Until I did a little research on the topic of going metric, I didn't realize how long this has been an issue. However, I do remember now being in math class in high school and the buzz was on whether the U.S. should go metric at that time. It is hard to believe, but that was almost twenty years ago and here we are today and we still have not changed our measuring system. I, personally do not want to see a change because I fear it will be too much work to relearn a new system despite how easy it is. However, I do see how valuable it would be to young people today for the U.S. to adopt the metric system. It seems kind of silly for us to be one of the only three countries that do not use the metric system. The U.S., Liberia and Myanmar are the only three non-metric countries. It appears to me that it would make since for everyone to be on the same page when we are talking about something that requires such accuracy and precision in most measurement circumstances.
If the U.S. were to adopt the metric system it would essentially eliminate the need for conversion factors. We would no longer need to remember that 12 inches are in a foot or 4 quarts to a gallon, all we would need to know is how many spaces to move the decimal point. However, I don't believe that it would be something we could just changed overnight, obviously. If you stop and think how many things are actually measured and rely on measurement, it would take a great deal of time to finalize the adoption. Even things such as industrial machines would need to either be changed or fixed to measure the conversions.
I came across a little article that had an interesting reader's opinion posted at the end of it. It put a twist on the whole idea of the U.S. adopting the metric system. The reader thought that the time has come and gone to adopt the metric system. Since just about everybody has access to calculators and computers there is no need for a base 10 system anymore. He believes that there is just not enough interest or desire now when every problem can be solved using a device other than our own minds. If you are interested, you can read this article at http://news.softpedia.com/news/Why-Didn-039-t-Americans-Adopt-the-Metric-System-57707.shtml. After reading his theory I would have to say I agree. What would be the point now?
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3 comments:
I remember back in my high school days the words "Metric System" would send shivers down my spine. This abstract, backwards, confusing way to measure never made much sense to me, but I never took the time to really even try either. I think in a perfect world it would be ideal to have every country use the same measurement system. You're right...we could just throw conversion charts right out the window...no more having to figure out how many feet are in a yard, how many liters are in a gallon, and how Celsius feels like in degrees Fahrenheit. But, even though there are only 3 countries that are stubborn enough to stick with a different measuring system (something I was not aware of before--thanks Jeanine!), I don't see how we could ever completely change over everything and everyone that has not already conformed to the one world system. What a daunting task that would be! I have a feeling it is too late to "go Metric"...that window of opportunity has passed us by.
Although I wasn't able to access your article you mentioned (I'm not really sure why) I don't think there's no longer the pressure to convert solely because we now have calculators and computers to do the work for us. I think it's wise to always know how to perform mathematics without the use of tools to do all of the dirty work for us. What would happen if our calculator broke or our computer went haywire? Those of us who completely depend on these devices to perform all of our mathematics would be utterly lost...
I think it may be too late to change our ways of measuring, but it's still important to learn how to do all of the conversions without resorting to punching in a bunch of keys into our electronics. Who knows...maybe someday there will be enough desire to make the effort to convert everything and we'll all be "speaking the same language" so to speak. Wouldn't that make life easier!
Converting to the metric system is sort of like going on a diet. I know I shouldn't eat that piece of cake and I should exercise more but that sounds difficult and not a lot of fun. We are so accustomed to our system of measurement that we don't want to learn the metric system. But we should. Learning the metric system makes sense. Everything is based in units of ten just like numbers and the amount of fingers on our hands. Converting measurements would be so much easier. People in other countries must think our system is ridiculous.
It reminds me of an episode of The Simpsons where Grandpa Simpson says his car's gas mileage is "3 rods to the hogs head and that's the way I like it!" In the world, the U.S. is Grandpa Simpson.
D'oh!
I have to agree with Terry on this one. Our country is sometimes too independent for its own good. We should have switched years ago. Instead, we have to try and learn two systems. Our cars already have kilometers per hour on the speedometer, our cereal boxes already are weighed in grams. It doesn't seem like it would be hard to switch in manufacturing but would only be hard to change the mindset of the American people.
I live very close to Canada and we vacation and shop there. Measurement is all around you, whether you are in the grocery store, driving to a destination or looking at a temperature reading. It is definitely a plus to have a good understanding of the metric system. I often wonder what they think when they travel in the US.
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