[USMA:26423] Re: Fw: HGTV - Other Comments and Concerns

[Paul Trusten, R.Ph.]

This reply is, I think, a good sample of what US industry representatives will be saying post-US-metrication. There will be pockets of WOMBAT in the United States for along time. The Alvin Toffler effect (Future Shock) will be operating; there will be more than just a few diehards who will hold on to the old units, out of nostalgia, out of perceived patriotism, and out of sheer obstinacy, like the fellow in the state of New Hampshire who refuses to turn his clocks ahead one hour at the start of Eastern Daylight Time. ----- Original Message ----- From: Brenton To: U.S. Metric Association Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2003 3:22 AM Subject: [USMA:26421] Fw: HGTV - Other Comments and Concerns I contacted the HGTV network due to a lack of metric specifications in their programs.  Following is the email and reply I recieved.   ----- Original Message ----- From: HGTVFeedback To: '[EMAIL PROTECTED]' Sent: Saturday, July 19, 2003 5:54 AM Subject: RE: HGTV - Other Comments and Concerns Brenton, Thank you so much for your comments regarding our design programming and the measurement system used by some HGTV design hosts.  We appreciate you taking the time to voice your opinion and we�d like to take this opportunity to address some of your concerns. As you have mentioned, we use the metric system in Canada and have been doing so for over 20 years.  While we are proud to be a Canadian network, it is also our goal to provide design and home improvement ideas and project information in a vocabulary that is familiar to viewers and standard in the industry. While many Canadians have adopted the metric system in their everyday lives, much of the design industry still relies on feet and inches when referring to space, and yards when referring to design materials � especially fabrics. The home improvement industry regularly uses feet and inches when providing measurement descriptions, including those for square-footage and ceiling measurements. The imperial system is also commonly used for Canadian real estate descriptions of lot and room sizes. Leading Canadian educational institutions specializing in interior design programs, including Humber College and Ryerson University, continue to use parts of the imperial system in their curriculums. As well, Canadians in the fashion and design industry regularly work in inches and yards as this is an acceptable industry standard. We would be more than happy to pass along your comments to the appropriate producers for future consideration, however and we thank you once again for taking the time to write to us with your concerns. We hope you are able to continue to enjoy HGTV programming in the future. Sincerely, Amy Lane Communications Coordinator HGTV We hope you continue to enjoy our programming. Sincerely, HGTV Viewer Relations -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2003 2:23 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: HGTV - Other Comments and Concerns [Brenton Conway] has sent the following message via the contact us mailer on HGTV. "I have been watching the Designer Guys on Australia's Foxtel Pay TV (www.foxtel.com.au). I am writing to you as someone who has worked in the building industry for over 20 years and exclusively used the metric system. I note that the units of measure used in the Designer Guys is 'US Customary' and they never use metric. I understand that Canada, UK and Australia all changed to the use of the metric system during the mid 1970's. As I understand you to be a metric country, I am interested to understand why this program does not use metric measurements. I also watch many home style programs that have been produced in the United Kingdom and note that like us in Australia, they exclusively use the metric system for specifying material dimensions. I am interested to understand why you have chosen to maintain use of the old units of measure? "