RIP Metric System

inogen said:
You do though. 1kg is 1l of water. Which is normal 2 cans of beer.

For future ref, 16 stones is about 100kg.
Click to expand...

Technically not true, although close enough in reality in the real world :)
Its only specifically true at 4 degrees C. Outside that range its less dense.

Its why in manufacturing (food) where bills of material are used they are all weighed and not volume measured. Even our auto pour robots weigh the liquid they don't measure the volume.
 
ltron said:
If anyone wants to tell them exactly what they think of this idiocy then here's the link to their survey (it closes tomorrow): https://beisgovuk.citizenspace.com/opss/measurements/consultation/intro/
Click to expand...

It really is a terrible piece of propaganda.

Click to expand...

1 The current law on selling in Imperial and Metric units

1.1 Imperial units have been in use for centuries in the UK and remain part of our
national identity. The imperial system of units plays an important part in the history
of our nation.

1.2 The UK officially adopted the metric system in stages between 1995 and 1999.
However imperial units remain widely used among the public and remain legal as
primary indications of measurement for certain areas such as draught beer and
cider, road signage, and milk in reusable cartons.

1.3 UK law currently requires metric units to be used for all trade purposes with only
limited exceptions. Our legal framework reflects the requirements placed upon the
UK as part of its membership of the EU by the requirements set out in EU Directive
80/181/EC (as amended) which concerns units of measurement. That Directive was
intended to ensure consistency in the use of units of measurement used for all
purposes across member states of the EU. As a result, in general, while imperial
units can be used alongside metric units, the imperial markings must be no larger or
no more prominent than the metric ones. Currently, imperial units are only
authorised for use on their own in specialised fields, such as for sales of draught
beer and cider and milk in returnable containers, where the pint is be used, and
transactions in precious metals where the troy ounce is used. There are sanctions
for non-compliance.

1.4 While consistency in measurement supports fair trade and empowers consumers,
there has been consistent opposition to the current law on units of measurement by
some traders and consumers who consider it to be overly prescriptive and an
unnecessary restriction on freedom of choice. This consultation will explore the
appetite of businesses and consumers to buy and sell in imperial units. In
recognition that there will be people in the UK who have no experience of imperial
measurements, the consultation also explores whether there should be a
requirement for the equivalent metric measurement to appear alongside the imperial
measurement where imperial units are used.

1.5 Measurement accuracy and traceability remain vital for fair trade. Any changes to
the units of measurement permitted would not affect the need for measurements
and measuring instruments to continue to be accurate and calibrated.


2 Brexit opportunities

2.1 The UK’s exit from the EU has created an opportunity to review the law on units of
measurement for consumer transactions and to take back control of our
measurement system so that it better reflects the needs of British businesses and
consumers
Click to expand...
 
n111ck said:
Exactly nobody really weighs themselves in kilo's.
Click to expand...
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you believe that it just means you're old.

I didn't think it either until the last few years when I ended up associating with people younger than myself due to work/sports, but pretty much everyone under the age of 30 uses KG to weigh themselves instead of stone now (and many of them give their height in CM instead of ft/inch too).

At this point it's pretty much only pints/miles that see regular use by younger generations, and that's essentially only due to beer/milk and driving (the latter being used in conjunction with meters lol).
 
ubersonic said:
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but if you believe that it just means you're old.

I didn't think it either until the last few years when I ended up associating with people younger than myself due to work/sports, but pretty much everyone under the age of 30 uses KG to weigh themselves instead of stone now (and many of them give their height in CM instead of ft/inch too).

At this point it's pretty much only pints/miles that see regular use by younger generations, and that's essentially only due to beer/milk and driving (the latter being used in conjunction with meters lol).
Click to expand...
Well I'm not old lol but anyway I don't recall ever hearing anyone referring to themselves as whatever 6 foot is in CM's for example.

So iike we have quarter pounder or pint of lager - when we do we commonly use the metric equivalent to describe something? The fact that the only example provided so far is a 'meter' says it all.
 
ubersonic said:
At this point it's pretty much only pints/miles that see regular use by younger generations, and that's essentially only due to beer/milk and driving (the latter being used in conjunction with meters lol).
Click to expand...

Loads of stuff just isn't called what it used to be either. For eg, back in the day (well in the 80s) musicians used to call regular instrument jacks "quarter inch". People just call them instrument jacks now. Even old duffers who must have got tired of people looking at them quizzically.
 
n111ck said:
Well I'm not old lol but anyway I don't recall ever hearing anyone referring to themselves as whatever 6 foot is in CM's for example.

So iike we have quarter pounder or pint of lager - when we do we commonly use the metric equivalent to describe something? The fact that the only example provided so far is a 'meter' says it all.
Click to expand...
When describing just about all building materials, fasteners, fluids, tools, machinery and vehicles?
 
n111ck said:
Well I'm not old lol but anyway I don't recall ever hearing anyone referring to themselves as whatever 6 foot is in CM's for example.

So iike we have quarter pounder or pint of lager - when we do we commonly use the metric equivalent to describe something? The fact that the only example provided so far is a 'meter' says it all.
Click to expand...

You're old enough then. I always did feet and inches. It's easier to say than 1m blankety blank CM. But then I realised I'm 2m so that's that. Nobody that's much younger than me does anything but CMs.

And the reason why all these imperial measurements are used as names for stuff, it's because that's what they are. I bet if you asked people buying quarter pounders in McDs what it meant they wouldn't have a clue. Or that a pound was a unit of weight.

Similar with pints. They're just called "pints". People rarely ask for "half a pint of" either, they ask for "halves" or a "glass".
 
n111ck said:
when we do we commonly use the metric equivalent to describe something?
Click to expand...
Two litre bottle of [drink], five hundred mil bottle of [drink], x metre cable, x pounds and x pence, x hours x minutes, 60 watt light bulb, 80 mbit/s internet connection, 50 litres of petrol, 120mm fan, 3.5mm audio jack, 100 meter race, etc.
 
inogen said:
You're old enough then. I always did feet and inches. It's easier to say than 1m blankety blank CM. But then I realised I'm 2m so that's that. Nobody that's much younger than me does anything but CMs.

And the reason why all these imperial measurements are used as names for stuff, it's because that's what they are. I bet if you asked people buying quarter pounders in McDs what it meant they wouldn't have a clue. Or that a pound was a unit of weight.

Similar with pints. They're just called "pints". People rarely ask for "half a pint of" either, they ask for "halves" or a "glass".
Click to expand...

Its what people understand it to be that's important and why there should be a choice. If I order a quarter pounder I know what to expect the actual specific weight in grams is irrelevant.

Ordering a 226g steak is just plain weird.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom