Why Don't Americans Use the Metric System?
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Date: 2023-07-30
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Comments and reviews: 20
John
Thank you for getting this right. I'm so tired of the falsehood that the USA doesn't use the metric system. The correct answer is the US laws do not force the usage of the metric system. I personally use grams when I cook because I like to weigh ingredients. But since all of my scales and measuring cups are in both metric and imperial, I can use either if the recipe calls for it. And since I tend to change every recipe I keep, I just convert them to grams when I write it down.
Almost every product in the USA is sold with both metric and imperial measurements on the package. People are free to use whatever system they choose and purchase whatever measuring tools they want.
I tend to use imperial when doing diy projects because I find imperial fractions easier to use. But, in the end, it's just a number on a tape measure so it really makes no difference. I also use nautical measurement when sailing, I don't hear any whining about forcing sailors to use kilometers instead of knots. Probably because most people don't sail and don't care. What hypocrites.
It appears to me the real issue is education. Students in the US are taught both systems. As with most subjects, some retain it and some do not. It seems to me those the most vocal about forced conversion to the metric system have either not been taught the imperial system and are ignorant about it, refuse to use it out of spite, or are not smart enough to use it.
The USA values freedom. And the freedom to use whatever measuring system we want to exists in this country. Those that converted to metric had it forcibly imposed, which resulted in protests and even violence. Those today are able to judge others only because they didn't have it shoved down their throats against their own protests.
How easy it is to dispense judgement when it doesn't impact the one judging.
Pretty
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Thank you for getting this right. I'm so tired of the falsehood that the USA doesn't use the metric system. The correct answer is the US laws do not force the usage of the metric system. I personally use grams when I cook because I like to weigh ingredients. But since all of my scales and measuring cups are in both metric and imperial, I can use either if the recipe calls for it. And since I tend to change every recipe I keep, I just convert them to grams when I write it down.
Almost every product in the USA is sold with both metric and imperial measurements on the package. People are free to use whatever system they choose and purchase whatever measuring tools they want.
I tend to use imperial when doing diy projects because I find imperial fractions easier to use. But, in the end, it's just a number on a tape measure so it really makes no difference. I also use nautical measurement when sailing, I don't hear any whining about forcing sailors to use kilometers instead of knots. Probably because most people don't sail and don't care. What hypocrites.
It appears to me the real issue is education. Students in the US are taught both systems. As with most subjects, some retain it and some do not. It seems to me those the most vocal about forced conversion to the metric system have either not been taught the imperial system and are ignorant about it, refuse to use it out of spite, or are not smart enough to use it.
The USA values freedom. And the freedom to use whatever measuring system we want to exists in this country. Those that converted to metric had it forcibly imposed, which resulted in protests and even violence. Those today are able to judge others only because they didn't have it shoved down their throats against their own protests.
How easy it is to dispense judgement when it doesn't impact the one judging.
Pretty
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billyyank
The metric system has the inherent advantage of being base-10 across the board, but there are also some disadvantages and inconsistencies.
First, every metric country insists on confusing weight with mass. For example you may hear someone say that the weight of an object is 10 kilograms. No, that is the mass of the object. The weight is measured in Newtons, but you almost never hear Newtons used as a measurement of weight. The American use of pounds may be clunky, but at least we know the difference between weight and mass. When was the last time you heard an American describe the weight of something in slugs? Exactly.
The Celsius scale is also problematic. Based on the reaction of water to heat, it is very useful in chemistry and related fields. Fahrenheit on the other hand is based on the reaction of air to heat, making this scale much more useful in meteorology. The Fahrenheit scale is also much more more graduated than Celsius, so a weather forecaster using the Fahrenheit scale does not have to break up the degree measurements into decimals to precisely describe ambient temperature.
On a side note, I find it rather amusing that a base-10 measurement system was born out of a country whose language counts in base-20. Very peculiar.
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The metric system has the inherent advantage of being base-10 across the board, but there are also some disadvantages and inconsistencies.
First, every metric country insists on confusing weight with mass. For example you may hear someone say that the weight of an object is 10 kilograms. No, that is the mass of the object. The weight is measured in Newtons, but you almost never hear Newtons used as a measurement of weight. The American use of pounds may be clunky, but at least we know the difference between weight and mass. When was the last time you heard an American describe the weight of something in slugs? Exactly.
The Celsius scale is also problematic. Based on the reaction of water to heat, it is very useful in chemistry and related fields. Fahrenheit on the other hand is based on the reaction of air to heat, making this scale much more useful in meteorology. The Fahrenheit scale is also much more more graduated than Celsius, so a weather forecaster using the Fahrenheit scale does not have to break up the degree measurements into decimals to precisely describe ambient temperature.
On a side note, I find it rather amusing that a base-10 measurement system was born out of a country whose language counts in base-20. Very peculiar.
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MissBabalu102
I will write this before I watch this. In America we use both systems, like a hybrid. In the 1960s the government tried to FORCE US to use only the metric system, but the people wanted to keep ours for everyday, ordinary life. The measurements are more relatable to humans and what we do in an ordinary day, and I myself would never want to part from it. I have little need to translate to metric. Fahrenheit is more accurate, because it's doubled. In the grocery stores we have ounces and milliliters on most packaging. Inches and feet are more human sized. Then the scientists and engineers DO of course use the metric system because it's all about math, and also relatable to people working in other countries. OK, so I will now watch this sure to be annoying video. Maybe the rest of the world could use both, how about that?
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I will write this before I watch this. In America we use both systems, like a hybrid. In the 1960s the government tried to FORCE US to use only the metric system, but the people wanted to keep ours for everyday, ordinary life. The measurements are more relatable to humans and what we do in an ordinary day, and I myself would never want to part from it. I have little need to translate to metric. Fahrenheit is more accurate, because it's doubled. In the grocery stores we have ounces and milliliters on most packaging. Inches and feet are more human sized. Then the scientists and engineers DO of course use the metric system because it's all about math, and also relatable to people working in other countries. OK, so I will now watch this sure to be annoying video. Maybe the rest of the world could use both, how about that?
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Kenyatta
Honestly I can tell you why we don't use metric in one simple phrase, teachers were lazy. I was in 1st through 5th grade between 1978 - 1982 and we were being taught the metric system & none of our teachers really wanted to teach it at all. This led me to believe that the metric system was some convoluted system that didn't make any sense. However when I started traveling outside America, mostly Europe, then moved to Germany for a few years I realized that the metric system is A) not difficult to learn and B) a much simpler & more precise measuring system. To me this is just another example of America being ass backwards & holding onto something that just doesn't make any sense.
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Honestly I can tell you why we don't use metric in one simple phrase, teachers were lazy. I was in 1st through 5th grade between 1978 - 1982 and we were being taught the metric system & none of our teachers really wanted to teach it at all. This led me to believe that the metric system was some convoluted system that didn't make any sense. However when I started traveling outside America, mostly Europe, then moved to Germany for a few years I realized that the metric system is A) not difficult to learn and B) a much simpler & more precise measuring system. To me this is just another example of America being ass backwards & holding onto something that just doesn't make any sense.
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Kandi
I used to work for a company who was consolidating their spare parts ordering system across all of their plants. There were alot of both measurements (inches/millimeters. We had to sort thru all of the parts descriptions to create a cohesive file for each part so that all the plants were using the same parts. I really enjoyed that job. except my tendency to go down rabbit holes getting as much info as I could for each part. which ultimately affected my productivity. I did find that the metric measurements were more accurate than the imperial, especially when trying to consolidate multiple parts into one file for easier ordering by the plants.
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I used to work for a company who was consolidating their spare parts ordering system across all of their plants. There were alot of both measurements (inches/millimeters. We had to sort thru all of the parts descriptions to create a cohesive file for each part so that all the plants were using the same parts. I really enjoyed that job. except my tendency to go down rabbit holes getting as much info as I could for each part. which ultimately affected my productivity. I did find that the metric measurements were more accurate than the imperial, especially when trying to consolidate multiple parts into one file for easier ordering by the plants.
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Jake
One thing that's always 'fun' is working on cars during what I call the SAE to Metric Transition Period which more or less the 80s into the 90s on american cars. What size is that fastener? 3/8in or 10mm? Your guess is as good as mine! (sometimes you get lucky and the hardness markings are there as a dead giveaway if it's metric or not.
Usually what seemed to be the case was the age of the parts when they were originally engineered, like if a car was engineered in the 80s but the drive train dated back to a 60s design most likely all of the drivetrain bolts will be SAE and everything else Metric.
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One thing that's always 'fun' is working on cars during what I call the SAE to Metric Transition Period which more or less the 80s into the 90s on american cars. What size is that fastener? 3/8in or 10mm? Your guess is as good as mine! (sometimes you get lucky and the hardness markings are there as a dead giveaway if it's metric or not.
Usually what seemed to be the case was the age of the parts when they were originally engineered, like if a car was engineered in the 80s but the drive train dated back to a 60s design most likely all of the drivetrain bolts will be SAE and everything else Metric.
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Lars
How much is 100 pennies? Yeah you use the metric system and you don't even know it.
The metric system is the language of science and the empirical system is for peasants.
I'm not even kidding. a few centuries ago farmers didn't need to learn advanced mathematics, so a fixed set of numbers were just the way to go.
You can actually find some of the older methods of counting and measurements on old cash registers. When they still used shilling and dozens. It was all divided in two, four, eight, sixteen, thirty-six and so on.
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How much is 100 pennies? Yeah you use the metric system and you don't even know it.
The metric system is the language of science and the empirical system is for peasants.
I'm not even kidding. a few centuries ago farmers didn't need to learn advanced mathematics, so a fixed set of numbers were just the way to go.
You can actually find some of the older methods of counting and measurements on old cash registers. When they still used shilling and dozens. It was all divided in two, four, eight, sixteen, thirty-six and so on.
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illuminati
Why is Englishman John Wilkins not mentioned in this video? (he came up with the Metric system on Monday, April 13, 1668) 2 YEARS before Gabriel Mouton started to talk about it.
But America will NOT convert for 3 simple reasons.
1 They think it is French (it isn't) - 2 they HATE change - 3 They don't want to spend money even thou the Imperial system is even more costly to keep using)
Search for Nerd Nite #5: Metric System Lecture to find out WHY Metric is 1000 times better. (and saves lives(and money)
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Why is Englishman John Wilkins not mentioned in this video? (he came up with the Metric system on Monday, April 13, 1668) 2 YEARS before Gabriel Mouton started to talk about it.
But America will NOT convert for 3 simple reasons.
1 They think it is French (it isn't) - 2 they HATE change - 3 They don't want to spend money even thou the Imperial system is even more costly to keep using)
Search for Nerd Nite #5: Metric System Lecture to find out WHY Metric is 1000 times better. (and saves lives(and money)
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Restoring
Much more curious than that is why anyone in the world gains so much joy out of pushing that obviously idiotic space ball down people's throats when any child who hasn't been indoctrinated by a retarded adult automatically understands that water must be contained and it's impossible for us to live on the surface of a ball covered in mostly water moving four directions at once all faster than the speed of sound but none detectable by instruments or man's senses.
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Much more curious than that is why anyone in the world gains so much joy out of pushing that obviously idiotic space ball down people's throats when any child who hasn't been indoctrinated by a retarded adult automatically understands that water must be contained and it's impossible for us to live on the surface of a ball covered in mostly water moving four directions at once all faster than the speed of sound but none detectable by instruments or man's senses.
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Bic
Why doesn't everyone use imperial? Why isn't that the question. look whatever works. I'm a science major and still have problems visualizing metric at times. As long as the measurements required are accurate and work for you who cares? Dumb argument. If europeans use metric good for them. If we dont good for us. Its all relative in comprehension. Right brain left brain. Ones not better than other both have something to offer.
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Why doesn't everyone use imperial? Why isn't that the question. look whatever works. I'm a science major and still have problems visualizing metric at times. As long as the measurements required are accurate and work for you who cares? Dumb argument. If europeans use metric good for them. If we dont good for us. Its all relative in comprehension. Right brain left brain. Ones not better than other both have something to offer.
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Ema
Two things. One, oddly, this video doesn't mention the notorious case of the 125M Mars Climate Orbiter, lost because Lockheed Martin was using Imperial and NASA, Metrics (1998.
Two. Do you realize that the bottom line of one of the reasons given for not changing from Imperial to metrics is, Americans are too dumb as to learn and use a different measurement system, we'll have to fire everybody and hire immigrants?
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Two things. One, oddly, this video doesn't mention the notorious case of the 125M Mars Climate Orbiter, lost because Lockheed Martin was using Imperial and NASA, Metrics (1998.
Two. Do you realize that the bottom line of one of the reasons given for not changing from Imperial to metrics is, Americans are too dumb as to learn and use a different measurement system, we'll have to fire everybody and hire immigrants?
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Darren
The metric system is very simple and easy. You can easily derive the volume of anything from measurements alone. For example 1 cubic centimetre (cc) is also 1 millilitre (ml) of volume. So a 10cm X 10cm X 10cm cube is 1000 millilitres or 1 litre. I notice Americans use litres when measuring engine capacity. I suppose a 5 litre V8 sounds better than saying you have a 1. 32 gallon engine
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The metric system is very simple and easy. You can easily derive the volume of anything from measurements alone. For example 1 cubic centimetre (cc) is also 1 millilitre (ml) of volume. So a 10cm X 10cm X 10cm cube is 1000 millilitres or 1 litre. I notice Americans use litres when measuring engine capacity. I suppose a 5 litre V8 sounds better than saying you have a 1. 32 gallon engine
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taunting
The true question is why does the world use the metric system? /j
Lowkey though, there have been studies that demonstrate using non-standard measurements like the imperial system, improve your cognitive reasoning and ability to compare objects. However, standard systems like the metric system, can improve your communication and language skills. To me, we need both systems.
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The true question is why does the world use the metric system? /j
Lowkey though, there have been studies that demonstrate using non-standard measurements like the imperial system, improve your cognitive reasoning and ability to compare objects. However, standard systems like the metric system, can improve your communication and language skills. To me, we need both systems.
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btetschner
I graduated the sociology Master's program at the University of Missouri after 19 consecutive years of school. 19 years to the day!
My favorite films I watched while in the Master's program is Heathers (1989) and Mean Girls (2004, favorite series is Strangers With Candy (1999-.
Heathers (1989) is being re-released in theaters TODAY, for its 35th Anniversary!
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I graduated the sociology Master's program at the University of Missouri after 19 consecutive years of school. 19 years to the day!
My favorite films I watched while in the Master's program is Heathers (1989) and Mean Girls (2004, favorite series is Strangers With Candy (1999-.
Heathers (1989) is being re-released in theaters TODAY, for its 35th Anniversary!
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Ned
Too bad that so many of the commenters did not listen to you. They refer to the imperial system and not the USCS as you correctly did. They will get things wrong especially for volumes, but also for higher weights. How many have even heard of the hundredweight which is divided into two versions: the short and the long? They lead to the short ton and the long ton.
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Too bad that so many of the commenters did not listen to you. They refer to the imperial system and not the USCS as you correctly did. They will get things wrong especially for volumes, but also for higher weights. How many have even heard of the hundredweight which is divided into two versions: the short and the long? They lead to the short ton and the long ton.
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Paul
I work in Additive Manufacturing where a parts physical dimensions are measured in microns (1000th of a millimeter, but the final part is requested in inches by the contractors. I had an engineer demand once that ALL his requested parts and blueprints conform to the decimal system until I used the decimal calendar to date his forms. Good times.
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I work in Additive Manufacturing where a parts physical dimensions are measured in microns (1000th of a millimeter, but the final part is requested in inches by the contractors. I had an engineer demand once that ALL his requested parts and blueprints conform to the decimal system until I used the decimal calendar to date his forms. Good times.
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btetschner
3: 13 Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette won five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, in 1996.
There is also a documentary about Alanis during the making of the album called Jagged (2021.
It's Tony-Award winning musical Jagged Little Pill also won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album (2021.
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3: 13 Jagged Little Pill by Alanis Morissette won five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year, in 1996.
There is also a documentary about Alanis during the making of the album called Jagged (2021.
It's Tony-Award winning musical Jagged Little Pill also won a Grammy Award for Best Musical Theater Album (2021.
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pimplyface64
As an American i can confirm you are WRONG.
We are too lazy to boil hotdogs during barbecues because there isnt a convinet way to cook them in this manner. So we just throw them on the grill.
Some of us prefer microwaved, or boiled on average. In citys they usually have grilled or boild hotdog street vendors.
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As an American i can confirm you are WRONG.
We are too lazy to boil hotdogs during barbecues because there isnt a convinet way to cook them in this manner. So we just throw them on the grill.
Some of us prefer microwaved, or boiled on average. In citys they usually have grilled or boild hotdog street vendors.
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Whitney
The US States can't even agree on basically any laws or even how to organize the libraries so there's no way in heck you're going to get all of the states to agree to change the one thing they can agree on! U. S. States can't even agree on whether or not to follow daylight savings time. Some seats do some states don't.
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The US States can't even agree on basically any laws or even how to organize the libraries so there's no way in heck you're going to get all of the states to agree to change the one thing they can agree on! U. S. States can't even agree on whether or not to follow daylight savings time. Some seats do some states don't.
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btetschner
Eating ANOTHER Weird History meal!
This time eating SPAGHETTIOS (from the Weird History Food video Fun Facts About Your Favorite 90s Foods ) with parmesan and drinking a ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK (from the Weird History Food Video The Speedy Rise of the Energy Drink. while watching this Weird History video!
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Eating ANOTHER Weird History meal!
This time eating SPAGHETTIOS (from the Weird History Food video Fun Facts About Your Favorite 90s Foods ) with parmesan and drinking a ROCKSTAR ENERGY DRINK (from the Weird History Food Video The Speedy Rise of the Energy Drink. while watching this Weird History video!
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