Weights & Measures - USA vs the World

[Agent Richard07]

As for our measures of length, I honestly wouldn't mind using both our system and the metric system. Centimeters are too small, and meters are too big. I like having an inbetween unit of measure, which is where feet come in.

Which is why I use inches, feet and pounds, and the metric system for pretty much everything else.

I don't measure long distances in miles, but I wish I could use the word. It rolls off the tongue a lot easier than "kilometers".

As usual, people like what they're used to.

True. I've never used a kitchen scale in my entire life. I didn't even know people used one until I read this thread. I have to admit that it does seem like it adds more work. I just measure stuff in a cup or eyeball it and everything turns out fine.

 

[Defcon]

As for our measures of length, I honestly wouldn't mind using both our system and the metric system. Centimeters are too small, and meters are too big. I like having an inbetween unit of measure, which is where feet come in.

Well, there's the decimeter. (1 decimeter = 10 centimeter)

 

[RAMA]

I've never even known anyone who owned a kitchen scale. Weighing things seems like adding unnecessary time and effort, not to mention the cost of purchasing a scale.

Most serious bodybuilders weigh their food.

RAMA

 

[RJDiogenes]

I use ounces and pounds, inches and feet, pints and gallons, seconds and minutes (don't even think about getting me to convert to Metric time ). I oppose conversion to the Metric System, just as I oppose all efforts toward conformity and homogenization. Besides which, while I see the usefulness of the Metric System in scientific research, it's just too cold and regular to be used by Humans in everyday life. It belongs in a lab, not a den.

 

[TGTheodore]

OF course when dealing with the metric system, you also get into the thing about how to pronounce the units of measurement.

Only one way to say "ounce", "pound", "foot", "mile" and "yard".

--Ted

 

[Zulu Romeo]

Interesting that the metric prefix nomenclature is sometimes Latin and sometimes Greek.

Then again, another thing that is partly Latin and partly Greek is "television".

 

[Goliath]

As for our measures of length, I honestly wouldn't mind using both our system and the metric system. Centimeters are too small, and meters are too big. I like having an inbetween unit of measure, which is where feet come in.

Well, there's the decimeter. (1 decimeter = 10 centimeter)

Damn! You beat me to it.

Like many Canadians of my generation, my world is partly metric, and partly Imperial.

Temperature is Celsius--Fahrenheit is incomprehensible to me.

But a person's weight is always in feet, inches, and pounds.

Speed is in kilometres per hour, and long distances are in kilometres, not miles.

But I often measure short distances in inches and feet. Etc.

And as the old joke goes:

Q. How many metric beers in a two-four?
A. Eighty (double it, and add thirty-two)

 

[Trippy]

As for our measures of length, I honestly wouldn't mind using both our system and the metric system. Centimeters are too small, and meters are too big. I like having an inbetween unit of measure, which is where feet come in.

Well, there's the decimeter. (1 decimeter = 10 centimeter)

Damn! You beat me to it.

Like many Canadians of my generation, my world is partly metric, and partly Imperial.

Temperature is Celsius--Fahrenheit is incomprehensible to me.

But a person's weight is always in feet, inches, and pounds.

Speed is in kilometres per hour, and long distances are in kilometres, not miles.

But I often measure short distances in inches and feet. Etc.

This. Oh, I know all the metric measurements, but I still weigh xxx pounds and I'm 5 feet 10 inches tall, not 1.7 metres!

And as the old joke goes:

Q. How many metric beers in a two-four?
A. Eighty (double it, and add thirty-two)

 

[RJDiogenes]

I'm still trying to figure out how many centipedes there are in an inchworm.

 

[Holdfast]

I still weigh xxx pounds...

Sounds hot.

 

[Trippy]

^

 

[RoJoHen]

I still weigh xxx pounds...

Sounds hot.

Only if you're into that sorta thing. I won't judge.

 

[WillsBabe]

I'm still trying to figure out how many centipedes there are in an inchworm.

I'm half metric and half imperial. Distance is in miles. Temperature I do in either Farenheit or Centigrate. Weights and measures I'm mostly imperial, but I can do metric for kilos and anything under 100g. I can do mils, but that's usually confined to drinks (bottles of water), and shampoo. Writing this down, it all sounds confusing, but it makes sense to me. Oh, and when I'm diving, air comes in psi, not bar, and depth comes in metres, not feet.

 

[Amaris]

I think the ancient Egyptians had it right. When I cook, I'm going to start using cubits, spans and fingers, and when I drive I'll just refer to my distance as "hours of march".


J.

 

[TGTheodore]

You can probably only use cubits with REALLY long pasta.

--Ted

 

[RoJoHen]

I am going to start measuring all lengths in terms of my own feet.

For mass measurements, I will use my balls.

 

[ITL]

For mass measurements, I will use my balls.

The measurement shall be known as a Bollocksworth.

"And if you have a sweet tooth, add a bollocksworth of sugar to the recipe."

 

[Amaris]

You can probably only use cubits with REALLY long pasta.

--Ted

Then really long pasta it is! Those Egyptians won't get the best of me!


J.

 

[TGTheodore]

I remember as a kid the first time I heard the term "cubit" was in a very early Bill Cosby routine about Noah and God, and how to build an ark.

"Riiiiiiiight."

--Ted

 

[Gepard]

I remember as a kid the first time I heard the term "cubit" was in a very early Bill Cosby routine about Noah and God, and how to build an ark.

Same here. Fortunately, it didn't diminish the funny.