Cliff-jumping!

[deadly7]

Yep. I live in the US and still can't tell you how many feet are in a mile. I don't live in Canada and can *easily* tell you there's 1000 meters in a kilometer.

5,280

[Sidoh]

The yard, feet, inch, * system is the stupidest ever.

At least we're not using a base-60 number system.

Also, once you get a feel for how much a unit is worth, it doesn't really matter if you can convert it easily or not.  No one really cares how many inches it is from Denver to New York.  If unit conversions become necessary, a calculator or computer is probably there to aid anyway.  Also, all scientific subjects in the US use the metric system.

[Joe]

So, why waste our time learning two systems -- one used in the US and one used in the rest of the world?

[deadly7]

So, why waste our time learning two systems -- one used in the US and one used in the rest of the world?

Because America likes to think its important enough to influence everything in the world.

[Sidoh]

So, why waste our time learning two systems -- one used in the US and one used in the rest of the world?

I hope the answer is obvious: tradition.  

It is far too difficult to simply "change" from the standard unit system to the metric unit system.  It has been a known possibility for decades, but there are several obvious and undoubtedly many unforeseen consequences of suddenly changing from one unit system for another.  If it does become a reality, I suspect a much more gradual change.  Even that would take a large amount of time to come outh of theory and into application.  There would be signs that list distances to cities in both standard units of distance for that subject, etc.

Because America likes to think its important enough to influence everything in the world.

See my post.  That is not the reason we aren't using the metric system.

[Joe]

I'm saying that over the next three or so (probably one or two) generations it could be completely done. Right now, put up signs stating the metric distances on them. Then start training students to use metric instead of the inches system (what's it really called, anyhow?), but still teach them our system so they at least know it. Eventually everyone who was stubborn enough to not adjust will die off anyhow, and about 50-60 years from now we'd be completely metric.

[deadly7]

"American System" is what I've heard it referred to as. :p

[Sidoh]

I'm saying that over the next three or so (probably one or two) generations it could be completely done. Right now, put up signs stating the metric distances on them. Then start training students to use metric instead of the inches system (what's it really called, anyhow?), but still teach them our system so they at least know it. Eventually everyone who was stubborn enough to not adjust will die off anyhow, and about 50-60 years from now we'd be completely metric.

Your idea is before your time... before your parents' time.  It's been thought of, it's probably still being pushed by a lot of people.  I don't think you realize how difficult it is to make a national change on that scale.  Everyone knows that the metric system is much easier to use for scientific purposes (and about as easy to use for every day purposes), but what we have now works and the stress that switching that would cause is not yet worth it.  I'm sure the government or some association is working on a strategy.

What people know (the standard unit system) works.  Why would they feel the need to change it unless they frequently run into problems where the metric system is a much more viable solution (see: any profession dealing heavily with emperical science).

"American System" is what I've heard it referred to as. :p

I don't really think it has an official name, but something including the country's name (American System, US System) is probably most proper.

[Joe]

I think it was referred to as "the standard system" back in my earlier years in school, but that name sucks.. because it's about as far from standard as possible.

[Sidoh]

I think it was referred to as "the standard system" back in my earlier years in school, but that name sucks.. because it's about as far from standard as possible.

Since "standard" is a completely relativistic term, it's completely valid for Americans to call it "the standard system."

[Joe]

Yet flamebait to the rest of the world.

Heather, Tory and I were talking about politics a bit today. Basically we determined that if China wanted to, they could own us. They just don't. Everybody hates us and if China were the new world power they'd be hated.

[d&q]

It's been called the Imperial system for as long as I can remember.

[Sidoh]

Yet flamebait to the rest of the world.

Wrong.  Why on earth would they care?

Heather, Tory and I were talking about politics a bit today. Basically we determined that if China wanted to, they could own us. They just don't. Everybody hates us and if China were the new world power they'd be hated.

Wrong again.  With nuclear weapons, it doesn't really matter how strong your military is.  One nuke destorys all of that.  Korea could just as easily "own us."

It's been called the Imperial system for as long as I can remember.

I've heard that too, but for some reason I thought the system the US uses is a modified version of the Imperial system.

[d&q]

It's been called the Imperial system for as long as I can remember.

I've heard that too, but for some reason I thought the system the US uses is a modified version of the Imperial system.

You're right.

[Sidoh]

Ah, okay.  I'll just call them standard units for now.