Why Fahrenheit?- Page 2

[Mythus]

Posted: 11/24/05 at 8:04pm

I don't see why America is wrong just because it's different. Not that I don't agree - metric is much easier than American standard. But that doesn't make us wrong.

[Plum]

Posted: 11/24/05 at 8:09pm

At a certain point, it just gets stupid, Mythus. The rest of the world is using the metric system, it's far more intuitive and easy to learn than the English system, and heck, we've lost a multi-million dollar Mars probe to conversion errors. When is this efficiency-obsessed country finally going to give in to convenience?

[paradox_error]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 1:35am

Not wrong, just different.

If it were completely wrong, I wouldn't bother converting things, or finding out what these things are...

[lensman55]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 5:26am

OK, but we didn't make "loonies" and "toonies," so we're not the only ones.

I also remember a story about how difficult it was for Britain to switch to a decimal system in money! They had to take out commercials explaining how much change you would get under the new system. A reporter giving the story said; "There are people here who still pay for things in guinies (sp) which they haven't used for years!"

Also, tell me how well the Euro is doing over there. I read an article where a cabdriver was quoted as saying; "It doesn't have my queen on it, it isn't my money!"

[paradox_error]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 5:35am

England doesn't have the Euro. Nor do any of the 14 new Eastern European members.

But the countries that do...it's heaven. It's such an easy currency to use...

[lildogs]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 2:01pm

America isn't very open to change, paradox. Some people still have Confederate flags flying around--'nuff said.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 2:06pm

When I was in seventh grade (mid-1970's), they were threatening to change over to the metric system, and we had to learn how to convert.

Damned if I can remember any of it.

[lildogs]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 2:13pm

A lot of cookbooks now use metric weight, especially in baking--it's far more accurate. Uh, yeah...that's what I use MY scales for...

[rowers unite]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 2:23pm

Allie: 3 CHEERS FOR THE METRIC SYSTEM !!!!

[Ebonic_Singer]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 2:41pm

I love this thread. The end.

[paradox_error]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 3:17pm

And I love you, Ebonic...

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 3:33pm

The metric system is the tool of the devil. My car gets 40 rods to the hogshead, and that's the way I likes it.

[DramaDork925]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 3:37pm

Good to know you're practical, Calvin

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 4:20pm

(just in case people didn't get it, since I've been told I sometimes come across as an 80-year-old man, anyway)

[Plum]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 4:24pm

I went to a science high school, so I had exposure to almost nothing but the metric system for 4 years. And even today when I do math it's mostly for science, which invariably uses the metric system. So I know just enough to be muddled about the issue. Joy.

[paradox_error]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 4:55pm

You know Plum, I have such an amazingly weird perception of you in my head.

I wonder if you're anything like what I think...

(It's cool, but weird...don't be afraid)

[Plum]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 5:09pm

Well, the weird part is right. But I don't think I've been cool since...ever. Oh, for cripes sake, I'm a musical theatre fan. That's pretty self-explanatory right there. :P

[paradox_error]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 5:19pm

For that comment, I'll kill you with a fork. A blunt one. That's been attacked by rabid monkeys...

I'm cool! I swear!

I'm the coolest person I know!

[Plum]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 5:23pm

Then I'd really like to meet your friends.

[Yawper]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 5:44pm

Fahrenheit? celsius? three cheers for Kelvin - the real scientists' temp scale!

[Plum]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 5:46pm

True enough, though if you're mostly working in the range between freezing and boiling, it's kind of annoying.

[paradox_error]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 5:48pm

I'm supposed to actually know people?

No fair...

[DayDreamer]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 6:32pm

America is slowly turning metric. We now use liters more that quarts or gallons, for example.

[Calvin]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 6:39pm

I've never understood the purpose of Kelvin. Yes, I know it puts absolute zero actually at zero. But really, what purpose does that serve? Incrementally, a change of one degree Kelvin is the same as one degree Celsius, right?

[paradox_error]

Posted: 11/25/05 at 7:02pm

But DD, and I say this with love, you still don't know how to spell them...

Although, I'll be shot for my British ways on an American site...