2001-12-17 Uh Jim, I hate to suprise you like this, but I am an American. Third generation native born. My ancestors and some of their relatives came from Germany, Poland and Slowakia (Austria-Hungry) from as early as the 1850's up until 1912 (Mother's parents). So, on the average, my family has been American over 100 years.
I don't speak from a foreign perception, but from actual experience of my neighbors, relatives, co-workers and friends. And I'm not speaking on the metric issue only. Other topics discussed result in similar responses that support my statements. Maybe in Utah things are different, but here in Ohio the attitude is as I reported it. That is the reality. The "testy" responses members of this listserver get from businesses and product support groups are typical of the response I get when the subject is mentioned. And I don't try to force metric down others throats. Just the mention of it being a good idea for the sake of trade gets a testy response. One co-worker once told me if the foreigners want our products then they have accept them in ENGLISH. I was also told to that in America we speak English and measure in it too. This was in response to someone asking me a question and I giving a response using metric units. What is even worse, is foreign immigrants who still speak English in a broken fashion and with a thick accent will not use metric and some even pretend not to know it or remember it. I always think in these cases they may be afraid to. They may think I am trying to trick them into divulging their true loyality. If they use metric, then they can not be loyal to America. They may be afraid of being expelled. Who knows! I am the only person I know, other they you guys on thsi list, that is positive about metric. No one wants it and the only reason that is given: "It ain't 'merican". Even from so-called educated people. Jim...... You run your own business. You can choose what system you want to use. Your workers, if they want to continue to work for you, don't have the choice. On the other hand, if someone wants to use metric, they can't if the company says no. Try being the guy who has to follow the rules and not the one who makes them. You would be singing a different tune. You say Americans are individuals. Who are you kidding? They follow the crowd just like everyone else. I think you need to leave your mansion once in a while and be among the people who don't have affluence and see how life really is. When I see a change in attitude, my attitude will change also. But, I won't hold my breath. And, I'm not just talking about metric. John ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Elwell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Monday, 2001-12-17 10:46 Subject: [USMA:16681] Re: I don't understand American attitude! > Marcus: > > Unfortunately I do not have the time right now to address your lengthy > email point by point, so please forgive this brief response. > > Some of what you say may be true (e.g., what others think of Americans), > but it is also totally beside the point. > > What some German or some Frenchman or some Canadian (or a whole group of > them) think of the USA and the metric system has very, very little to do > with when and how the USA actually metricates. You do not have to like > that, and you can call us names if you want, but that is the reality. > > And if you want to help the USA metricate, I suggest you start trying to > understand what motivates Americans, rather than just berating us for not > thinking like you do. Because we do NOT think like you and that is NOT > going to change. > > Whether or not you agree with the reality (or even the philosophy), > Americans think of themselves as individuals. NOT as cogs in some > super-governmental system. And many of us get our dander up at the thought > of ANYONE telling us how to run our lives, except in very restricted > circumstances (e.g., public safety). > > THAT IS THE REALITY OF MANY PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY!!! As I said, you do not > have to like it, you do not have to agree with it, but if you ignore it, > you will be far less effective (or even counterproductive) in helping us > metricate. > > Wizard's and Kilopascal's posts are perfect examples of lack of > understanding of Americans. If those were widely distributed, do you think > half of this country would wake up one morning and say, "Golly, we've been > terribly arrogant, and we really should switch today to a much nicer > measurement system." > > Far more likely is that a huge number of Americans would read Kilopascal's > posts and think, "That German SOB can take his metric ruler and shove it > where the sun don't shine!" > > So I ask: are you non-Americans on this forum just to have some Americans > to berate, or are you here to actually help us metricate the USA? > > Jim Elwell >
