Metric

Chestnut

Esspee

Why do we still use miles? Can anyone enlighten me?

I am approaching 74 years of age. In primary school we used ounces, pounds, inches and feet but at secondary school we used the metric system. It is disgraceful that the changeover wasn't enforced in all aspects.

We still use imperial because we're British and we love it! I'm not sure that makes us disgraceful. Centuries of imperial means our brains are wired for it, and not naturally wired for metric. What annoys me is when they use both, sometimes together. Let's just go back to imperial, although that might be tricky for the money. ? ?

I like metric, it seems more efficient.

But I also like the eccentricity and history of imperial measurements; it would be a pity to enforce their abolition.

We're British! It's being eccentric as keeps us going ?

BlueBelle, don’t label yourself stupid.
Adults who’ve only ever worked in metric never had to learn and would have to work hard to cope, with ounces, pounds, stones, quarters and cwt, or inches, feet, yards, chains, furlongs and all the multiplication tables that went with them.
They missed the joys of knowing that there were 240p 480 1/2p, 960 farthings in £1 (with an extra line on the £ sign.)
I’ve heard children grumble about being asked to calculate how many cm in 3km. Sadly they missed out on calculating 63,360 inches in 1 mile so how many in 3 miles.
We’re definitely not stupid!

Yes, never label yourself stupid.
Log on to here and let someone else do it for you.

I work in an estate agent’s and I can assure you that lots of people prefer feet and inches, and not just older ones either.

MissAdventure

Yes, never label yourself stupid.
Log on to here and let someone else do it for you.

???

Bluebelle, I expect, like me, you didn't learn metric at school (not wishing to be rude, you may be younger than me) but only had to learn all those complicated imperial systems of weights and measures with their intriguing names!
Easy peasy.

Metric's a doddle in comparison.

Who are the stupid ones ?
Who worked behind the bar, in a shop, adding up 3&6 and 11 pence 3 farthings.
I’d like to see all the clever dicks do that in their head
I think I’ve proved my point.

Baker's dozen, anyone?

missA ???love it
I think if there was no choice I would have had to learn it I m absolutely fine with money and never think in old money because we had it completely taken away
I m fairly ok with heat and cold on weather programmes again although a lot is given in both
But miles, stones, feet and inches is often given in both We go to the pub for a pint, we drink out of a pint or half pint glass we travel in miles per hour and I don’t recognise my height or weight in metric…. my bras are sold as 38/40/42 ins my shoes are U.K. sizes 6 or 7 not 38 or 40
No you’re right I m not stupid mollygo

MissAdventure

Yes, never label yourself stupid.
Log on to here and let someone else do it for you.

?

callistmom you’re not being rude I m top end of 70 s so yes I learned the hard stuff at school ?

Chestnut

Esspee

Why do we still use miles? Can anyone enlighten me?

I am approaching 74 years of age. In primary school we used ounces, pounds, inches and feet but at secondary school we used the metric system. It is disgraceful that the changeover wasn't enforced in all aspects.

We still use imperial because we're British and we love it! I'm not sure that makes us disgraceful. Centuries of imperial means our brains are wired for it, and not naturally wired for metric. What annoys me is when they use both, sometimes together. Let's just go back to imperial, although that might be tricky for the money. ? ?

This thread's a laugh a minute.... ?

MerylStreep

Who are the stupid ones ?
Who worked behind the bar, in a shop, adding up 3&6 and 11 pence 3 farthings.
I’d like to see all the clever dicks do that in their head
I think I’ve proved my point.

Yup, been there. First Saturday job in Boots, adding up in my head all the little items brought to the till, including half pennies. And I was no good at maths! Farthings had gone by then (thank goodness) as they ended in 1961, although I loved the coin itself with the little wren.

volver

Chestnut

Esspee

Why do we still use miles? Can anyone enlighten me?

I am approaching 74 years of age. In primary school we used ounces, pounds, inches and feet but at secondary school we used the metric system. It is disgraceful that the changeover wasn't enforced in all aspects.

We still use imperial because we're British and we love it! I'm not sure that makes us disgraceful. Centuries of imperial means our brains are wired for it, and not naturally wired for metric. What annoys me is when they use both, sometimes together. Let's just go back to imperial, although that might be tricky for the money. ? ?

This thread's a laugh a minute.... ?

Gosh, that must be the first time you've laughed at one of my jokes! And that is what it was, so we're making progress.

MissAdventure

Yes, never label yourself stupid.
Log on to here and let someone else do it for you.

That has got to be Post of the Year! ????

Esspee

Why do we still use miles? Can anyone enlighten me?

I am approaching 74 years of age. In primary school we used ounces, pounds, inches and feet but at secondary school we used the metric system. It is disgraceful that the changeover wasn't enforced in all aspects.

Same, I was a child of the 60's/70's and can do neither particularly well even now! If selling on Facebook or eBay I will measure in one (if it's whole cms or inches) and then generally put both, using a google converter!

I still think in feet and inches. I can’t quite see metres etc

Don't do metric. Never felt the need or desire.

Why should I have to buy a kilo of grapes which is already packaged when all I wanted was a pound.

Chestnut

MissAdventure

Yes, never label yourself stupid.
Log on to here and let someone else do it for you.

That has got to be Post of the Year! ????

It really should be Gransnet Quote of All Time!

Just priceless ?

CountessFosco

Bearing in mind Britain adopted the metric system in 1965, it is really pathetic that estate agents, and advertisers [on eBay] are still using feet and inches.

It's not pathetic, it's presumably practical as estate agents wouldn't waste their time providing both sets of measurements unless they thought it would help to sell houses.

They're sales people and presumably know what they're doing.

Although I expect there are some Gransnetters who could tell them how to do their jobs better. ???

Callistemon21
How could you say such a thing?
They're sales people and presumably know what they're doing.
Although I expect there are some Gransnetters who could tell them how to do their jobs better. ???
Not only can, but probably will.

Although both your statements are so very true!???

MissAdventure

Yes, never label yourself stupid.
Log on to here and let someone else do it for you.

I've just spluttered tea everywhere!

Definitely Quote of the Year! ??

The United States, Liberia and Myanmar are the only countries still using imperial measurements so going back to imperial would severely limit our export opportunities.

I learnt both at school in the 60s. I worked as a draughtsman for a while in the 70s which meant using all metric and I use metric for cooking, sewing and jobs round the house. I use imperial for weighing myself because I've never bothered to change. Driving in this country I use miles, abroad I can see distances in kilometres.

Deedaa, I agree about driving abroad. We use km quite easily, especially since the signposts and my milometer are in km. If we want to know about how many miles, we just divide km by 8 then multiply by 5 or do it the easier km/3 then x 2. It’s great for the DGC maths as well.

MsAdventure superb!