[USMA:31033] Re: UK wants to go metric

[Euric]

BBC article September 4 2004 at 6:45 AM		Carlyle
According to BBC website, a poll suggests that 62% of UK citizens want the UK to complete the changeover to metric 1 sept 2004 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3934353.stm --

 

Tony Bennett

Poll? What Poll? September 5 2004, 1:03 AM  Carlyle, After searching high and low, I can find no 'poll', BBC or otherwise, that suggests that 62% of people want Britain to go metric. Where is this 'poll'? The only thing I did discover was that, up until yesterday, the BBC had selected 26 comments for publication on their BBCi website pages on metrication ("Will Britain ever go fully metric?"), of which 16 could be construed as 'pro-metric' whilst 10 could be classed as 'pro-Imperial'. Now, as it happens, 16 out of 26 is 62%. It wasn't you doing those sums and then falsely claiming it to be a 'poll', was it? If so, that would leave you open to serious question-marks about your truthfulness. Incidentally, the BBC has an appalling track record, on subjects like the euro and the European Constitution, of selecting comments on its website pages which promote European integration and are anti British independence. The most notorious recent example was their piece on the European Constitution in May, when despite polls showing 3 to 1 opposition to the Constitution, they managed to have about 3 to 1 *in favour* on their website. Funny old world, isn't it?

 

 

The above is as posted on the BWMA site and the response.  Notice how the comments since the comments are more pro-metric the reaction from them is that it isn't a valid poll and one who claims it to be a poll is lacking in truth.  This is all they can do when they realise they are fighting an uphill losing battle.

 

The  conversion of Irish roads is most irritating to them.

 

In my opinion they need to just close the loopholes and finish the official conversion.  That doesn't mean everyone in the public is going to switch to being pro-metric or even use metric in their lives.  But as least for those that do the products and the industry will be. 

 

The BWMA will never concede a loss even if the conversion is completed and will continue to insist the old system is popular.   Their grief will be in having to mentally convert everything to imperial that is metric.  As they do much of that now anyway.  They will fight any attempts to convert roads or "pints" because that is the last visible to go and will surely mean any chance of restoring FFU will be lost forever.  That is why it is so important to at least relax the law forbidding metrication of roads and drinks where it applies.  Those changes in itself will then make it illegal for them to change signs and hopefully get them arrested and placed in jail for a few years preventing them from further damaging the metrication efforts.

 

Euric

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

----- Original Message -----

From: "David King" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

Sent: Monday, 2004-09-06 06:53

Subject: [USMA:31032] Re: UK wants to go metric

>
> The results of the poll have now been removed from the BBC website, but
> it was clearly showing 62% or respondents wanting metric. Also now at
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3934353.stm there are quite a lot of
> pro-metric comments.
>
> David King
>
> >
> >
> >
> > Euric wrote:
> >
> >> Where did you come up with this?  Are you counting the pro metric
> >> responses
> >> to the anti-metric?
> >>
> >> Euric
> >>
> >>
> >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "David King"
> >> <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >> To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >> Sent: Wednesday, 2004-09-01 17:15
> >> Subject: [USMA:30957] UK wants to go metric
> >>
> >>
> >> 
> >>
> >>> According to BBC website, a poll suggests that 62% of UK citizens want
> >>> the UK to complete the changeover to metric
> >>>
> >>> 1 sept 2004
> >>>
> >>> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/3934353.stm
> >>>
> >>> --
> >>> David King
> >>>
> >>>  
> >>
> >>
> >>
> >> 
> >>
> >
>
>