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theabortionator
April, 2025

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Imperial Vs Metric system

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AlexHallsEyebrow
Posts: 835 - Karma: 7,806
Should Americans use the metric system? Recently more then ever I’ve been wanting to switch over but it’s tough because everything here is imperial. The metric system is way easier and legitimate, it uses whole numbers and it’s not confusing like the imperial (water boils at 212°F??) (water boils at 100 °C.. Celsius makes more sense) I understand why we haven’t but at the same time we should bite the bullet and change. Express your thoughts on the imperial-metric system ordeal

Edit: I don’t know how to make a poll but essentially should we change over?

**This thread was edited on Feb 11th 2022 at 7:36:39pm
3 years ago
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Non_State_Actor
Posts: 5091 - Karma: 18,642
Yes
3 years ago
2 2
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Jems
Posts: 7720 - Karma: 101,023
i like the mix that we have in america
3 years ago
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AlexHallsEyebrow
Posts: 835 - Karma: 7,806
Jemsi like the mix that we have in america

Yes we do have a mix and it’s alright but I think I’d rather be 100% on metric system just because it’s more universal and everyone else uses it
3 years ago
2 2
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7410 - Karma: 79,404
They both suck. One isn't bEtTer than the other because the moment the calculations leave a base 10 system the numbers get messy nomatter what. Just be thankful that with measures there's only really 2 to use, instead of languages where there are hundreds. You can argue metric is easier until you start using bastardized units like 'kgf' then it all goes out the window anyways. Plus, learning simple unit conversions is kinda like learning cursive. Most people don't use or really know how to do it well but if you can you get treated like some sort of genius.
3 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,290
BiffbarfThey both suck. One isn't bEtTer than the other because the moment the calculations leave a base 10 system the numbers get messy nomatter what. Just be thankful that with measures there's only really 2 to use, instead of languages where there are hundreds. You can argue metric is easier until you start using bastardized units like 'kgf' then it all goes out the window anyways. Plus, learning simple unit conversions is kinda like learning cursive. Most people don't use or really know how to do it well but if you can you get treated like some sort of genius.


Metric is objectively better 4 times out of 5 for every day use and 5 times out of 5 in the sciences.
3 years ago
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7410 - Karma: 79,404
coronaMetric is objectively better 4 times out of 5 for every day use and 5 times out of 5 in the sciences.


Meh. Not really. I deal with both on the daily. When you start dealing with moments, power, and energy it all falls out the window and the numbers are never nice anyways. And don't get me started on units of pressure.
3 years ago
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AlexHallsEyebrow
Posts: 835 - Karma: 7,806
^ yeah the conversions aren’t that hard, just some math involved. But don’t you think due to the fact the rest of the world is on metric I’d make more sense to be on the same page. I understand it’s not a huge problem to be on separate units but
3 years ago
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7410 - Karma: 79,404
AlexHallsEyebrow^ yeah the conversions aren’t that hard, just some math involved. But don’t you think due to the fact the rest of the world is on metric I’d make more sense to be on the same page. I understand it’s not a huge problem to be on separate units but


Sure, I mean it would be really nice if there was only one language too but realistically it's a miracle we've settled on 2. There are also some benefits of using both systems as there are generally better uses for one over the other in certain instances imo. For temperatures that humans actually experience F makes more sense. -40f to 120f is -40c to like 49c. PSI makes more intuitive sense than N/m^2 (STP air is 14.7psi vs 101,325Pa) ftlb makes more intuitive sense than nm, things of that sort. And for imperial systems there's no stopping you from using the milli/micro/nano/etc prefixes. 1000in is just 1k in but we don't use that because there are other things.

tldr: they're not as different as people want them to be and the numbers can get infinitely complex to make bases moot anyway
3 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,290
BiffbarfMeh. Not really. I deal with both on the daily. When you start dealing with moments, power, and energy it all falls out the window and the numbers are never nice anyways. And don't get me started on units of pressure.


Fully disagree. As someone who works in GIS and biological sciences, metric is far superior. For example converting between linear units and units of area is as easy as moving decimal places vs how tf do you convert between sq ft and acres without a calculator? 1 km2 = 100 ha = 1,000,000 m2. 1 mile2 = 640 acres = 27,878,400 sq ft. So not useful.

**This post was edited on Feb 11th 2022 at 9:47:50pm
3 years ago
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7410 - Karma: 79,404
coronaFully disagree. As someone who works in GIS and biological sciences, metric is far superior. For example converting between linear units and units of area is as easy as moving decimal places vs how tf do you convert between sq ft and acres without a calculator? 1 km2 = 100 ha = 1,000,000 m2. 1 mile2 = 640 acres = 27,878,400 sq ft. So not useful.

**This post was edited on Feb 11th 2022 at 9:47:50pm


Idk about you but calculators are allowed with the work I do
3 years ago
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HypeBeast
Posts: 10061 - Karma: 76,189
Why are y'all arguing? Metric is far superior for science and is universally accepted as the preferred method. If I was reading a study and it was in imperial units, I'd be a bit suspicious of the quality. I think the only reason we have a preference for imperial in our daily lives is because we grew up with it. It would make sense if we just switched over but whatever.
3 years ago
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7410 - Karma: 79,404
HypeBeastWhy are y'all arguing? Metric is far superior for science and is universally accepted as the preferred method. If I was reading a study and it was in imperial units, I'd be a bit suspicious of the quality. I think the only reason we have a preference for imperial in our daily lives is because we grew up with it. It would make sense if we just switched over but whatever.


Many engineering assemblies are produced with material stock in si because that is what's available, I wouldn't be quick to write it off as long as long as the analysis is sound.
3 years ago
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7410 - Karma: 79,404
coronaFully disagree. As someone who works in GIS and biological sciences, metric is far superior. For example converting between linear units and units of area is as easy as moving decimal places vs how tf do you convert between sq ft and acres without a calculator? 1 km2 = 100 ha = 1,000,000 m2. 1 mile2 = 640 acres = 27,878,400 sq ft. So not useful.

**This post was edited on Feb 11th 2022 at 9:47:50pm


Also you can do the exact same thing with 1 sqmile. 1mi2 = 100decimile2 = 1,000,000 milimile2. 'use' is relative. Nobody is stopping you from using fractions of a base.
3 years ago
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,290
BiffbarfAlso you can do the exact same thing with 1 sqmile. 1mi2 = 100decimile2 = 1,000,000 milimile2. 'use' is relative. Nobody is stopping you from using fractions of a base.


Yea but what happens when you're in the field and need to measure something? Now your base unit of a milimile is 5.28 feet. Have fun with that.

Even the US military realized way back in the 1940's that metric is better for this kind of thing and developed UTM, which is uses the meter as a base unit.
3 years ago
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7410 - Karma: 79,404
coronaYea but what happens when you're in the field and need to measure something? Now your base unit of a milimile is 5.28 feet. Have fun with that.

Even the US military realized way back in the 1940's that metric is better for this kind of thing and developed UTM, which is uses the meter as a base unit.


So I'm not denying the lack of a base 10 unit isn't wonky in the si system. I am saying that if you're proficient in both the conversion is not complicated, and more often times than not base units get radicalized, degrees and radians get involved, and all kinds of other nasty stuff makes its way into calculations that dwarf the usefulness of a base10 system anyway.
3 years ago
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Casey
Posts: 8017 - Karma: 26,913
American science is fully metric, so keep your pants on. Honestly standard fractions seem a lot simpler for measuring cuts in construction, what do they call a 2x4 in Canada?? Eh mate I’ll need a sling of those 5.08 x 10.16 mm studs for the hoose we’re building..
3 years ago
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AlexHallsEyebrow
Posts: 835 - Karma: 7,806
CaseyAmerican science is fully metric, so keep your pants on. Honestly standard fractions seem a lot simpler for measuring cuts in construction, what do they call a 2x4 in Canada?? Eh mate I’ll need a sling of those 5.08 x 10.16 mm studs for the hoose we’re building..


Yeah, it’s nice that American science is in metric, to me it’s just “confusing” that we have such a weird mixture of both but I agree with the standard fractions thing.
3 years ago
0 0
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ski_salmon69
Posts: 1940 - Karma: 29,088
Fuck the metric system all my homies hate the metric system. Fr I feels it’s easier to remember stand conversations because all the conversation factors are unique. Metric conversions, you gotta figure out what powers of 10 to convert by and all the 0s just get me fucked in the head.
3 years ago
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Skibumsmith
Posts: 5469 - Karma: 12,381
PSI makes more intuitive sense than N/m^2 (STP air is 14.7psi vs 101,325Pa) ftlb makes more intuitive sense than nm[/quote]
How the fuck is lbs/in^2 any more intuitive than N/m^2? They’re both force over area.

America and Canada tried to go metric in the 70s. Canada was successful but America was too stubborn. Fun fact the imperial system is based off of the metric system anyway. The international bureau of weights and measurements is where all measurement standards are kept and guess what, the imperial system doesn’t have an equivalent organization. Imperial units are just metric with conversion factors.
3 years ago
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theabortionator
Posts: 52598 - Karma: 174,334
American system is better because it's free as fuck. I don't want any liberal science types telling me what i can and can't do in my own shop.

I don't care if it doesn't make sense. Sometimes freedom doesn't make sense. I can hear majestic eagles floating over an ocean sunset with every turn of the ratchet. I see our forefathers smiling down on me.

You can say metric is easier, but freedom isn't easy. If you won't fight for this country than who will?

Bunch of snowflake ass liberal participation trophy getting, freedom hating communists out there.
3 years ago
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7410 - Karma: 79,404
SkibumsmithPSI makes more intuitive sense than N/m^2 (STP air is 14.7psi vs 101,325Pa) ftlb makes more intuitive sense than nm
How the fuck is lbs/in^2 any more intuitive than N/m^2? They’re both force over area.

America and Canada tried to go metric in the 70s. Canada was successful but America was too stubborn. Fun fact the imperial system is based off of the metric system anyway. The international bureau of weights and measurements is where all measurement standards are kept and guess what, the imperial system doesn’t have an equivalent organization. Imperial units are just metric with conversion factors.


Because to get any sort of reference of what 1n/m2 is you have to have a base of what a newton is (most metric users rely on the bastardized kgf unit and have no idea) over how large a square meter is. One pound over a square inch is attainable. Of course they're both units of pressure, that was never the argument, or it was in that they're both somewhat arbitrary and it doesn't matter.
3 years ago
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Skibumsmith
Posts: 5469 - Karma: 12,381
theabortionatorAmerican system is better because it's free as fuck. I don't want any liberal science types telling me what i can and can't do in my own shop.

I don't care if it doesn't make sense. Sometimes freedom doesn't make sense. I can hear majestic eagles floating over an ocean sunset with every turn of the ratchet. I see our forefathers smiling down on me.

You can say metric is easier, but freedom isn't easy. If you won't fight for this country than who will?

Bunch of snowflake ass liberal participation trophy getting, freedom hating communists out there.


I'm sorry but whoever downvoted you is retarded. This is brilliant!
3 years ago
4 1
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Butterytips69
Posts: 732 - Karma: 8,231
Survey feet are the true compromise. You get your base 10 as well as your foot.


also metric is far superior for volume measurements but I’m choosing miles over km any day
3 years ago
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Young_patty
Posts: 3337 - Karma: 39,209
theabortionatorAmerican system is better because it's free as fuck. I don't want any liberal science types telling me what i can and can't do in my own shop.

I don't care if it doesn't make sense. Sometimes freedom doesn't make sense. I can hear majestic eagles floating over an ocean sunset with every turn of the ratchet. I see our forefathers smiling down on me.

You can say metric is easier, but freedom isn't easy. If you won't fight for this country than who will?

Bunch of snowflake ass liberal participation trophy getting, freedom hating communists out there.


Me when I hear someone call 3 feet 3.37 inches a “mEteR”


3 years ago
4 0
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elcheapo
Posts: 3449 - Karma: 13,983
Converting inch fractions to metric and vice versa is a batch sometimes, metric is definitely easier to calculate
3 years ago
0 0
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TOAST.
Posts: 7742 - Karma: 39,521
BiffbarfMany engineering assemblies are produced with material stock in si because that is what's available, I wouldn't be quick to write it off as long as long as the analysis is sound.


As somebody who designs manufacturing equipment for a living it'd be pretty cool if we could just switch to the metric system. Stock material in imperial units is annoying as hell especially since a lot of products we purchase are designed using the metric system. Really great when a part needs made that we have a print from a supplier in Italy and we make it in house and the machinist machines every side because we buy imperial stock.

Also, not needing to own double the tools would be realllllllly cool.
3 years ago
3 0
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Biffbarf
Posts: 7410 - Karma: 79,404
TOAST.As somebody who designs manufacturing equipment for a living it'd be pretty cool if we could just switch to the metric system. Stock material in imperial units is annoying as hell especially since a lot of products we purchase are designed using the metric system. Really great when a part needs made that we have a print from a supplier in Italy and we make it in house and the machinist machines every side because we buy imperial stock.

Also, not needing to own double the tools would be realllllllly cool.


I agree on all accounts, but until companies retool and go largely metric it is what it is
3 years ago
1 0
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corona
Posts: 12845 - Karma: 33,290
CaseyAmerican science is fully metric, so keep your pants on. Honestly standard fractions seem a lot simpler for measuring cuts in construction, what do they call a 2x4 in Canada?? Eh mate I’ll need a sling of those 5.08 x 10.16 mm studs for the hoose we’re building..


Anything construction is imperial in Canada. Construction is one situation where imperial is superior due to ease of fractioning measurements without decimals and that it's much easier to envision distances less than a few body lengths in feet vs meters.


3 years ago
3 0
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DrZoidberg
Posts: 5676 - Karma: 4,299
I feel like DIY stuff would be easier with metric. How big is the hole? Will my bolt fit through it? Well it's a #8 bolt and the hole is is 5/8" diameter... So let's look up the diameter of a #8 which is apparently 5/32, so 5/8" is 20/32" so that should work, but also there's 1/4" x 20 types which are easier to read but why do we have two standards for this... And now what very odd drill bit do I need to make the hole for the threaded insert? 11/64? 5/32? Well the insert is 0.24825184" in diameter so...

Or the hole is 10mm, so anything that's M10 or smaller will probably fit through it, and the correct threaded insert will match the M#, and the required drill bit will also be easy to pick. So now when I order parts cause actual stores never have anything good I know what to get.

As for stock material, why do we not just stop measuring wrong? If we know the nominal and actual dimensions, why not just offset your blade or fence, mold or whatever by the difference and produce the actual part you want?

Also lol about arguing about science units. It doesn't matter, they're all silly results of calculations and 99% of people don't care or need to know, nor is it important to have the same mental estimation of them as we do with length, weight or volume. Like wtf are you people doing in your kitchens? Let me get my 4 decimal place thermocouple and temp controller to cook this tea at precisely 98.4352 degrees C ramped at 2C/min, accounting for the pressure in Denver being however many pascals it might be so we don't boil away our tea and deviate from the optimum 2.1 molar tea concentration...

Pretty sure most people just see bubbles or a rolling boil and throw the macaroni or tea bags in.

**This post was edited on Feb 15th 2022 at 12:44:24pm
3 years ago
5 0
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jakeordie
Posts: 664 - Karma: 3,277
coronaMetric is objectively better 4 times out of 5 for every day use and 5 times out of 5 in the sciences.

80% of the time, it works every time.

It's science.
3 years ago
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arnie_grape
Posts: 3459 - Karma: 11,912
metric is superior glad i dont work in some dullard job that uses imperial lol hey bud pass the fifteen sixteenth over here 🥴
3 years ago
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