Why is the imperial system still the main system of measurement in some countries?

[Anonymous]

It's literally the dumbest thing ever

[WindAtMyBack]

There is no compelling reason to change it. There is nothing dumb about it.

There are actually a lot of systems around the world, not just metric and imperial.

Here in the US there is no official system of measurement. How can you tell people what measurements to use? . The US was one of the originators of metric, but most people don't use it. They can use whatever they want. They use the old system because there is no reason to change.

Personally I'm against switching everything over.

[Asker]

Nasa literally uses the metric system... all science does

[WindAtMyBack]

Yea. A lot of industry does also. A lot of engineering does. Although in manufacturing it doesn't matter because it gets converted no matter what unit is used. In electronics it's mixed and that will be true all over the world.

I'm talking about regular people in their daily lives. Most people don't use it and have no need to. There are a few exceptions. Like many liquids come in liters. But the vast majority of stuff is not metric.

[Asker]

In the US you mean. What good it is for americans if they want to travel and they have no idea how to use the metric system?

[WindAtMyBack]

It's not like it's hard to do another system. Plus, I assume most Americans learned metric in school. I know I learned it back in the mid-60s. Realistically there are only a few measurements that are commonly used.

[ChrisMaster69]

It’s not really that dumb, it’s just a measurement scale.

no one really worries about it unless using scientifically etc where you need precise measurements etc.

Also if it’s dumb, why were some of the major industrial, scientific, engineering etc inventions and advancements made using imperial measurements?

https://research.ncl.ac.uk/marinepropulsion/resources/fundamentals/

Yes metric is a fairly easy system.

[jennifer_bloom]

I prefer imperial because it has smaller spaces between measurements so I feel more accomplished when I weigh physical changes in my body

[OlderAndWiser]

For the same reason that the UK still drives on the left side of the road.

[htmndg183]

A lot of countries drive on the left.

[OlderAndWiser]

@htmndg183 But more countries drive on the right side. If the point is that a universal system of measurements would facilitate international trade, then you should acknowledge that a universal convention for drining on the right side of the road would facilitate international travel.

So why do countries insist on still driving on the left? Because that is the way they have always done things, and the population has great resistance to change. Same reason why the US still uses imperial measurements (but we are slowly changing to a metric system.) Will the UK ever change to right hand drive?

[htmndg183]

The UK is right hand drive lol. If you drive on the left its right hand drive. I hope we never change to your side of the road. Too costly and inconvenient. I understand your point about trade but i do see European cars here too. So your steering can be on opposite side and still drive here. Im from UK and Pakistan. We drive on the left in both countries so it is a bit strange for me that it takes people by surprise when thay see traffic in the UK lol.

[Telekinetic-Potato]

I'm not gonna argue that metric system is objectively better, but the imperial system is so much more intuitive.

If water freezes at 32f a brisk day is usually described at about 62f a heatwave is 95-105+f water boils at roughly 200f (212)

Its just that the numbers mean exactly what they seem like they would mean temperature wise.

A good way to think about imperial temperature is if 100f is 100% hot and 0f is 0%

Pretty much all other measurements that are imperial can suck my dick

[htmndg183]

As someone who lives in the UK, the only sense i can make out of it is that the switch would probably be more expensive. The distances here are all imperial. A lot of people use stones and pounds for weight but luckily kilos are widely used and understood by people too. And fortunately unlike our counterparts across the ocean, we use degrees C. But imperial on the whole feels imaginary and weird. Metric: always the same number but different decimal places when it comes to conversions. Imperial, weird and odd conversions.

[NamerOfStars]

Not just "some"; it's used in all but three, and one of those is kinda half-assing it. Why? French imperialism and inertia, mostly. People are VERY reluctant to abandon something they're used to, even when there's a good reason for it.

[MikeInHawaii]

Americans just seem reluctant to change. Printing dollar bills is a waste of money, but there are warehouses full of $2 bills and dollar coins because people won’t use them.

[FunkyMonkee]

Because it's the easiest system to use, especially if it's what you were brought up with.

[Asker]

I'm on board with the fact that it's easier if you grew up with it. But it certainly isn't the easiest in general.

[FunkyMonkee]

I can't see how. With the metric system, you have to memorize all those bizarre amounts and then break them down into decimal points if they're more or less a whole number. It's REALLY confusing.

[Asker]

What are you on about... you literally just described the imperial system

[FunkyMonkee]

Imperial is feet, inches, miles, etc..

[Asker]

Yes. Explain how the metric system is more confusing than that?

[FunkyMonkee]

I just did! Didn't you read it?

[Waldoe]

"Opinions" are like "assholes" everyone has one, and now we can see yours.

[slatyb]

Because it hasn’t been cost-effective to switch.