Euro free trade agreement / say hello to the metric system!

[ruthabagah]

One small part of last night SOU had me scrambling to my email and contact a couple of good friends in Bruxelles.

A free trade agreement between the US and Europe will indeed create opportunities for both sides, but a big stumbling block for the euros is the required standardization to the metric system.... They won't have it unless we switch and adopt it.

Are you guys ready to go metric? Or go ballistic?

[lowbeyond]

donno why there is resistance to metric. it is a much more logical system of measurment

[hatidua]

donno why there is resistance to metric. it is a much more logical system of measurment

Agreed. I thought there was a push in this direction a decade or two ago when some freeway signs started listing distances in both miles and kilometers...?

[lowbeyond]

that is a good point.

it would cost a shit ton to remark all the highways signs. its $ that we don't have either

[Scogin]

Metric all the way!

[Kraven251]

I like the metric system for weight and measuring distances for precision, but I hate driving on the metric system.

As for remarking all the signs, I am sure they will make it worth it, putting everything in both English and Chinese, so when they finish buying the country they will already feel at home.

[fitz19d]

Heck, it's not like people suddenly forget miles. Just any new signs get updated in metric. Just have to grow into it. A bigger problem would be speed/mileage on/in vehicles.
I think it would have to be somewhat gradual, giant pain for sure. But I really would like to see it happen. Heck, maybe avoid having another satelite plow into a asteroid/moon because of bad metric conversions. Cost of that alone would pay for quite a few roadsigns.

[lowbeyond]

thats a decent compromise.

hell 1# is just a little less then 1/2 a kilo.

1 quart is .94 liter

wont be that hard for peeps to convert in their heads.

[BushMasterBoy]

One cubic centimeter of water weighs one gram!

[ChunkyMonkey]

What's a 9 inch of goodness measured in cm? Gotta readjust all of my pick up lines[ROFL3]

[Busta Prima]

We should have switched to the metric system decades go but old habits are hard to break.

[whichfinger]

We tried to switch to the metric system decades ago. In the '70s thru the early '80's car speedometers had two scales, one mph, one kph. Nobody bought into it and we stuck (or got stuck) with the English system.

[Zundfolge]

The British are part of the EU (for now anyway) and they haven't given up the English system 100% (they still mark their roads with "MPH" speed limit signs for example).

I happen to like the metric system but have always hated the idea of forcing it down people's throats.


One side problem with going metric is that you'll see gas prices jump because they think people won't notice it once we start buying are gas by the liter. ($1 per liter would actually be $3.79 per gallon).

[tmleadr03]

I work on Euro cars, i am already on the Metric system. And we talked in klicks in the Marines for distance so that is how I think already. Though for some reason only on foot, in a car I think MPH. On foot it is "3 klicks to go".

[kidicarus13]

I hope we swicth to metric.

[Rucker61]

What's a 9 inch of goodness measured in cm? Gotta readjust all of my pick up lines[ROFL3]

Just use a 1 to 1 conversion rate. You'll be fine.

[Ronin13]

It'll be tough at first, but I could probably handle it... although ChunkyMonkey is right, it would sound pretty strange saying "Hey baby, I got 23cm for ya!" And cooking would be very different for the transitional period. What about temperature? Celsius and Fahrenheit, isn't that metric/english? Or am I mistaken on that one?
ETA: What about kilograms, I can't figure that one, and I also would have a hard time getting used to being 173cm tall and weighing 77kg (I cheated and used a conversion tool).

[Circuits]

rough conversion is 4:10 - 4 in = 10 cm though it's actually 10.16 cm

[jhood001]

I dream of a world where just one set of sockets and wrenches will be all a man needs. I won't see it in my lifetime... but perhaps our children can. Let's do it for the children!

[Zundfolge]

I dream of a world where just one set of sockets and wrenches will be all a man needs. I won't see it in my lifetime... but perhaps our children can. Let's do it for the children!

I've turned many a 3/8" bolt with a 10mm wrench already :p


... I also would have a hard time getting used to being 173cm tall and weighing 77kg (I cheated and used a conversion tool).

Just tell them you're 17 hands and 12 stone.

[Ronin13]

Just tell them you're 17 hands and 12 stone.
[Eek3] Your what hurts? [LOL] You lost me on that Zund... is that an actual form of measurement?

[Zundfolge]

[Eek3] Your what hurts? [LOL] You lost me on that Zund... is that an actual form of measurement?

Yes, 1 Hand = 4 Inches (or 10.16 cm)
1 Stone = 14lb (or 6.35 kg)


Hand is often used for measuring the height of livestock (particularly horses) and Stone is unit of weight the British still use.

Actually the pound is a unit of measure derived from stone (1/14th stone).

You also have the "Quarter" (2 stone) the "Hundredweight" (8 stone) and the "Long Ton" (160 stone)

[Gman]

Just measure distance in chains. 10 chains in a furlong and 80 chains in a mile.

I got this metric song and dance pounded into me in grade school back in the 70s in Cali.

...along with ecology and the coming ice age.

I think they should just leave it alone. It's bad enough I'm having to watch my country go down the tubes in my generation.

[Dingo]

Eh, I personally think the metric system is a lot more uniform, and makes sense. I'm all for it.

[Ronin13]

Yes, 1 Hand = 4 Inches (or 10.16 cm)
1 Stone = 14lb (or 6.35 kg)


Hand is often used for measuring the height of livestock (particularly horses) and Stone is unit of weight the British still use.

Actually the pound is a unit of measure derived from stone (1/14th stone).

You also have the "Quarter" (2 stone) the "Hundredweight" (8 stone) and the "Long Ton" (160 stone)
Hmm.. that's pretty interesting- wow, you learn something new every day... I think I have heard of the hand measuring, I'm friends with livestock folks, but never really had it explained.

[BigBear]

We've been slowly going metric for a long time... first the 9mm, then the 10mm.... hehehe

[Fmedges]

I hate the metric system

[sellersm]

We've been slowly going metric for a long time... first the 9mm, then the 10mm.... hehehe

:D lol! I like the way you think...

Sent via carrier pigeon cuz the internet's down.

[liberty19]

I don't mind metric but getting back to the original question, I believe the intent is about control not convenience. And, no, I am not about more control from the feds. We already have too much of that.

[DHCO]

As a scientist, the metric system rocks.

[Graves]

As a Mechanic...Metric >*

[SA Friday]

Just use a 1 to 1 conversion rate. You'll be fine.
At least it will be more truthful.

[SA Friday]

I'm fine with the metric system. I've never been fine with free trade. There's a reason we have income and sales tax in this country and it started with the ridding of tariffs. There's a reason jobs are going to china, canada, and mexico.

Free trade has severe unintended consequences.

[tmleadr03]

I'm fine with the metric system. I've never been fine with free trade. There's a reason we have income and sales tax in this country and it started with the ridding of tariffs. There's a reason jobs are going to china, canada, and mexico.

Free trade has severe unintended consequences.

Income and sales tax (mainly income) go hand in hand with the Federal Reserve. With the FR pumping money into the economy (printing money) there needs to be a way to remove it at the other end. That is income tax. Income tax is more a control on inflation then a revenue for the federal government.

[Ridge]

I don't mind metric but getting back to the original question, I believe the intent is about control not convenience. And, no, I am not about more control from the feds. We already have too much of that.

How does changing from standard to metric give the government more or less control over us, again?

[tmleadr03]

How does changing from standard to metric give the government more or less control over us, again?

Because you now have to measure your tinfoil hat using cm not inches.

[TS12000]

Because you now have to measure your tinfoil hat using cm not inches.

Great now its just gonna be too tight all the time

[20nickels]

I use metric when building AKM's and convert to SAE when needed. It is much smarter system. Metric all the way.

I was once told that not going metric was another economic tool in the Cold War, fwiw.

[liberty19]

How does changing from standard to metric give the government more or less control over us, again?
I believe it is the intent of our federal government to transform us into a European Union (socialism) and switching to metric is just one of the steps. Then will be their monetary system......and so on.

[tmleadr03]

I believe it is the intent of our federal government to transform us into a European Union (socialism) and switching to metric is just one of the steps. Then will be their monetary system......and so on.
http://i579.photobucket.com/albums/ss235/orpheon/T1zr7.gif

[Ridge]

I believe it is the intent of our federal government to transform us into a European Union (socialism) and switching to metric is just one of the steps. Then will be their monetary system......and so on.

Don't pull a muscle while making that stretch.

What kind of car do you own?

[TFOGGER]

I am generally in favor of the metric system, but beer should be sold in pints, dammit...

[tmleadr03]

I am generally in favor of the metric system, but beer should be sold in pints, dammit...
Liters work fine for me:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/__nAd50xTIYs/SMrOy3TJhvI/AAAAAAAAAY4/NlII5EFCUe0/s400/Oktoberfest-Waitress.jpg

[jerrymrc]

Being one of those kids that was in school in the 70's along with living in Europe for 3+ years I can do both and convert roughly on the fly. Also can do it with some of the other standards like C to F and back. Kind of standard in the medical field.[Flower]

[wreave]

I love the metric system, and have been saying for years that if a president wants a real legacy, that's the one he should leave.

[Goodburbon]

Metric system makes everything easier. Why not?

[husky390]

Does this mean I'll have to buy 11.43mm for my 1911 from now on?

I agree with Jhood. One set of sockets would be nice. Nothing better than when working on an American car and needing both sets of sockets to replace a part. [Rant1]

[tmleadr03]

Does this mean I'll have to buy 11.43mm for my 1911 from now on?

I agree with Jhood. One set of sockets would be nice. Nothing better than when working on an American car and needing both sets of sockets to replace a part. [Rant1]

I got burned by a 2004 GM. The brakes were in standard. Everything else was metric. I messed a bolt up before I realized. Put wrench on, turn, cuss at stripped bolt head.

[liberty19]

Don't pull a muscle while making that stretch.

What kind of car do you own?
Nobody liked my sarcasm. Guess I am just not good enough at sarcasm. I'll have to practice more. I just don't like the metric system but had to come up with a reason other than I don't like it so I came up with this.
I drive a Toyota.

[SAnd]

21475
If we were meant to use the metric system we would be made different!

[MrPrena]

metric system for me as well.

[Rucker61]

I am generally in favor of the metric system, but beer should be sold in pints, dammit...

20 oz pints, too.

[centrarchidae]

Damn it, I want a PINT of Sierra Nevada, not a demiliter!