And a kilogram of weight just does not seem right, but I know what a ten
pound sack of sugar feels like. Now, if you want to start measuring things
based on bottles of Heineken...
On Sun, Jan 16, 2011 at 1:45 PM, lists <Stuartlists@orpheusinternet.co.uk>wrote:
>
>
> In article <4D31D9D9.4000403@bigpond.com <4D31D9D9.4000403%40bigpond.com>
> >,
>
> Charles Mitchard <charlesmitchard@bigpond.com<charlesmitchard%40bigpond.com>>
> wrote:
> > Its actually pretty obvious that the metric system of nuts and bolts is
> > useless and imprecise.
>
> Here are the main arguments for both sides of the debate:
>
> PRO IMPERIAL:
> There is absolutely no question; traditional imperial measurements are
> far superior for woodworking. Most metalworkers use it for very good
> reasons:
>
> PRO METRIC:
> There is absolutely no question; metric measurements are far superior
> for metalworking. Most metalworkers in the world use it for very good
> reasons:
>
> Intuitiveness:
> 1. Imperial is much more intuitive and natural. Feet and inches
> (thumbs) have been used throughout human history as they are related
> to human body parts (fingers and feet). As Michelangelo said: man is
> the measure of all things.
> 1. Metric is much more intuitive and natural. Humans always use a base
> 10 system as it is related to human body parts (number of fingers &
> toes). As Michelangelo said: man is the measure of all things.
>
> Communicating measurements:
> 2. Imperial is easier to hear and leads to less confusion. Someone
> calls out a measurement for a piece of wood, & before you notice it,
> you cut 10mm instead of 10cm.
> 2. Metric is easier to hear and leads to less confusion. Quickly now,
> is 19/32" bigger or smaller than 5/8"? On the other hand, it is
> immediately obvious that 15mm is smaller than 16mm.
>
> Ease of learning:
> 3. Imperial measurements are easier to learn. You don't have to
> memorize all those crazy prefixes: femto, nano, micro, milli, centi,
> deci, deka, hecto, kilo, mega, myria, giga, etc.
> 3. Metric measurements are easier to learn. You don't have to remember
> all those crazy measures like inches, hands, feet, cubits, yards,
> fathoms, rods, cones, chains, furlongs, cables, miles, etc.
>
> Arithmetic:
> 4. Imperial uses simple fractional arithmetic which we all learned in
> grade school. Not like metric where you need to know all those
> prefixes and can easily make a mistake on your calculator & cut
> something 10 times too big or 10 times too small.
> 4. Metric uses simple decimal arithmetic where you can use your
> calculator directly without springing big bucks for one that
> calculates inches and fractions.
>
> Division:
> 5. It's a lot easier to divide stuff in imperial measurements. What do
> you call half a millimeter? Ever try to divide 304.8mm by four? A foot
> is real easy - 12" divided by four is 3".
> 5. It's a lot easier to divide stuff in metric measurements. Ever try
> to divide 39 9/16 inches by four? While 1000mm divided by four readily
> gives 250mm.
>
> Accuracy:
> 6. Imperial is more accurate. You can easily go to 1/32 which is more
> precise than 1mm.
> 6. Metric is more accurate. You can easily go to 0.5mm which is more
> precise than 1/32"
>
> The REAL Reason:
> 7. Metric is a stupid cowardly French system. You don't want to
> support those smelly unwashed arrogant ingrates, do you? GOD BLESS
> AMERICA!
> 7. Inches and feet are a stupid warmongering American imperialist
> system. The rest of the world and all scientists use the much more
> rational metric system. It's about time the US gets into the 19th
> century, never mind the 21st! VIVE LA FRANCE!
>
>
> --
> Stuart Winsor
>
> Midland RISC OS show - Sat July 9th 2011
>
>
>
--
Nick A
"You know what I wish? I wish that all the scum of the world had but a
single throat, and I had my hands about it..." Rorschach, 1975
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety
deserve neither liberty nor safety."- Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review
of Pennsylvania, 1759
"Suburbia is where the developer bulldozes out the trees, then names the
streets after them." Bill Vaughan
"The price of apathy towards public affairs is to be ruled by evil men."
Plato
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
------------------------------------
<*> Member map - Who and where we are. Please add yourself so members can find each other.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gingery_machines/app/peoplemap/view/map
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gingery_machines/
<*> Your email settings:
Individual Email | Traditional
<*> To change settings online go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gingery_machines/join
(Yahoo! ID required)
<*> To change settings via email:
gingery_machines-digest@yahoogroups.com
gingery_machines-fullfeatured@yahoogroups.com
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
gingery_machines-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
No comments:
Post a Comment