Interestingly one thing the media do get correct is the correct usage of "C"
being Celsius and not Centigrade - although I would probably guess that if
you asked the average Joe what "C" stood for they'd say "Centigrade".
One thing is for sure - all the big L.E.D. "Time and Temperature" signs (and
there are a LOT in London) show deg C only.
I've also noted how the use of temperature is different depending on the
individual and appears to be related only to peer group and/or family
(possibly).
eg - In my group of four here at work I'm the second oldest. Our youngest
team member (early 20's) tends to use F when its hot. The oldest team
member (40) used C all the time and so does the second youngest (mid 20's).
So it's a real mix and not easy to define. I don't even think it's regional
- I'm from Wales and the youngest member that I mention is from the
North-East.
Your note about London is interesting - the town/city houses almost 10
million people and is said to be the most metropolitan in the world. I
believe that New York comes second in that respect (Everyone seems to
compare NY and London when talking about "the best cities in the world").
From: Remek Kocz <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
Subject: [USMA:35359] RE: thinking Celsius outdoors
Date: Thu, 8 Dec 2005 22:08:48 -0500
I've had a chance to watch a few British shows on science geared towards
the
general public. Their odd mix of feet, miles, pounds, and degrees Celsius
has always given me an impression that centigrade has been most readily
adopted in the UK, while the other metric measures are still lagging
behind. In the past 10 years, I also had a chance to visit the UK
(primarily London) three times, and each time I was impressed with the
usage
of centigrade in the mass media. But, I'm sure that London doesn't reflect
all of Britain.
On 12/8/05, Stephen Humphreys < [EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>
> As well as newspapers, TV and people the "summer destination" holiday
> brochures in the holiday stores tend to use deg F too.
>
> That "changover point" is interesting - mine tends to be 10/50 but the
> media, newspapers, etc etc tend to do it around 70F.
>
> Interestingly - 2 yrs back when we had 104F the "c" version got dropped
> altogether. I guess the "100 mark" might have something to do with
that.
>
> Its -2 tonight, btw - a little scraping required tomorrow morning!!
;-)
>
>
> >From: "Martin Vlietstra" < [EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,"U.S. Metric Association"
<[email protected]
> >
> >Subject: Re: [USMA:35334] RE: thinking Celsius outdoors
> >Date: Wed, 7 Dec 2005 20:31:58 -0000
> >
> >It always amazes me that the British public put up with the media using
> >Fahrenheit in their headlines for high summer temperatures and Celsius
> for
> >low winter temperatures - but I suppose that it adds to the sensational
> >nature of the some of the comics that grace our streets masquerading as
> >newspapers. Often the people who buy them (particularly those who buy
> "The
> >Sun") are interested only in the "Page 3 Girl" (for the benefit of US
> >readers who have never been to the UK, the "Page 3 Girl" is usually
> topless
> >and is well-endowed).
> >
> >Of course, anybody who actually uses temperatures in their everyday
work
> >would consider it stupid to mix Fahrenheit and Celsius in the way that
> >Steve
> >has described - if only because handling the change-over point causes
> >problems.
> >
> >----- Original Message -----
> >From: "Stephen Humphreys" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> >To: "U.S. Metric Association" < [email protected]>
> >Sent: Tuesday, December 06, 2005 8:53 AM
> >Subject: [USMA:35334] RE: thinking Celsius outdoors
> >
> >
> > > I get the reverse situation (its a common condition for Brits!)
> > > Lower temperatures I prefer in deg C whereas higher ones "feel more
> apt"
> >in
> > > deg F.
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>
