Imperial vs Metric

[Steven B]

Agreed, though arguably the Imperial system using Base-12 is actually better in this regard. Metres don't divide nicely into thirds, for example, but feet do.

Unless you want a third of a gallon, or a third of a stone...


Haply modelling

Steven B

[Buzzard]

When the newest car came a couple of years ago the top of the steering wheel obscured the speedometer so I couldn't see any speeds in MPH between 40 and 100.

I could however see the KPH part of the dial so got used to, for example, 100 KPH being 62 MPH which in the UK is a little over the standard for most A roads.

Then recently the garage came to collect the car and the first thing the guy did was to operate a lever so he could move the steering wheel up or down to suit his driving position.

Having now learned that trick I'm now back to good old MPH.

Nigel

[MalcolmInN]

in Jairmany,
(Milton that is )

Gosh, all these years I've been thinking it was a "New" town somewhere in Blighty

Mahatmacoat

[Bealman]

Look folks, I just want to talk about railway modelling - it's what this site is about.
Thanks.

I posted a plea to stay on topic which was ignored. That is why it was moved.

The Imperial vs Metric discussion is interesting (indeed, I am currently participating in it), but it is now fine in General Discussion.

As Sprintex correctly states, you chose to bring it up on a thread it where it is irrelevant.

[MalcolmInN]

As Sprintex correctly states,

Well, actually, as Sprintex correctly emboldened what NeMo correctly said  !!    

Yes, great fun here and thnks to all participants,
only one problem,
exactly where was that original thread 
so that those who want can , iycwim 

oh what tangled webs.

[DesertHound]

NeMo

All good points! Just picking up on why I think people hark back to the "old days" for imperial (and I'm generally not one of them, except for one or two measurements);

I feel people have an emotional attachment to all sorts of things, things which are familiar to them. This includes measurements, whether it be distances, weights, currencies and so on (ok, currencies are slightly different, in that there's the whole question of sovereignty behind it). The level of emotional attachment, I feel, depends upon how intimate you are with the measurement in question (e.g. plumber, carpenter, scientist will have different levels of attachment, and possibly different views).

Additionally, I think age comes into it. People who were brought up in one system don't like change. They identify with a certain system, it's part of culture and identity. That doesn't mean we shouldn't change to what makes sense, I'm just trying to shine some light on why there might be resistance from smne people, which I think is understandable.

I shall never ask for anything other than a pint of beer or milk. That's because I'm intimate with those measures for those goods. I'm quite happy driving in most countries with km/h or using 1000 fils instead of 100 pence.

Interesting what you say from the perspective of computing.

Dan

[DesertHound]

Hang on, unless I was late to the party, aren't we most definitely ON TOPIC here? 

After all, the name of the thread is Imperial vs Metric.

It might have started in the wrong forum, but where have we gone off topic chaps? 

[Sprintex]

This discussion started off in the "Nelevation" thread where it was definitely off-topic. After numerous complaints Caz kindly split it out and moved it here to General Discussion where as MalcolmAL correctly states it's a "talk about anything" area. Now the person that started it all is complaining because it's not about model railways!

So yes, we definitely ARE on topic here!


Paul

[DesertHound]

This discussion started off in the "Nelevation" thread where it was definitely off-topic. After numerous complaints Caz kindly split it out and moved it here to General Discussion where as MalcolmAL correctly states it's a "talk about anything" area. Now the person that started it all is complaining because it's not about model railways!

So yes, we definitely ARE on topic here!


Paul

I only joined the thread in this forum .... been told off meself for wondering off topic 

[JasonBz]

I think in daily activities (as opposed to Science and other Magic) Imperial measures are logical to the user.
A foot is, well a foot, an inch is the top of ones thumb, a yard is a stride etc - Its more homely; and it works fine for me

[MalcolmInN]

This discussion started off in the "Nelevation" thread

Ah thank you, yes, now I remember ! (Nurse, nurse,,, )
That was when I was thinking of starting a new "Paternoster" thread,
but couldnt decide where to put one such,
then I fell asleep,

[JasonBz]

There is a Paternoster Lift in the Arts Tower at Sheffield University 

[MalcolmInN]

There is a Paternoster Lift in the Arts Tower at Sheffield University 

Yes, I was thinking of proposing that for an NGF knees-up !

[NinOz]

I think in daily activities (as opposed to Science and other Magic) Imperial measures are logical to the user.
A foot is, well a foot, an inch is the top of ones thumb, a yard is a stride etc - Its more homely; and it works fine for me

You would get short changed if I sold you stuff using my foot, thumb and stride as the basis of measure.


You lot sound like my wife's relatives in UK when I asked why they had such a pigs-breakfast of measurements and units.

Also couldn't believe their stance on automatics V's manuals.

CFJ

[Malc]

Do you remember the old Lsd system of currency we had, with half pennies, threepenny bits, six pences, shillings, florins, halfcrowns, ten shilling notes and pound notes? I worked in a betting shop when decimalisation started with the 50p piece. Customers were terrified in case they didn't understand the metric system.