A system of measurement that is simpler than the imperial system but Americans won't adopt not because they're stupid but because it's too much effort and no individual could make the whole country work with it
by Mathman2028 June 10, 2023
A system of measurement that's excellent for mathematical equations and scientific calculations, but inconvenient for everyday living.
For example, in terms of length the metric system goes directly from a centimeter to a decimeter, and then right from a decimeter to a meter. While centimeters are useful for very small objects and decimeters are okay for small-to-medium objects, there are some things - for example, the human hand - for which centimeters are inconvenient due to their small size making it difficult to get an exact measurement, while decimeters are too large to get measurements that clearly communicate size. That's why the imperial system has the inch measure. Similarly, there are many things, like human height, which are too large to conveniently measure in centimeters or decimeters, but too small to measure in meters without getting a heavily decimalized number. That's why the imperial system uses the foot.
Proponents of the metric system point out how easily unit conversion is, which is indeed very helpful in making calculations. However, this feature's real world application for the average person is limited at best. If you know how many miles or kilometers away something is, how exactly does it help to calculate how many feet or meters that is? If you know how many meters or feet your height is, what is the purpose of converting that to centimeters or inches?
For example, in terms of length the metric system goes directly from a centimeter to a decimeter, and then right from a decimeter to a meter. While centimeters are useful for very small objects and decimeters are okay for small-to-medium objects, there are some things - for example, the human hand - for which centimeters are inconvenient due to their small size making it difficult to get an exact measurement, while decimeters are too large to get measurements that clearly communicate size. That's why the imperial system has the inch measure. Similarly, there are many things, like human height, which are too large to conveniently measure in centimeters or decimeters, but too small to measure in meters without getting a heavily decimalized number. That's why the imperial system uses the foot.
Proponents of the metric system point out how easily unit conversion is, which is indeed very helpful in making calculations. However, this feature's real world application for the average person is limited at best. If you know how many miles or kilometers away something is, how exactly does it help to calculate how many feet or meters that is? If you know how many meters or feet your height is, what is the purpose of converting that to centimeters or inches?
The metric system is very scientifically logical, but is not based around the human mind so can be inconvenient in human life.
by RandomAnonymouseUD March 02, 2022
Why do you think using British Imperial measurements makes you free? If you give them a metric inch, they'll take a kilometre.
by Jaymax February 20, 2022
by jetpack 5o December 14, 2011
I can't get a job at the hospital here, this is a college town and there's a metric shitload of pre-med students applying there.
by theOneandOnlyNightHawk May 10, 2018
A unit of measurement denoting the generic amount of something. The metric cuntload is commonly used in non-American countries such a Canada, that use the the metric system. A metric cuntload is slightly larger than an imperial cuntload.
by GLaz May 04, 2020
That is a metric mother-of-god ton of money in your bank account...
by RoarMc March 29, 2017