At 6 12 04, 04:45 PM, Jason Darfus wrote:
>... Paul, I agree with you.  There is, for whatever reason, a kind of 'stygma' 
>attached to talking metric in this country.  I'm not quite sure why but it 
>could have something to do with the hype and broken promises of the 1970s.  
>Since I was born in '75, I didn't experience the failed attempt at conversion.
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Paul Trusten <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Sent: Dec 6, 2004 11:26 AM
>To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Subject: [USMA:31568] Do you speak metric at ground level?
>
>One of the problems with popularizing the metric system in the United States 
>is that it takes courage to "speak the language."

Maybe I'm just numb to other people's feelings, but I haven't encountered what 
Paul and Jason mention. I almost universally "talk" in metric, and frequently 
get asked "what's that in American?" Maybe its my demeanor, maybe my 
confidence, maybe my lack of self-consciousness about it, maybe (as noted) I'm 
just numb, but I don't recall ever feeling laughed at or stigmatized.

I'm going to start paying more attention when I "speak metric" to see if I can 
figure it out.

Jim Elwell
 

Jim Elwell, CAMS
Electrical Engineer
Industrial manufacturing manager
Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
www.qsicorp.com

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