[USMA:34372] Re: Am I talking to the wrong people?

[Paul Trusten, R.Ph.]

Remek,   In my subjective opinion, you are talking to the right people (grin)! I'd like to meet them and shake their hands. But, it seems that you are talking to metrically attuned people if they are school-district co-workers.  Try posing the question to (at the risk of offending), people at a sporting event (OK, we have sports fans among metricationists! I'm just trying to pick a larger sample of Americans), people who work at loading docks; store clerks; people who are used to WOMBAT and never thought of using any other set of measurement units.  Keep working at your poll. It will be fascinating to see if your theory is correct, that U.S. metrication is not as unpopular as our various leaders think it is. Hate to say that it often seems unpopular in the press, where it is usually the butt of jokes that make it sound like a foreign idea in America.   Here's a group I'd like to ask: auto mechanics. These folks use metric much of the time, but it seems they are still among those who are acutely aware of the measurement duplication in America as well as the problems that may be encountered during metrication. ----- Original Message ----- From: Remek Kocz To: U.S. Metric Association Sent: 05 Sep 08,Thursday 23:21 Subject: [USMA:34371] Am I talking to the wrong people? Shortly before joining this group, I started asking my friends and coworkers about their opinion on the possibility of the US metricating.  Simply, I asked "How would you feel if tomorrow the government decided that we're going metric and there is no turning back?  Would you have a problem with America adopting the metric system?"  The answers that I received and still receive are, to say the least, surprising.  Most people express their willingness to adapt to the situation.  And most know that metric is much easier, at which point a discussion on the irrationality of the USC units breaks out.  Some have no reservations whatsoever.  One person even posed a question in response: "Why haven't we done this yet?"   The negative responses were very few. I'm a nework engineer at a large school district, so my coworkers come from a variety of backgrounds.  Interestingly enough, I haven't talked to any teachers yet.  I did make a conscious effort to omit scientists and immigrants, since I would know the answers before I even asked the questions.  This was by no means an exacting, scientific survey.  It's an ongoing conversation I'm having with more and more people.  Still, I am very much surprised by what I hear, and I wonder if I am talking to the wrong people.  Is there really so much opposition to the metric system in the US?  Could it be that the industry's fear of presenting the American consumer with metric products is so far out of touch with reality that it could be considered paranoia?