Stephen Davis
Sun, 07 Mar 2010 12:54:12 -0800
" "Stephen, you don't have to be 'anti' the opposite to what you are 'pro-' to, if that makes sense. In fact that position (IMHO) is more honourable, realistic and mature. And it makes the argument less personal - again all IMHO."
I'm just confused by your bizarre notion that JM Steel was wrong to appear
anti-imperial because he would prefer that these metric signs to be kept...and
it looks like they may be (hooray!!). He is a metric advocate. He is a member
of a metric discussion board. Why should he be worried about appearing
anti-imperial when it is the main function of the discussion board is to
promote metric? People on here are not exactly going to talk about imperial in
glowing terms, are they?
"I have my preferences but I'm definitely not anti-metric. I find it difficult
to envisage being against how something is measured.
In fact I think we are in an enviable position of being able to choose from two
well known systems in the UK (yes - I know that's going to invoke the 'mess'
thing!)."
Yes...it does invoke the "mess" thing, because that's what our system is
in...certainly in regard to weights & measures because of previous governments
lacking a backbone and failing to introduce a coherent system of metric
measurement across the board. By the way, in regards to weights & measures in
business, there is NO choice. All are bound by W&M legislation, whether the
system is metric OR imperial.
"In fact I think we are in an enviable position of being able to choose from
two well known systems in the UK"
I don't...I find it a complete pain, actually. It is, of course, a free
country (allegedly) and people are free to use what weights & measures they
like but, as I said earlier, businesses and local authorities can't....they are
bound by legislation, making your notion of choice a misnomer.
"Obviously if I am denied the choice then I must use whatever someone else has
has decided is 'best for me'. That's a position that - in the main - I wholly
dislike."
OK....don't pay your taxes; don't wear a seat belt in your car; openly smoke in
a pub; park on double yellow lines! My point is, there is a welter of
legislation that denies us supposed "free choice". Weights & measures
legislation is there to prevent the traders "free choice" of ripping me off
blind!
"So I guess I am pro-imperial, pro-choice and pro-metric in that order of
personal importance."
Well, we largely do not have any choice in what currency we spend in the UK,
but I doubt it bothers anybody. If the UK government stuck to its guns and
introduced metrication across the board, NO exceptions, in a years time, I'd
think you'd be hard pressed to find anyone who actually gives a damn. Most of
this "patriotic" wish to keep hold of our "historic" weights & measures is
largely bunkum, quite frankly. How many people are aware of rods, chains and
pecks? How many know how many yards in a mile or even ounces in a pound? Not
that many!
Choice in things that actually matter, Steve. I hardly think feet & inches or
pounds & ounces matter all that much.
----- Original Message -----
From: Stephen Humphreys
To: U.S. Metric Association
Sent: Friday, March 05, 2010 11:49 PM
Subject: [USMA:46856] RE: Replacement of metric signs on I-19 (Arizona)
deferred
Stephen, you don't have to be 'anti' the opposite to what you are 'pro-' to,
if that makes sense.
In fact that position (IMHO) is more honourable, realistic and mature. And
it makes the argument less personal - again all IMHO.
I have my preferences but I'm definitely not anti-metric. I find it
difficult to envisage being against how something is measured.
In fact I think we are in an enviable position of being able to choose from
two well known systems in the UK (yes - I know that's going to invoke the
'mess' thing!).
I choose imperial or metric depending on the job or situation in question. I
would never use fractions of inches (perhaps except half) and instead use whole
millimetres which to me is preferable. That particular choice is pro-metric.
It's not anti-Imperial, I simply think there's a better way in that instance.
Obviously if I am denied the choice then I must use whatever someone else has
has decided is 'best for me'. That's a position that - in the main - I wholly
dislike.
The obvious reply by yourself, Stephen, is something like 'come off it -
you're anti-metric' or something similar to that. Of course you're free to
have your opinion but it's an odd position to take to claim you would know my
opinion despite what I truthfully say. I hope you don't do this though.
So I guess I am pro-imperial, pro-choice and pro-metric in that order of
personal importance.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: stevo.da...@btinternet.com
To: usma@colostate.edu
Subject: [USMA:46841] RE: Replacement of metric signs on I-19 (Arizona)
deferred
Date: Fri, 5 Mar 2010 15:57:32 +0000
"As a footnote - I always think you should concentrate on trade reasons for
going metric.
With roadsigns and the like it looks more 'anti-imperial' than 'pro-metric'
and many people will just see it as some people's personal beef being played
out at a national level - if that makes any sense. Sort of "I hate those mile
signs - make them say all 'k' & 'm' on them" versus "we've lost an order
because the customer required metric - make them show metric". That sort of
thing."
But its entirely OK to be 'anti-metric'? Also, isn't being 'anti-imperial'
to a large extent the main purpose of this discussion board, ie, to promote the
usage of metric instead?
----- Original Message -----
From: Stephen Humphreys
To: U.S. Metric Association
Sent: Thursday, March 04, 2010 7:09 PM
Subject: [USMA:46827] RE: Replacement of metric signs on I-19 (Arizona)
deferred
As a footnote - I always think you should concentrate on trade reasons for
going metric.
With roadsigns and the like it looks more 'anti-imperial' than 'pro-metric'
and many people will just see it as some people's personal beef being played
out at a national level - if that makes any sense. Sort of "I hate those mile
signs - make them say all 'k' & 'm' on them" versus "we've lost an order
because the customer required metric - make them show metric". That sort of
thing.
However I will always say that you can usually tell how metric a country is
by what's on their road/public signs (ie it's part of the language)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Thu, 4 Mar 2010 04:19:44 -0800
From: jmsteele9...@sbcglobal.net
Subject: [USMA:46824] RE: Replacement of metric signs on I-19 (Arizona)
deferred
To: usma@colostate.edu
Gridlock works!
I am happy, but I also realize it is insignificant in the bigger picture.
Even having or not having metric signage defined in the MUTCD is insignificant
in the absence of a time-bounded plan to actually GO metric. Congress
destroyed the plan and legislated against any new plan circa 1995, with regards
to roads.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
From: Stephen Humphreys <barkatf...@hotmail.com>
To: U.S. Metric Association <usma@colostate.edu>
Sent: Thu, March 4, 2010 6:23:40 AM
Subject: [USMA:46823] RE: Replacement of metric signs on I-19 (Arizona)
deferred
I suspect you're quite happy about that - I would have thought ;-)
Despite my normal position regarding this subject I actually feel happy for
you on this occassion! Congrats!
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Wed, 3 Mar 2010 16:20:05 -0800
From: jmsteele9...@sbcglobal.net
Subject: [USMA:46815] Replacement of metric signs on I-19 (Arizona) deferred
To: usma@colostate.edu
Due to the lack of a plan, there is no plan. Since they couldn't decide
exactly how to do it, they are not going to do it at all.
Metric sign replacement on I-19 has been indefinitiely postponed, and the
funds
committed to another project.
http://www.azstarnet.com/news/local/article_d7dec8f6-26f5-11df-b567-001cc4c03286.html
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