-- --------- Forwarded Message --------- DATE: Sun, 03 Jun 2001 04:32:05 From: "Ma Be" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Hello, dear Bill, long time no see! :-) I'm really glad you took the time to ask me the question below, since this will give extra time to clarify my position. More interspersed below. On Sat, 02 Jun 2001 14:05:35 Barbara and/or Bill Hooper wrote: >In response to Marcus's sweeping statement below, I feel compelled to ask >him his feeling on the government requiring a person to measure pieces of >wood in metic when building a bookshelf in his or her basement for use in >the privacy of his or her own home. I really don't think Marcus would >support that in spite of his "E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G, **PERIOD**" >statement below. Am I wrong, Marcus? > Of course not, Bill. Your assessment is correct. If people in spite of an environment now being overwhelmingly metric decides to use 'monkey units' (for all I care) in the situation as you've described I evidently would have no business there. Evidently the chances of that occurring would be slim, once metrics set in in the environment. >I think even he most avid metric proponents would agree that there is SOME >situations (like this example) in which the government shouldn't try to >enforce metric use. The question is ... > >... where is the dividing line? > >I think we would all draw the dividing line a little differently. (OK, maybe >some people would draw it VERY differently.) There will need to be some >compromising on where they line is drawn. Much of the disagreement over >government mandated metric is (IMHO) simply disagreement on where to draw >the line. A first step in recruiting adherents to the metric cause may lie >in admitting openly that we realize that there is a dividing line and that >we are willing to be reasonable about where that line is drawn. >... A quite sensible comment and concern. Perhaps history and the reality of how such laws are played out around the world should shed some more light on the subject. To the best of my knowledge 'metric laws' by and large only deal with legal, trade and commerce aspects of this issue from a public's perspective. Typical examples of this are obviously labels, legal contracts, advertisements, education, etc. I've never seen such laws delve into the more 'artistic' manifestations of measurements as reflected on people's communications, plays, literature and the likes. Those are more the realm of 'freedom of expression'. Marcus Get 250 color business cards for FREE! http://businesscards.lycos.com/vp/fastpath/ --------- End Forwarded Message --------- Get 250 color business cards for FREE! http://businesscards.lycos.com/vp/fastpath/
