▲ 512 ▼ A metric tonne (1000 kg) should be called a megagram (1 Mg). (lemmy.ca) submitted 2 years ago by someguy3@lemmy.ca to c/showerthoughts@lemmy.world 166 comments fedilink hide all child comments
[–] alvvayson@lemmy.world 202 points 2 years ago (6 children) A megagram is 1000 kg, by definition. It's symbol is Mg. In metric countries, we just use the word "ton" as shorthand/slang for it, since it is an easier term and was well known. The only reason the US calls it a metric ton, is because they have archaic units (long and short tons). Metric countries don't call it a metric ton. permalink fedilink source hideshow 12 child comments replies: [–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 60 points 2 years ago (2 children) No one in the US knows WTF a long and short ton are. A ton is 2k lbs. And most Americans probably don't even know the exact weight of a ton outside of "a shit load." For the most part, we generally only use pounds, feet, miles. Everything else is a mystery. Even ounces, cups and gallons are some fucking magical mystery. Just follow the recipe. I switched everything to metric years ago, and have never been happier. It made a huge difference in most of the things I do, having a system that makes internal sense. The only thing I still routinely use standard for is sewing, because it's damn near impossible to find any patterns or things like cutting mats in metric in the right sizes for quilting. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] yA3xAKQMbq@lemm.ee 47 points 2 years ago (32 children) There recently was a discussion on lemmy where several US citizens (one of them allegedly an engineer…) tried to explain to me that metric might be „more precise“ (? 😂) but the imperial system more practical, because „everybody knows what a foot is“. When I asked them to add feet to miles I got shouted at (in CAPS) that noone (ever) does that. 🤷♀️ permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 34 child comments replies: [–] CIA_chatbot@lemmy.world 35 points 2 years ago* (7 children) Lol, that sounds very much “as a black man” I’ll tell you, most of us in the states would love a total switch to metric. We use it where is matters most, but we also have an aging population raised on lead has fumes that think anything they don’t know is “communism” or “wholeness” or whatever else the propaganda right spews. Those are the assholes that pretty much stop progress on anything. I’m big into 3D printing, actually got into the same argument with another 3D printing guy…. And I’m like, literally EVERYTHING we do is in metric. The whole damn hobby is metric. I hate humanity permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 9 child comments replies: [–] yA3xAKQMbq@lemm.ee 10 points 2 years ago (1 child) Lol, that sounds very much “as a black man” You mean the „engineer“? Well, what can I say, he was insisting his professor at uni taught him „a true engineer can work with every system“. I mean yes, but the difference is one engineer is just happily pushing around decimals, the other one goes pale when you ask what 1/5th of a gallon in cubic inches is… permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] CIA_chatbot@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago Hehe, yea, I was poking fun at the “engineer”. There was a congressman a while ago that got caught posting right wing stuff on twitter from an alt account “as a black man” (dude was white of course” permalink fedilink source parent [–] CCDKP@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago (3 children) Sometimes I like to think about the logistical challenges with a switch to metric. The one that always gives me pause is highway signs. Thinking about the monumental task of replacing every speed sign, distance sign, and mile marker across the country in any timely period makes my head hurt. It could certainly be done, and is probably easier than I think with all the state DoTs working independently on it especially over time. We have a lot of road with a lot of signs. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 6 child comments replies: [–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 7 points 2 years ago (1 child) I honestly hate that argument. "it would cost so much to change all those signs" is just negative talk for "it would employee a shit ton of people, create a lot of jobs, and be a major infrastructure project that could help our economy.". Honestly, the economic benefit of major infrastructure works is rarely talked about as much as it should be. Mainly, I think, because the people it benefits are the ones actually doing the work. And that's scary to a certain segment of society that would like very much that not to be the case. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] CCDKP@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (1 child) I don't think it's a valid argument against metric, just a thought experiment to consider about the time needed to implement. Converting would be a slow process, but I agree it could be an economic boost as swapping things is a largely a manual process permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 3 points 2 years ago Meant to mention in my first comment, I haven't met many other people who like to randomly imagine the ways major structural changes would take place. Lol. I like to pick a huge project. Like, say, single payer healthcare, or the nationalization of an industry, and then imagine the individual steps that would need to be taken to get there. Doesn't necessarily have to be a project I'd support, I just have fun imagining the ways it would need to happen. permalink fedilink source parent [–] JungleJim@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 years ago That's a good point, but we don't have to even fully replace them. I admit I don't know the name of the technology but I see many street signs or construction signs that have basically a printed metal sticker slapped over the old information. permalink fedilink source parent [–] TheIllustrativeMan@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago I think the bigger one is the construction industry. 2"x4" studs. 4'x8' plywood. 16" O.C. Changing to 44x95, 1219x2438, 406 O.C doesn't make a whole lot of sense. We could switch over to the metric equivalents (like 1250x1250 or 600 O.C.), but that would mean switching out machinery and would break a lot of standards. permalink fedilink source parent load more comments (5 replies) [–] someguy3@lemmy.ca [S] 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (7 children) I say that Metric is like color vision. You can see things in whole new and easier ways. People in USC can't understand what others see and insist things are just fine the way they are. Thus the "no one ever does that", "why would you need to know that", "who cares", etc. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 7 child comments load more comments (7 replies) load more comments (30 replies) [–] ALERT@sh.itjust.works 11 points 2 years ago (2 children) lbs = elbows? 2 thousand human elbows?! permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 17 points 2 years ago Yes. Jesus, why can't Europeans educate themselves on real measurements! We measure in feet and bald eagles for distance. We measure in shotgun shells, elbows and pounds for weight. We measure in ATNT for temperature. That's Ambient Truck Nut Temperature, which is the temperature of a pair of truck nuts after driving for 80 bald eagles at 40 bald eagles per Active Shooter Warning, at sea level on a Wednesday. It's not complicated. permalink fedilink source parent [–] grozzle@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago it's from the Latin "libra", for balance, like a set of scales. the £ symbol for pounds as in money is a stylised L for the same reason! etymology lesson over, imperial/customary gtfo resumes. metric ftw. permalink fedilink source parent [–] ArbiterXero@lemmy.world 16 points 2 years ago Canada does, because we’re mostly metric but still do enough business with the US that we’re sorta half and half permalink fedilink source parent [–] cbarrick@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years ago (1 child) Yeah, but what about the metric shit-ton? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] gazter@aussie.zone 4 points 2 years ago (1 child) I always forget- is that 100 fuckloads? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] drbluefall@toast.ooo 2 points 2 years ago I think it's 128 fuckloads. permalink fedilink source parent [–] someguy3@lemmy.ca [S] 5 points 2 years ago* (2 children) We call it a metric tonne in Canada. There's also short ton and long ton which have to be differentiated, but no one ever knows which one they are using. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] ME5SENGER_24@lemm.ee 17 points 2 years ago (1 child) How to measure like a Canadian permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] theKalash@feddit.ch 6 points 2 years ago (1 child) Damn, you guys might be worse than the British. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] ME5SENGER_24@lemm.ee 14 points 2 years ago (1 child) Something like this? How to measure like a Brit permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment load more comments (1 reply) [–] yA3xAKQMbq@lemm.ee 6 points 2 years ago That’s because you only metricated 40y ago. permalink fedilink source parent [+] Akareth@lemmy.world 3 points 2 years ago [deleted] permalink fedilink source parent [–] johsny@lemmy.world 1 point 2 years ago I only use that term when I call a lot of items “a metric fuckton of stuff” permalink fedilink source parent
[–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 60 points 2 years ago (2 children) No one in the US knows WTF a long and short ton are. A ton is 2k lbs. And most Americans probably don't even know the exact weight of a ton outside of "a shit load." For the most part, we generally only use pounds, feet, miles. Everything else is a mystery. Even ounces, cups and gallons are some fucking magical mystery. Just follow the recipe. I switched everything to metric years ago, and have never been happier. It made a huge difference in most of the things I do, having a system that makes internal sense. The only thing I still routinely use standard for is sewing, because it's damn near impossible to find any patterns or things like cutting mats in metric in the right sizes for quilting. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] yA3xAKQMbq@lemm.ee 47 points 2 years ago (32 children) There recently was a discussion on lemmy where several US citizens (one of them allegedly an engineer…) tried to explain to me that metric might be „more precise“ (? 😂) but the imperial system more practical, because „everybody knows what a foot is“. When I asked them to add feet to miles I got shouted at (in CAPS) that noone (ever) does that. 🤷♀️ permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 34 child comments replies: [–] CIA_chatbot@lemmy.world 35 points 2 years ago* (7 children) Lol, that sounds very much “as a black man” I’ll tell you, most of us in the states would love a total switch to metric. We use it where is matters most, but we also have an aging population raised on lead has fumes that think anything they don’t know is “communism” or “wholeness” or whatever else the propaganda right spews. Those are the assholes that pretty much stop progress on anything. I’m big into 3D printing, actually got into the same argument with another 3D printing guy…. And I’m like, literally EVERYTHING we do is in metric. The whole damn hobby is metric. I hate humanity permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 9 child comments replies: [–] yA3xAKQMbq@lemm.ee 10 points 2 years ago (1 child) Lol, that sounds very much “as a black man” You mean the „engineer“? Well, what can I say, he was insisting his professor at uni taught him „a true engineer can work with every system“. I mean yes, but the difference is one engineer is just happily pushing around decimals, the other one goes pale when you ask what 1/5th of a gallon in cubic inches is… permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] CIA_chatbot@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago Hehe, yea, I was poking fun at the “engineer”. There was a congressman a while ago that got caught posting right wing stuff on twitter from an alt account “as a black man” (dude was white of course” permalink fedilink source parent [–] CCDKP@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago (3 children) Sometimes I like to think about the logistical challenges with a switch to metric. The one that always gives me pause is highway signs. Thinking about the monumental task of replacing every speed sign, distance sign, and mile marker across the country in any timely period makes my head hurt. It could certainly be done, and is probably easier than I think with all the state DoTs working independently on it especially over time. We have a lot of road with a lot of signs. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 6 child comments replies: [–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 7 points 2 years ago (1 child) I honestly hate that argument. "it would cost so much to change all those signs" is just negative talk for "it would employee a shit ton of people, create a lot of jobs, and be a major infrastructure project that could help our economy.". Honestly, the economic benefit of major infrastructure works is rarely talked about as much as it should be. Mainly, I think, because the people it benefits are the ones actually doing the work. And that's scary to a certain segment of society that would like very much that not to be the case. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] CCDKP@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (1 child) I don't think it's a valid argument against metric, just a thought experiment to consider about the time needed to implement. Converting would be a slow process, but I agree it could be an economic boost as swapping things is a largely a manual process permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 3 points 2 years ago Meant to mention in my first comment, I haven't met many other people who like to randomly imagine the ways major structural changes would take place. Lol. I like to pick a huge project. Like, say, single payer healthcare, or the nationalization of an industry, and then imagine the individual steps that would need to be taken to get there. Doesn't necessarily have to be a project I'd support, I just have fun imagining the ways it would need to happen. permalink fedilink source parent [–] JungleJim@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 years ago That's a good point, but we don't have to even fully replace them. I admit I don't know the name of the technology but I see many street signs or construction signs that have basically a printed metal sticker slapped over the old information. permalink fedilink source parent [–] TheIllustrativeMan@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago I think the bigger one is the construction industry. 2"x4" studs. 4'x8' plywood. 16" O.C. Changing to 44x95, 1219x2438, 406 O.C doesn't make a whole lot of sense. We could switch over to the metric equivalents (like 1250x1250 or 600 O.C.), but that would mean switching out machinery and would break a lot of standards. permalink fedilink source parent load more comments (5 replies) [–] someguy3@lemmy.ca [S] 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (7 children) I say that Metric is like color vision. You can see things in whole new and easier ways. People in USC can't understand what others see and insist things are just fine the way they are. Thus the "no one ever does that", "why would you need to know that", "who cares", etc. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 7 child comments load more comments (7 replies) load more comments (30 replies) [–] ALERT@sh.itjust.works 11 points 2 years ago (2 children) lbs = elbows? 2 thousand human elbows?! permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 17 points 2 years ago Yes. Jesus, why can't Europeans educate themselves on real measurements! We measure in feet and bald eagles for distance. We measure in shotgun shells, elbows and pounds for weight. We measure in ATNT for temperature. That's Ambient Truck Nut Temperature, which is the temperature of a pair of truck nuts after driving for 80 bald eagles at 40 bald eagles per Active Shooter Warning, at sea level on a Wednesday. It's not complicated. permalink fedilink source parent [–] grozzle@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago it's from the Latin "libra", for balance, like a set of scales. the £ symbol for pounds as in money is a stylised L for the same reason! etymology lesson over, imperial/customary gtfo resumes. metric ftw. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] yA3xAKQMbq@lemm.ee 47 points 2 years ago (32 children) There recently was a discussion on lemmy where several US citizens (one of them allegedly an engineer…) tried to explain to me that metric might be „more precise“ (? 😂) but the imperial system more practical, because „everybody knows what a foot is“. When I asked them to add feet to miles I got shouted at (in CAPS) that noone (ever) does that. 🤷♀️ permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 34 child comments replies: [–] CIA_chatbot@lemmy.world 35 points 2 years ago* (7 children) Lol, that sounds very much “as a black man” I’ll tell you, most of us in the states would love a total switch to metric. We use it where is matters most, but we also have an aging population raised on lead has fumes that think anything they don’t know is “communism” or “wholeness” or whatever else the propaganda right spews. Those are the assholes that pretty much stop progress on anything. I’m big into 3D printing, actually got into the same argument with another 3D printing guy…. And I’m like, literally EVERYTHING we do is in metric. The whole damn hobby is metric. I hate humanity permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 9 child comments replies: [–] yA3xAKQMbq@lemm.ee 10 points 2 years ago (1 child) Lol, that sounds very much “as a black man” You mean the „engineer“? Well, what can I say, he was insisting his professor at uni taught him „a true engineer can work with every system“. I mean yes, but the difference is one engineer is just happily pushing around decimals, the other one goes pale when you ask what 1/5th of a gallon in cubic inches is… permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] CIA_chatbot@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago Hehe, yea, I was poking fun at the “engineer”. There was a congressman a while ago that got caught posting right wing stuff on twitter from an alt account “as a black man” (dude was white of course” permalink fedilink source parent [–] CCDKP@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago (3 children) Sometimes I like to think about the logistical challenges with a switch to metric. The one that always gives me pause is highway signs. Thinking about the monumental task of replacing every speed sign, distance sign, and mile marker across the country in any timely period makes my head hurt. It could certainly be done, and is probably easier than I think with all the state DoTs working independently on it especially over time. We have a lot of road with a lot of signs. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 6 child comments replies: [–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 7 points 2 years ago (1 child) I honestly hate that argument. "it would cost so much to change all those signs" is just negative talk for "it would employee a shit ton of people, create a lot of jobs, and be a major infrastructure project that could help our economy.". Honestly, the economic benefit of major infrastructure works is rarely talked about as much as it should be. Mainly, I think, because the people it benefits are the ones actually doing the work. And that's scary to a certain segment of society that would like very much that not to be the case. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] CCDKP@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (1 child) I don't think it's a valid argument against metric, just a thought experiment to consider about the time needed to implement. Converting would be a slow process, but I agree it could be an economic boost as swapping things is a largely a manual process permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 3 points 2 years ago Meant to mention in my first comment, I haven't met many other people who like to randomly imagine the ways major structural changes would take place. Lol. I like to pick a huge project. Like, say, single payer healthcare, or the nationalization of an industry, and then imagine the individual steps that would need to be taken to get there. Doesn't necessarily have to be a project I'd support, I just have fun imagining the ways it would need to happen. permalink fedilink source parent [–] JungleJim@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 years ago That's a good point, but we don't have to even fully replace them. I admit I don't know the name of the technology but I see many street signs or construction signs that have basically a printed metal sticker slapped over the old information. permalink fedilink source parent [–] TheIllustrativeMan@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago I think the bigger one is the construction industry. 2"x4" studs. 4'x8' plywood. 16" O.C. Changing to 44x95, 1219x2438, 406 O.C doesn't make a whole lot of sense. We could switch over to the metric equivalents (like 1250x1250 or 600 O.C.), but that would mean switching out machinery and would break a lot of standards. permalink fedilink source parent load more comments (5 replies) [–] someguy3@lemmy.ca [S] 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (7 children) I say that Metric is like color vision. You can see things in whole new and easier ways. People in USC can't understand what others see and insist things are just fine the way they are. Thus the "no one ever does that", "why would you need to know that", "who cares", etc. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 7 child comments load more comments (7 replies) load more comments (30 replies)
[–] CIA_chatbot@lemmy.world 35 points 2 years ago* (7 children) Lol, that sounds very much “as a black man” I’ll tell you, most of us in the states would love a total switch to metric. We use it where is matters most, but we also have an aging population raised on lead has fumes that think anything they don’t know is “communism” or “wholeness” or whatever else the propaganda right spews. Those are the assholes that pretty much stop progress on anything. I’m big into 3D printing, actually got into the same argument with another 3D printing guy…. And I’m like, literally EVERYTHING we do is in metric. The whole damn hobby is metric. I hate humanity permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 9 child comments replies: [–] yA3xAKQMbq@lemm.ee 10 points 2 years ago (1 child) Lol, that sounds very much “as a black man” You mean the „engineer“? Well, what can I say, he was insisting his professor at uni taught him „a true engineer can work with every system“. I mean yes, but the difference is one engineer is just happily pushing around decimals, the other one goes pale when you ask what 1/5th of a gallon in cubic inches is… permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] CIA_chatbot@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago Hehe, yea, I was poking fun at the “engineer”. There was a congressman a while ago that got caught posting right wing stuff on twitter from an alt account “as a black man” (dude was white of course” permalink fedilink source parent [–] CCDKP@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago (3 children) Sometimes I like to think about the logistical challenges with a switch to metric. The one that always gives me pause is highway signs. Thinking about the monumental task of replacing every speed sign, distance sign, and mile marker across the country in any timely period makes my head hurt. It could certainly be done, and is probably easier than I think with all the state DoTs working independently on it especially over time. We have a lot of road with a lot of signs. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 6 child comments replies: [–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 7 points 2 years ago (1 child) I honestly hate that argument. "it would cost so much to change all those signs" is just negative talk for "it would employee a shit ton of people, create a lot of jobs, and be a major infrastructure project that could help our economy.". Honestly, the economic benefit of major infrastructure works is rarely talked about as much as it should be. Mainly, I think, because the people it benefits are the ones actually doing the work. And that's scary to a certain segment of society that would like very much that not to be the case. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] CCDKP@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (1 child) I don't think it's a valid argument against metric, just a thought experiment to consider about the time needed to implement. Converting would be a slow process, but I agree it could be an economic boost as swapping things is a largely a manual process permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 3 points 2 years ago Meant to mention in my first comment, I haven't met many other people who like to randomly imagine the ways major structural changes would take place. Lol. I like to pick a huge project. Like, say, single payer healthcare, or the nationalization of an industry, and then imagine the individual steps that would need to be taken to get there. Doesn't necessarily have to be a project I'd support, I just have fun imagining the ways it would need to happen. permalink fedilink source parent [–] JungleJim@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 years ago That's a good point, but we don't have to even fully replace them. I admit I don't know the name of the technology but I see many street signs or construction signs that have basically a printed metal sticker slapped over the old information. permalink fedilink source parent [–] TheIllustrativeMan@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago I think the bigger one is the construction industry. 2"x4" studs. 4'x8' plywood. 16" O.C. Changing to 44x95, 1219x2438, 406 O.C doesn't make a whole lot of sense. We could switch over to the metric equivalents (like 1250x1250 or 600 O.C.), but that would mean switching out machinery and would break a lot of standards. permalink fedilink source parent load more comments (5 replies)
[–] yA3xAKQMbq@lemm.ee 10 points 2 years ago (1 child) Lol, that sounds very much “as a black man” You mean the „engineer“? Well, what can I say, he was insisting his professor at uni taught him „a true engineer can work with every system“. I mean yes, but the difference is one engineer is just happily pushing around decimals, the other one goes pale when you ask what 1/5th of a gallon in cubic inches is… permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] CIA_chatbot@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago Hehe, yea, I was poking fun at the “engineer”. There was a congressman a while ago that got caught posting right wing stuff on twitter from an alt account “as a black man” (dude was white of course” permalink fedilink source parent
[–] CIA_chatbot@lemmy.world 8 points 2 years ago Hehe, yea, I was poking fun at the “engineer”. There was a congressman a while ago that got caught posting right wing stuff on twitter from an alt account “as a black man” (dude was white of course” permalink fedilink source parent
[–] CCDKP@lemmy.world 4 points 2 years ago (3 children) Sometimes I like to think about the logistical challenges with a switch to metric. The one that always gives me pause is highway signs. Thinking about the monumental task of replacing every speed sign, distance sign, and mile marker across the country in any timely period makes my head hurt. It could certainly be done, and is probably easier than I think with all the state DoTs working independently on it especially over time. We have a lot of road with a lot of signs. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 6 child comments replies: [–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 7 points 2 years ago (1 child) I honestly hate that argument. "it would cost so much to change all those signs" is just negative talk for "it would employee a shit ton of people, create a lot of jobs, and be a major infrastructure project that could help our economy.". Honestly, the economic benefit of major infrastructure works is rarely talked about as much as it should be. Mainly, I think, because the people it benefits are the ones actually doing the work. And that's scary to a certain segment of society that would like very much that not to be the case. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] CCDKP@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (1 child) I don't think it's a valid argument against metric, just a thought experiment to consider about the time needed to implement. Converting would be a slow process, but I agree it could be an economic boost as swapping things is a largely a manual process permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 3 points 2 years ago Meant to mention in my first comment, I haven't met many other people who like to randomly imagine the ways major structural changes would take place. Lol. I like to pick a huge project. Like, say, single payer healthcare, or the nationalization of an industry, and then imagine the individual steps that would need to be taken to get there. Doesn't necessarily have to be a project I'd support, I just have fun imagining the ways it would need to happen. permalink fedilink source parent [–] JungleJim@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 years ago That's a good point, but we don't have to even fully replace them. I admit I don't know the name of the technology but I see many street signs or construction signs that have basically a printed metal sticker slapped over the old information. permalink fedilink source parent [–] TheIllustrativeMan@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago I think the bigger one is the construction industry. 2"x4" studs. 4'x8' plywood. 16" O.C. Changing to 44x95, 1219x2438, 406 O.C doesn't make a whole lot of sense. We could switch over to the metric equivalents (like 1250x1250 or 600 O.C.), but that would mean switching out machinery and would break a lot of standards. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 7 points 2 years ago (1 child) I honestly hate that argument. "it would cost so much to change all those signs" is just negative talk for "it would employee a shit ton of people, create a lot of jobs, and be a major infrastructure project that could help our economy.". Honestly, the economic benefit of major infrastructure works is rarely talked about as much as it should be. Mainly, I think, because the people it benefits are the ones actually doing the work. And that's scary to a certain segment of society that would like very much that not to be the case. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] CCDKP@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (1 child) I don't think it's a valid argument against metric, just a thought experiment to consider about the time needed to implement. Converting would be a slow process, but I agree it could be an economic boost as swapping things is a largely a manual process permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 3 points 2 years ago Meant to mention in my first comment, I haven't met many other people who like to randomly imagine the ways major structural changes would take place. Lol. I like to pick a huge project. Like, say, single payer healthcare, or the nationalization of an industry, and then imagine the individual steps that would need to be taken to get there. Doesn't necessarily have to be a project I'd support, I just have fun imagining the ways it would need to happen. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] CCDKP@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago (1 child) I don't think it's a valid argument against metric, just a thought experiment to consider about the time needed to implement. Converting would be a slow process, but I agree it could be an economic boost as swapping things is a largely a manual process permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 3 points 2 years ago Meant to mention in my first comment, I haven't met many other people who like to randomly imagine the ways major structural changes would take place. Lol. I like to pick a huge project. Like, say, single payer healthcare, or the nationalization of an industry, and then imagine the individual steps that would need to be taken to get there. Doesn't necessarily have to be a project I'd support, I just have fun imagining the ways it would need to happen. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 3 points 2 years ago Meant to mention in my first comment, I haven't met many other people who like to randomly imagine the ways major structural changes would take place. Lol. I like to pick a huge project. Like, say, single payer healthcare, or the nationalization of an industry, and then imagine the individual steps that would need to be taken to get there. Doesn't necessarily have to be a project I'd support, I just have fun imagining the ways it would need to happen. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] JungleJim@sh.itjust.works 7 points 2 years ago That's a good point, but we don't have to even fully replace them. I admit I don't know the name of the technology but I see many street signs or construction signs that have basically a printed metal sticker slapped over the old information. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] TheIllustrativeMan@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago I think the bigger one is the construction industry. 2"x4" studs. 4'x8' plywood. 16" O.C. Changing to 44x95, 1219x2438, 406 O.C doesn't make a whole lot of sense. We could switch over to the metric equivalents (like 1250x1250 or 600 O.C.), but that would mean switching out machinery and would break a lot of standards. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] someguy3@lemmy.ca [S] 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (7 children) I say that Metric is like color vision. You can see things in whole new and easier ways. People in USC can't understand what others see and insist things are just fine the way they are. Thus the "no one ever does that", "why would you need to know that", "who cares", etc. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 7 child comments load more comments (7 replies)
[–] ALERT@sh.itjust.works 11 points 2 years ago (2 children) lbs = elbows? 2 thousand human elbows?! permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 17 points 2 years ago Yes. Jesus, why can't Europeans educate themselves on real measurements! We measure in feet and bald eagles for distance. We measure in shotgun shells, elbows and pounds for weight. We measure in ATNT for temperature. That's Ambient Truck Nut Temperature, which is the temperature of a pair of truck nuts after driving for 80 bald eagles at 40 bald eagles per Active Shooter Warning, at sea level on a Wednesday. It's not complicated. permalink fedilink source parent [–] grozzle@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago it's from the Latin "libra", for balance, like a set of scales. the £ symbol for pounds as in money is a stylised L for the same reason! etymology lesson over, imperial/customary gtfo resumes. metric ftw. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] DharmaCurious@startrek.website 17 points 2 years ago Yes. Jesus, why can't Europeans educate themselves on real measurements! We measure in feet and bald eagles for distance. We measure in shotgun shells, elbows and pounds for weight. We measure in ATNT for temperature. That's Ambient Truck Nut Temperature, which is the temperature of a pair of truck nuts after driving for 80 bald eagles at 40 bald eagles per Active Shooter Warning, at sea level on a Wednesday. It's not complicated. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] grozzle@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago it's from the Latin "libra", for balance, like a set of scales. the £ symbol for pounds as in money is a stylised L for the same reason! etymology lesson over, imperial/customary gtfo resumes. metric ftw. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] ArbiterXero@lemmy.world 16 points 2 years ago Canada does, because we’re mostly metric but still do enough business with the US that we’re sorta half and half permalink fedilink source parent
[–] cbarrick@lemmy.world 9 points 2 years ago (1 child) Yeah, but what about the metric shit-ton? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] gazter@aussie.zone 4 points 2 years ago (1 child) I always forget- is that 100 fuckloads? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] drbluefall@toast.ooo 2 points 2 years ago I think it's 128 fuckloads. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] gazter@aussie.zone 4 points 2 years ago (1 child) I always forget- is that 100 fuckloads? permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] drbluefall@toast.ooo 2 points 2 years ago I think it's 128 fuckloads. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] drbluefall@toast.ooo 2 points 2 years ago I think it's 128 fuckloads. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] someguy3@lemmy.ca [S] 5 points 2 years ago* (2 children) We call it a metric tonne in Canada. There's also short ton and long ton which have to be differentiated, but no one ever knows which one they are using. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 4 child comments replies: [–] ME5SENGER_24@lemm.ee 17 points 2 years ago (1 child) How to measure like a Canadian permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] theKalash@feddit.ch 6 points 2 years ago (1 child) Damn, you guys might be worse than the British. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] ME5SENGER_24@lemm.ee 14 points 2 years ago (1 child) Something like this? How to measure like a Brit permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment load more comments (1 reply) [–] yA3xAKQMbq@lemm.ee 6 points 2 years ago That’s because you only metricated 40y ago. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] ME5SENGER_24@lemm.ee 17 points 2 years ago (1 child) How to measure like a Canadian permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] theKalash@feddit.ch 6 points 2 years ago (1 child) Damn, you guys might be worse than the British. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] ME5SENGER_24@lemm.ee 14 points 2 years ago (1 child) Something like this? How to measure like a Brit permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment load more comments (1 reply)
[–] theKalash@feddit.ch 6 points 2 years ago (1 child) Damn, you guys might be worse than the British. permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 2 child comments replies: [–] ME5SENGER_24@lemm.ee 14 points 2 years ago (1 child) Something like this? How to measure like a Brit permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment load more comments (1 reply)
[–] ME5SENGER_24@lemm.ee 14 points 2 years ago (1 child) Something like this? How to measure like a Brit permalink fedilink source parent hideshow 1 child comment load more comments (1 reply)
[–] yA3xAKQMbq@lemm.ee 6 points 2 years ago That’s because you only metricated 40y ago. permalink fedilink source parent
[–] johsny@lemmy.world 1 point 2 years ago I only use that term when I call a lot of items “a metric fuckton of stuff” permalink fedilink source parent