Down with the Metric System! Long Live the English Imperial System!
It was a scorching 36.5ºCelsius here in Pohang yesterday. That's 97º Fahrenheit for all you Americans and others who hold onto the old, traditional ways.
I remember in elementary in the 1970s how we were told that the day was coming when the United States would convert to the Metric System. Our teachers did their best to teach us both the English Imperial System, and the Metric System. I also remember how difficult it was for most of my classmates to understand the system, which is so simple (too simple, in fact, which is the point I'm trying to make with this post). I assume it was President Reagan, in his wisdom, who put an end to such nonsense.
Having lived in Korea, which uses the Metric System, for seven years, and in that time having associated with many Canadians, who have largely turned their backs on the English Imperial System, I have made an effort to learn this system and use it. The current heat wave we are experiencing in Korea has convinced me to abandon that effort. I'll still make attempts with Koreans to use the Metric System, because they have known no other. However, I will use the English Imperial System with Canadians, because they should know better.
Defense of "British weights and measure" is a major issue of The U.K. Independence Party. From a link off of the UK Independence Party - Berkshire, we read tyese words of wisdom:
If we buy a quater-pound of meat, we have a rough idea of how much meat we are getting. But 113.4 grams? You might argue that an even 100 grams is a lot easier to fathom. True. But how about one gram, the Meric System's base unit of weight? One gram is infinitesimal compared to our common experience of holding things. Ounces or pounds are easy to imagine. The English Imperial System is indeed a "human and natural system."
The same is true of temperature. When we hear that it is 35º or 36º outside, we know that it is hot, but have no idea just how hot. When we hear 95º or 97º, we know what kind of heat we need to be prepared to deal with. This is because the Fahrenheit Scale is also a "human and natural system." It is based on the common extremes of temperature in Northern Europe; 100º is an extremely hot day and 0º an extremely cold one. Beyond those figures we know that we are dealing with abnormal weather. Using Fahrenheit, we make reference to our common experience of normal weather conditions. Using Celsius, we are forced to make reference to something as outside our human experience as the freezing and boiling points of water.
For all its unwieldiness, let the English Imperial System remain! Here are some sites that advocate the English Imperial System, mostly from the United Kingdom:
The Metric Martyrs Defence Fund. This site proudly "uphold[s] the British way of life"
The British Weights and Measures Association. This site "exists to protect and promote customary weights and measures, and to oppose compulsory use of the metric system"
metricsucks.com. This takes a tongue-in-cheek approach, blaming the metric system for, among others, "Jerry Springer, Televangelism, Toxic waste, the Republicans, the Democrats, and Communism." It also holds the English Imperial System resposible for "the finer things in life," including "the Pope, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Recycling, World Peace, Zen, Free Market Capitalism, Chess," and many more.
It was a scorching 36.5ºCelsius here in Pohang yesterday. That's 97º Fahrenheit for all you Americans and others who hold onto the old, traditional ways.
I remember in elementary in the 1970s how we were told that the day was coming when the United States would convert to the Metric System. Our teachers did their best to teach us both the English Imperial System, and the Metric System. I also remember how difficult it was for most of my classmates to understand the system, which is so simple (too simple, in fact, which is the point I'm trying to make with this post). I assume it was President Reagan, in his wisdom, who put an end to such nonsense.
Having lived in Korea, which uses the Metric System, for seven years, and in that time having associated with many Canadians, who have largely turned their backs on the English Imperial System, I have made an effort to learn this system and use it. The current heat wave we are experiencing in Korea has convinced me to abandon that effort. I'll still make attempts with Koreans to use the Metric System, because they have known no other. However, I will use the English Imperial System with Canadians, because they should know better.
Defense of "British weights and measure" is a major issue of The U.K. Independence Party. From a link off of the UK Independence Party - Berkshire, we read tyese words of wisdom:
"We know that British weights and measures, as a human and 'natural' system, is vastly superior to the artificial metric system." (from THE TURNING OF THE METRIC TIDE: HOW METRIC ROAD & PEDESTRIAN SIGNS ARE BEING REMOVED FROM OUR LAND)
If we buy a quater-pound of meat, we have a rough idea of how much meat we are getting. But 113.4 grams? You might argue that an even 100 grams is a lot easier to fathom. True. But how about one gram, the Meric System's base unit of weight? One gram is infinitesimal compared to our common experience of holding things. Ounces or pounds are easy to imagine. The English Imperial System is indeed a "human and natural system."
The same is true of temperature. When we hear that it is 35º or 36º outside, we know that it is hot, but have no idea just how hot. When we hear 95º or 97º, we know what kind of heat we need to be prepared to deal with. This is because the Fahrenheit Scale is also a "human and natural system." It is based on the common extremes of temperature in Northern Europe; 100º is an extremely hot day and 0º an extremely cold one. Beyond those figures we know that we are dealing with abnormal weather. Using Fahrenheit, we make reference to our common experience of normal weather conditions. Using Celsius, we are forced to make reference to something as outside our human experience as the freezing and boiling points of water.
For all its unwieldiness, let the English Imperial System remain! Here are some sites that advocate the English Imperial System, mostly from the United Kingdom:
The Metric Martyrs Defence Fund. This site proudly "uphold[s] the British way of life"
The British Weights and Measures Association. This site "exists to protect and promote customary weights and measures, and to oppose compulsory use of the metric system"
metricsucks.com. This takes a tongue-in-cheek approach, blaming the metric system for, among others, "Jerry Springer, Televangelism, Toxic waste, the Republicans, the Democrats, and Communism." It also holds the English Imperial System resposible for "the finer things in life," including "the Pope, the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Recycling, World Peace, Zen, Free Market Capitalism, Chess," and many more.
Redeemed by Our Savior, I work out my salvation with fear and trembling in Pohang, South Korea, where I live with my wife, daughter, and son and teach English at a science and technology university. Baptized a Methodist and raised a Missouri Synod Lutheran in Buffalo, NY, I spent six years as a guest of the Anglican Communion before being received by the Grace of God into the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church on the Feast of Saint Andrew, my patron, anno domini 2002.
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