If they are stuck in their ways and don't want to change, then they are
sheep. They are followers and not leaders.
If you are "stuck in your ways" how on earth can you "follow someone".
In you theory those who change to metric are sheep because they are
following something.
I believe your theory is topsy-turvy.
Leaders are the first to latch on to new and better ideas, sheep want to
cling to the old and familiar. Only when the old and familiar is taken away
do they change. This applies to any subject and does not apply only to the
metric issue.
Using this logic we'd all be eating protien pills. Afterall, a roast dinner
is so "old and familiar"
The situation is very emotional
No it is not - the situation is of practicalities. It's not about
happiness, sadness, joy and sorrow. One needs to find some perspective.
Which would you think is more emotional - feeding the starving or getting
the starving to understand centimetres?
It's not emotional.
People who speak metric are not 'above' or 'better' then people who speak
imperial
Accordingly people who speak imperial are not 'above' or 'better' than
people who speak metric.
I think you implied they are when you said:
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.
Not relevent - the science community is fully metric - most won't arguu with
that. Scientists are neither below or above me.
The people who would call you by such titles recognize your superiority
even if consciously they do recognize themselves as doing so. We all feel
that those involved in certain professions are superior to others.
With respect - rubbish. Simply saying "he knows science - he's superior
than me" is codswallop.
By that notion then most of us are superior to Jesus, and Gandhi is simply
not on the scale.
Your notion of superiority is quite scary and makes no sense from a human
angle. Life is not a laboratory.
Professions that tend to be metric in the US tend to be those that involve
a high amount of smarts. That is something that whitewashing can't
eliminate.
Would you agree that the space shuttle didn't exists then?
Belittling for the sake of belittling is belittling itself. But
belittling as a means to defend your position against crude and also
belittling comments is many times a necessity. I might find it equally
belittling if when using metric my patriotism, nationality, etc. are
questioned. Sometimes you have to use greater force against someone then
they are using on you.
I really have no idea what this is meant to mean.
Take a tip - rather than making "belittling" one of your aims in life, try
to raise above it all by using rational argument.
If someone has an opinion that is different to yours then argue your
opinion.
But try to keep in mind that air of doubt - try to remember that other
people's opinion's are a right for other people. And I know it's difficult -
but try to imagine that other people's opionions may be correct in either
their word, or -shudder the thought- even your world. There is scope for
being wrong but there is scope for discussion for those who hold opinions.
Put it simply - people have a right to their opinions.
Argue yours.
Without "belittling" theirs.
It is preferable to try to be kind and sweet when discussing some things
with other people, but not always does that work. If someone is just
incorigable, then harsher methods are a necessity. But, the harshist and
most effictive is the silent treatment.
[...]
The UK is not a club. There are almost 60 million people here. Get some
perspective.
And that is suppose to mean what? China has over 1200 million. Am I
suppose to be impressed with big numbers?
Fine.
I'll use your logic, and go and spread imperial measures amongst them.
I may be a while.
I'll call.
I feel you may be oversimplifying things.
First I'm overemotionalizing, now I'm oversimplifying. I must be more of a
mess then the UK measurement situation.
I was starting to think that. Some times it is oversimplifying (ie the
mentaility of "you are wrong, get used to it") and sometimes you are
overcomplicating things (in regards to denying a "natural-edge" to thought
formation.
BTW - the only measurement-mess in the UK is detailed in a UKMA report. If
you ask someone on the street you'll get a different answer.
Although I understand and appreciate UKMA's motives.
(Probably a bit more than you appreciate BWMA's motives, dare I say)
A good sheppard who knows where he stands would have no problem. This is
where you have to ask yourself. am I a Sheppard or a Sheep? Do I lead or
do I follow? Or do I use the status quo as an excuse to be just one of the
sheep because I like being a sheep?
I'll see if I can remember that when I'm in the pub tonight.
Silly names (ie calling everyone who disagrees with you a "sheep") aside
though, being Welsh you probably don't now the other element of this
discussion which is particular to my nationality ;-)
A good test would be for you to start speaking metric in front of your
colleagues and see if you have the power to overcome their initial surprise
and eventually get them to use metric even if they didn't before. See if
you have what it take to lead the sheep.
Yes, you are right. Simply by using those words in front of them I can
change them.
Then I'll tell them, after, how much of a "sheep" they were.
I'll also inform them that "my Dad's bigger than their Dad's"
I don't see how. It maybe that you didn't understand it, but it is very
basic.
Perhaps I'm not intelligent enough.
Educate me.
[P.S. When replying, take out all the names in the email "to" field except
the '[email protected]' name and then you won't be sending every single
corespondance you make to the 'postee' twice, every single time you post.
Do this *before* pressing the 'Send' button]
