always measure my weight in stones, and my cooking in lbs, oz and pints, - hard to convert it in your head to litres - easier with a measuring jug, I know a pint ofwater weighs a pound and that a litre weighs a kilogramme. I know an inch is 2.3 cm/ish - and that a kilogramme is 2.2something/ish. Kids who grew up in that era are very confused/we had yardsticks - then they gave us different metre-sticks - cant do it age 7. We did the 100 yds race - then they changed it to 100m. 200yds got changed. We didnt have a clue by age 10.
Myriam Ickx 5 years ago
@diane a: I don't know how old you are now, but I hope that you have finally mastered the decimal system. As the word indicates, everything goes by 10. You can safely forget about the furlong, the fathom and the cwt. Don't lose any more time doing conversions either, you must have better things to do. Even in the US, the scientific and technical industries use the decimal system.
Zori the degu 6 years ago
I can't recall who said that wise thing: "At least our system(the metric system) is not invented by a drunk mathematician rolling a dice", but there's never been a bigger true in existence.
Random Panda 5 years ago
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@Cassie, the metric wasn't invented by the Brits, it's French and was used widely across Europe before the Brits adopted it.
Cassie 6 years ago
"At least our system" - they're both Brit systems. Imperial Units came to the US from Britain and then the Brits changed over to metric and the US didn't. We can all blame the Romans to some extent, though, since the the early English systems were largely based on Roman measurements.
António Eliphis 6 years ago
Don't forget either that the metric system was created by Napolean's scientists (I'm Portuguese, and despite having invaded my country, the metric system was actually a very good legacy they left). Therefore adopting the metric system would mean, for those old school British scholars, that the royal empire had lost the fight against the French! Humilliation then! About Americans, they just need to be "special and single" in everything (football; US gallon, etc.).
Myriam Ickx 5 years ago (edited)
Allow me a correction: actually, Louis XVI ordered a scientist to find a basis for the meter, which was a rather complicated and time-consuming issue. Meanwhile, the Revolution intervened, but saw the interest of this work, and the metric system was officially created and adopted by the French in 1795. Napoleon just "exported" it in all the countries where he went to wage wars... Having never been invaded by Napoleon, the British stuck to the Imperial system, which had developed over time since the Dark Ages, and was legally defined in 1824.
WillemPenn 5 years ago
US actually uses the English system (Winchester Standard) that was in place at the time the US claimed Independence from England (1776). The UK moved to ever more "reasonable" Imperial System in 1825. I got this from Wikipedia so it must be true.
Martha Meyer 5 years ago
Just read farther up. At least some of the American here think the metric system was invented by the Brits.
Marvin Doolin - Poppa 5 years ago
His caps lock use appeared to be intentional, FWIW. He WAS yelling most of the time, and rightfully so. Note his shift to lower case occasionally.
Bob Beltcher 5 years ago
100% everything you said. The world needs a global standard for all of this.
Alex Ochiana 5 years ago
Actually, i kinda like the AM/PM thing. Everything else is b******t tho.
Tom Dibble 5 years ago
Although, honestly, day/month/year seems far inferior to year-month-day, so that's at least one Americanism (nee Britishism) you can't bang over our heads too loudly. Of course, the only thing worse than one inconsistent and confusing unit system is two unit systems, which is what we've been suffering through in the US since I was in grade school (and it doesn't seem like we're getting any closer to getting rid of miles/feet/pounds/ounces).
xiaomiao 5 years ago
I think am and pm really came about more because the suns zenith was the most obviousvand fool proof way to determine time way back when. Mechanical clocks being woefully fickle. The month day year thing is beacause we in the usa say the month first, date second and year last, its not wrong, just different.
Cesi Baca 5 years ago
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This is a really lame story though. Just a low key reson to hate on America. A simple app on your phone that can convert measurements and problem solved for both sides.
Thomas Martin 5 years ago
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Why would someone use the ridiculous metric system? Is a base 10 derived from how many fingers and toes we have. If we were smart, we'd be on a base 12 already. It's why in Canada inches is still preferred in construction as it's a crude form of base 12.
rola 6 years ago
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Fahrenheit is based in relation to humans, not water. I'd much rather like to know the temperature relative to myself than to water. I don't care when water freezes; when will *I* freeze?
Bunzilla 6 years ago
Uh.... except it's not? Guess what 0˚F is based off of? Care to guess? It's the temperature of brine. BRINE. (Equal parts water, ice and salt) How is that based off the human body? The guy who invented the system, also randomly decided that if brine was 0˚F, then water freezing at 32˚F was perfectly fine! It's also based off of water, it just makes 1000% less sense than Celsius.
12BadgersInASuit 6 years ago
You're, like, 60% water. If water is freezing, you risk freezing.
r3dd3v1lL 6 years ago
You do realise about 50- 60% of you is water right? And besides you'll know to drive/ walk carefully because there might be ice/ snow on the roads. And water boils at 100 degrees. Well at least no one uses Kelvin where the zero is actually the absolute zero- it was something like -273 in Celsius.
David 6 years ago
I don't understand the replies here... rola's point is fine, don't understand the downvotes. And no, I'm not American, my country uses centigrade, and yes, I'm a scientist, I work with measurements in a variety of contexts. The comments saying that water makes sense because "our bodies are made of water" are... like... I don't understand how you people function on a day to day basis if you believe that your body freezes solid at 0 degrees Celsius. Your body is closer to brine than to water. Fahrenheit is literally just a different scale, no more or less valid than centigrade is. Rola is right, the weather is the most common day-to-day use of temperature scales. So like, step back, you people are so unbelievably over-the-top. Take some Valium ffs.
triumvarate complete 6 years ago
I still don't understand why we don't just convert to the metric system like the rest of the world
Bunzilla 6 years ago
The US is apparently actually SUPPOSED to be using metric... it's just that nobody wants to bother switching over. And school systems aren't teaching it for some reason? Considering the fact that the rest of the world uses metric, you'd think it'd be a priority to teach it to school children.
Load More Replies... MBZ MetalsmithArtist 6 years ago
They started teaching metric in US schools in the seventies...claiming we were going to switch by the end of the century. I remember being excited about how much easier it was going to be, it was simple and universal. We all become proficient quickly....then POOF! The metric initiative disappeared, around the same time as the pet rock. We just couldn't handle the beautiful logic and simplicity I guess
SirWriteALot 5 years ago
Too busy teaching the earth is flat, 2000 years old and the sun revolves around the earth. Oh, and vaccines cause autism.
MBZ MetalsmithArtist 6 years ago
Ps though I primarily use imperial measurements in my home life, as an (American) jeweler I use metric every day. I was amazed when my adult jewelry students had no concept of how long a millimeter was. Certainly a teachable moment!
Tony Reynolds 5 years ago
I was in elementary school in the 70s and they did teach us the metric system in school then. But that was under the Carter (Democrat) administration. When Reagan (Republican) came into office, his administration killed the program that taught kids metric (because 'Murica!, apparently), and that was that. I am proficient in both systems but I constantly decry the idiocy of hanging on to this antiquated Imperial system. Apparently multiplying by 10 is too difficult for my fellow Americans.
John Baker 6 years ago
I learned the metric system in elementary school - and that was over fifty years ago.
Kim Lorton 5 years ago
Nurses and doctors use metrics, and ratio and proportions. And you do use them. I memorized the metric table so on tests I wouldn’t have to freak. And I was a nurse !
Meowton Mewsk 6 years ago
They do teach the metric system in school. We just never use it again after that.
Myriam Ickx 5 years ago
Considering the poor state of your public schools system, I am not surprised.
Samhhain Cat 5 years ago
Teaching ANYTHING to school children (except hateful religion) isn't a priority at all. Especially science. There's a reason the rest of the civilized world a) beats American on EVERY SINGLE LIST about education and b) the rest of the world takes CLIMATE CHANGE seriously. The average American knows F**K ALL about science, the scientific method, and critical thinking.
Bobbi Newell 6 years ago
We were all set to switch. President Jimmy Carter instigated it in the late 70s with highways posted in metric as well as imperial. TV stations nationwide aired PSAs. Our school district introduced elementary students to the idea by giving real-world comparisons (a centimeter is about as wide as your pinkie), and a full-on assembly in junior high complete with cheesy skits. Then Ronald Reagan was elected in 1980, reversed the decision, and seemingly nobody in DC has brought it up since. Science classes will teach in metric units, weights and volumes on food packaging are printed for both systems, as well as on various measuring tools, and I know that's what my daughter works with as an engineer, so we are exposed to metric; it just flies under the radar. Personally, I would prefer metric for weight/volume/length, but Fahrenheit for temperatures, because you can get more nuanced readings than with Celsius.
SirWriteALot 5 years ago
more nuanced readings than with celcius ... ever heard of the numbers that come after the comma?
Susan Forbes 5 years ago
I remember Canada switching over in the 70s, before that I remember my dad buying gas on vacation in "Imperial gallons"
Whomst’d’ve 6 years ago
I mean, it'd be nice to switch obviously, but it's not that easy. I mean, EVERY SINGLE THING that displays a measurement would have to be switched out, and on top of that, it would take forever having to wrangle with the sedentary system that is the States' politics. I'm sure that we'll get to it eventually, but right now we have a LOT of things that have a higher priority right now. For example, gun control and healthcare (two of the big ones!) and the ever pressing environmental issues.
Jörg Zingler 6 years ago
Napoleon prolly did not conquer your country in the late 1700s to early 1800s? That's how we got it.
Night Owl 6 years ago (edited)
Because tradition. And in praxis it wouldn't be possible to suddenly switch overnight so for some time there would be both systems in use which could make things confusing and complicated for a while until the switch is completed but it seems there are already some serious starts in all fields, especially anything connected to science and trade https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_the_United_States Edit: Ups, I just assumed but don't know where you're from and there are mertrications all over the world so... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_the_United_Kingdom https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_Canada https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_Australia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrication_in_New_Zealand
KatHat 6 years ago
Every other country that converted from Imperial to Metric (and there's a lot of them) have coped with the switch. Much of science and engineering, at least, already uses it as they have to when working with virtually every other country. It needs planning and yes, time, but it can be done :)
Stannous Flouride 6 years ago (edited)
It is estimated that it costs the US an extra $1.5 TRILLION* to maintain two separate measuring systems. Not to mention the loss of a $125 million Mars Orbiter satellite: http://www.cnn.com/TECH/space/9909/30/mars.metric.02/
Joyce Wilson 5 years ago
Been living in the US for 4 months. Tried buying a ruler or a tape measure with both inches and centimetres. We’ve found none! We eventually bought a sewing kit (which makes sense enough to use the imperial system with) and it comes with a tape measure that included the metric measurements. 🤦🏻♀️
elfin 5 years ago
I suspect it's because people are used to the current system and a switch would be expensive. We should definitely get rid of daylight savings time, though. That's just nasty.
Jim Williams 6 years ago
How about a barrel of oil isn't 55 gallons but 42 instead. We tried to convert. Nobody wanted to so they called it off and just let everyone use both systems now. Seems to work. A CM is about a half inch, a meter is about a yard, a kilo is a little over 2 pounds and a KM is like 2/3 of a mile or some s**t.
Flyre Bird 6 years ago
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Actually, a cm is about a third of an inch and a meter is about three yards
Myriam Ickx 5 years ago (edited)
Actually, the metric system is already in use in the USA in most scientific and technological fields. (FYO, two space missions failed badly because of error in conversion between metric and Imperial systems which caused pieces not to fit exactly and create a tiny leak), but for some unknown reason, the metric system has never been officially adopted. I put this down to Americans' reluctance to change and adopt a basically "foreign" system, and overall conservatism. Note that the USA are in good company in sticking to the inches and ounces: the only 2 other countries in the world not using the metric system are Liberia (that's in Africa) and Myanmar (ex-Burma, in SE Asia). What does that tell you?
Darryl Kerrigan 6 years ago
He should move to the UK. I'm a Gen X mess: Distance and speed on the roads: Miles Distance from Office to Fire Escape: Metres Height: Feet and inches Body Weight: Stone Weight of a block of cheese: Grams Soft drinks: 500ml bottle Milk/booze: Pints Cocaine: Grams Weed: Ounces
Darryl Kerrigan 6 years ago
Sorry for the lack of full stops everyone. Wrote it in a list and it autocrrected.
Load More Replies... Jörg Zingler 6 years ago
How do you know cocaine is weighed in grams? Asking for a friend.....
Stannous Flouride 6 years ago
I'm 66 and watch a lot of UK panel shows and it was just this year that I figured out that when someone says "full stop" they mean what in the US is "period." Used with the same intent, i.e., "that's it, the matter is settled." Except in URLs when we say, as does the rest of the world "dot."
Greg Krasichynsky 5 years ago
In America there are no full stops. It's called a periodic demi (or period for short) or more properly, a chiggler's tord. It's one seventh of a heptord.
Marc O'Callaghan 5 years ago
In some cases I find the imperial system can be handier - if I'm talking about 1.5 kilometres I'll tend to say a mile, and if I'm talking about 500 grams I'll say a pound. All mathematical conversion logic aside, a gram is a completely meaningless unit in daily use, because anything used in cooking weighs at least tens, if not hundreds on grams, so in that case I'll just say an ounce, half a pound or a pound.
Meowton Mewsk 6 years ago
In the US, we also buy cocaine in grams. But weed comes in ounces and grams depending on how much you need.
diane a 6 years ago
Hogshead. The hogshead of beer and ale was equal to a quarter of a tun, half a butt, a barrel and a half or three kilderkins. This unit is close in size to the wine hogshead. From the mid-15th century until 1824, the ale hogshead was defined as 48 ale or beer gallons (221.8 L). It gets worse the more you look into it
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