We always have to be careful about numbers such asa those in Chris Keenan's
message (below), not because they are wrong (they're NOT), but because they
can be used in CORRECT statements to give INCORRECT impressions.
One can correctly say that 68% of the people want to keep imperial measures.
This is technically correct (the 26% that want imperial and the 42% that
want both). It behooves us to watch for such statements by opponents of
metric and to point out the deception in such arguments.
Of course, BOTH sides of the issue could pull this unethical trick. We, as
metric proponents, could say that 73% want metric (counting the 31% who want
metric and AGAIN counting the 42% who want both). Again, it is incumbent
upon US not to be tempted to use this trick, mainly because it is unethical
but also because it can backfire when someone finds out where we got those
figures.
As Chris correctly wrote, the results of the survey DO show that there is
NOT a majority who DON'T want metric. But it also does NOT show there is a
majority who want metric the way we'd like it,, namely: metric ONLY.
Regards,
Bill Hooper
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: [USMA:8815] UK: poll in Sunderland
>
> Just found the following:
>
> Forget Europe, and stay imperial -- 26%
> Go metric -- 31%
> Have both metric and imperial -- 42%
>
> So much for the 'majority' not wanting metric.
