Imperial versus metric

[Bobbejans]

On 7/7/2024 at 5:46 PM, Deddly said:

The Swedish mile ("mil") is 10km. Swedish people are reeeeealy tall. 

they are also 10km in norway btw

[Nuke]

i want a new unit of measure where 0= the plank length, and 1 = the size of the observable universe. even the metric system uses human-arbitrary definitions like the size of the earth. this is a terrible system for communicating death star plans to other aliens.

Edited November 14 by Nuke

[Deddly]

1 hour ago, Bobbejans said:

they are also 10km in norway btw

Gøy!

1 minute ago, Nuke said:

i want a new unit of measure where 0= the plank length, and 1 = the size of the observable universe.

Shall we call that the Nuke scale? I can see it now:

Quote

[Radio crackles to life inside an underground concrete bunker]
"As the radioactive clouds rise from the ashes of our civilisation, our leaders stress the importance of positivity: 'On a scale of 0-1, our planet is almost entirely zero Nuked.' "

 

[kerbiloid]

1 hour ago, Nuke said:

i want a new unit of measure where 0= the plank length, and 1 = the size of the observable universe. even the metric system uses human-arbitrary definitions like the size of the earth. this is a terrible system for communicating death star plans to other aliens.

0x10c made it really needed in its time.

[Bobbejans]

1 hour ago, Deddly said:

Gøy!

så bra at det kan

jeg kjøner egentklig ikke hvorfor man bruker mil istedet for kilometer

[Deddly]

1 hour ago, Bobbejans said:

så bra at det kan

jeg kjøner egentklig ikke hvorfor man bruker mil istedet for kilometer

I don't know why we use "mil" instead of km either. But at least it's metric, ish 

[kerbiloid]

Now I'm not sure, what is millimeter in Scandinavian...

[Kermann Nolandung]

Why leagues are so short in France ?

Spoiler

Now Pantagruel in his journey seeing that the leagues of that little territory about Paris called France were very short in regard of those of other countries, demanded the cause and reason of it from Panurge, who told him a story which Marotus of the Lac, monachus, set down in the Acts of the Kings of Canarre, saying that in old times countries were not distinguished into leagues, miles, furlongs, nor parasangs, until that King Pharamond divided them, which was done in manner as followeth. The said king chose at Paris a hundred fair, gallant, lusty, brisk young men, all resolute and bold adventurers in Cupid's duels, together with a hundred comely, pretty, handsome, lovely and well-complexioned wenches of Picardy, all which he caused to be well entertained and highly fed for the space of eight days. Then having called for them, he delivered to every one of the young men his wench, with store of money to defray their charges, and this injunction besides, to go unto divers places here and there. And wheresoever they should biscot and thrum their wenches, that, they setting a stone there, it should be accounted for a league. Thus went away those brave fellows and sprightly blades most merrily, and because they were fresh and had been at rest, they very often jummed and fanfreluched almost at every field's end, and this is the cause why the leagues about Paris are so short. But when they had gone a great way, and were now as weary as poor devils, all the oil in their lamps being almost spent, they did not chink and duffle so often, but contented themselves (I mean for the men's part) with one scurvy paltry bout in a day, and this is that which makes the leagues in Brittany, Delanes, Germany, and other more remote countries so long. Other men give other reasons for it, but this seems to me of all other the best. To which Pantagruel willingly adhered.
Rabelais: Gargantua and Pantagruel, Book II.

 

[BeastHunter]

I found this thread and while I’m not sure what the topic is or if this is on topic for it, here is my opinion on the imperial vs metric debate. 

Metric is for measurements and design. It is logical and uses units on a base 10 system, which scales nicely for designing and measuring objects.

However, imperial is great for estimations of objects. It is easy to say “that tree looks about 12 feet tall” and “move it a few more inches this way,” as well as miles being a better unit for distance and speed.

Quite simply, metric is for measurement and design, while imperial is a conversational unit for estimation and description.

[Deddly]

6 hours ago, BeastHunter said:

...imperial is great for estimations of objects. It is easy to say “that tree looks about 12 feet tall” and “move it a few more inches this way,” as well as miles being a better unit for distance and speed.

Only if you are familiar with those units. I grew up with imperial and have since been forced to move over to metric. With that background I can honestly say that, for the average layman, there is no inherent benefit of the imperial system when it comes to visualisation of size, volume or distance. Its sole advantage is that millions of people in the US are familiar with it. If those same people had to move over to metric, there would be a lot of grumbling and complaining, possibly a civil war or two, but after a few years, everyone would get used to the new system and would be just as good at estimating 10 m as they are at guessing 12 ft.

[Fizzlebop Smith]

Well... as someone who has grown up under the shadow of the Imperial Influence my entire life, I must say, they are a bit intimidating.

Everyone involved with the Imperium mindset is so self-important, believing their ideas are the best. ..SCOFF
 It's so conflicted and disjointed. To measure a simple distance, I have to understand Base 16, 12, and math out 5,280 feet? What kind of sorcery is this?.
If I want to measure time, then I must use concepts of Base 10 and 60. And like most forms of dark magic, the practitioners are often unable to explain or debate the finer nuances of their imperialism...
Dont even get me started on liquids  or volume of moving air ... Inarticulate sound of Frustration

SI ideologies and concepts are vastly superior. Aligning one's thoughts with the SI (Base 10) system allows for quicker thought processes and fewer errors in resolving any mathematical equation.

As much as I feel the SI is superior, I am afraid to speak out. The eccentric Imperialists do not like having their views challenged. I secretly hope the SI would stage a coup. There was some traction and ground gained during the late '70s, especially in areas where foreigners were contributing greatly to some state-sponsored projects. There are still many places with KPH signs under the MPH.

As much as I like to dream, the Imperium will continue to hold sway where I live. They have drones and lightsabers, after all.

[magnemoe]

8 hours ago, Deddly said:

Only if you are familiar with those units. I grew up with imperial and have since been forced to move over to metric. With that background I can honestly say that, for the average layman, there is no inherent benefit of the imperial system when it comes to visualisation of size, volume or distance. Its sole advantage is that millions of people in the US are familiar with it. If those same people had to move over to metric, there would be a lot of grumbling and complaining, possibly a civil war or two, but after a few years, everyone would get used to the new system and would be just as good at estimating 10 m as they are at guessing 12 ft.

Agree, an meter is 3 feet, tend to use weird measurements all the time, like the size of your phone or other common objects, length of you arm from elbow to say the thumb join is an good rule of thumb is not having tools. 
Think the this length to the fingertips was an very common measurement in ancient times, it has the benefit that if your larger you just measure to some finger. 
In the army the length of our guns to the flash suppressor was 1 meter +- 2-3 mm. who is accurate enough for field work. 

[magnemoe]

On 11/14/2024 at 8:48 PM, kerbiloid said:

0x10c made it really needed in its time.

281,474 billion years in deep sleep has some issues like the radiation from your own body would kill you. 
Wonder how many stars it would be left is the second question. its 20.000 times into the future from we are from the big bang. 

[darthgently]

35 minutes ago, magnemoe said:

Think the this length to the fingertips was a very common measurement in ancient times, it has the benefit that if your larger you just measure to some finger. 

Cubit, iirc