I think (from a pro-metric point of view) things are "worse" than that in
the UK.
I was pondering about it the other day - I concluded that:-
1) If I started expressing stuff in m, cm, kg etc when imperial tends to get
spoken it won't be long until I get called "Mr Professor" or "Dr Brainbox".
Hardly an insult but worth pondering over.
2) If I spent the whole day deliberately using metric references when
normally imperial ones get used people would start to get annoyed with me -
specifically work colleagues and peer group. (but I still woouldn't dare ask
for 568ml of cider in the pub!).
If I can keep it up and concentrate hard enough I might well try out point
"2" at some point.
From: "Philip S Hall" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
Subject: [USMA:33346] Re: Where are you from?
Date: Thu, 23 Jun 2005 00:09:46 +0100
I find the expereiencs recounted on this quitre interesting.
They illustrate the social pressures that can lead to people feeling
inhibited about using metric. In the UK the general reaction to speaking
metric in cases where it's not usually heard (e.g. personal height and
weight) tends to be "what's that in ...?". It isn't a big thing with them
and they are quite calm about it but it does nevertheless result in a
gentle but very real discouraging influence. No wonder kids end up talking
imperial in spite of a metric education.
Phil Hall
