On Thursday 30 October 2003 15:56, Mighty Chimp wrote:
> So, what are we doing to really push metric and to ensure it stays put,
> once it is in place? What are we doing to promote metric in areas not yet
> affected? If we let down our guard, the enemies of metric will recapture
> territory we feel belongs to us.
Hi Euric the Chimp,
One great way to promote the metric system is to USE it!
In conversations, whenever practical I speak metric: "about 5 meters" "about
10 cm" "a few kilograms" "100 square meters" etc.
If a store doesn't have a metric product I'm looking for, I ask. I may point
out that lots of people are using the metric system these days!
I've explained to friends, family, and coworkers why I use the metric system.
I think others "hear" a lot better if I'm respectful and keep it short.
I measure my kids in metric. If asked my height or weight, I answer in
metric.
The following works well if someone uses an ambiguous customary unit (ounces,
quarts, pints, miles, etc.):
Friend: ".... ounces...."
Me: "Which kind of ounce?"
Friend: "What? You mean there are more than one?"
Me: "Yes, there's the avoirdupois ounce, U.S. fluid ounce, Imperial fluid
ounce, troy ounce, and apothecary ounce.... That's why I tend to just use
grams or ml, then there's no chance that I'll be misunderstood."
Friend: "Wow, I never new that!"
I put "Go metric" bumper stickers on my cars. I've given out bumper stickers
to friends and co-workers who also use the metric system.
I'm now cooking almost exclusively metric.
I'm gradually working toward the goal of having everything I write, design, or
draw be 100% metric.
At work, I have outfitted my office and labs with:
Metric screws, nuts, & washers
Metric wrenches
Metric torque wrenches
Metric-only rulers & tape measures
I've designed parts in metric, and given metric-only drawings to the machine
shop for fabrication.
I communicate "metric" with vendors. They want my business, and so far I've
had no problems.
I have asked people working for me using ISO date formats.
In my office, I'm sometimes using metric A-series paper sizes, a 4-hole punch,
file folders, etc. I've set up my computer to measure everything in metric,
and to default to A-series paper sizes.
John
