I agree. Getting people to use the SI in real life situations should always
be and remain the main goal.
The SI is flexible enough that those who want whole numbers can get them by
simply shifting the decimal and using a lower order of magnitude.
Everybody can have their cake and eat it too in the sense that if you prefer
only millimeters and meters you can have it. At this same time, those who
want to use centimeters and meters can do it their way as well.
The SI is big enough for all--a system of measure for all times and all
people.
Linda Bergeron
----Original Message Follows----
From: James Scott Hudnall <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]>
Subject: [USMA:36298] Re: Shopping experience at Ikea, FMI arguments
Date: Sat, 18 Mar 2006 09:32:03 -0800
I think you missed my point about Ikea here. My point was about people -
specifically native-born Americans - choosing to use metric, rather than
Imperial on the showroom floor when given the choice.
As far as things having tenths in their dimensions: real numbers happen.
Not everything has to be an integer - even with "hard" metric dimensions.
Here's an easy example. Say you wanted to build a box out of 1 mm thick
cardboard. You want it to be 10 cm across. If you fold it so that the
INSIDE measurement cross-section measurement is 10 cm, then the OUTSIDE
cross-section will 10.2 cm. If you wanted the OUTSIDE cross-section to be
10 cm , then the INSIDE cross section shrinks to 9.8 cm.
I think the USMA's cause is furthered if we concentrate on promoting metric
usage, not integer usage.
On 2006 Mar 18, at 05:57, Ametrica wrote:
[USMA:36296] Shopping experience at Ikea, FMI arguments
I checked the IKEA site and did not find everything in hard metric. Check
out the kitchen appliances, such as the stove tops and refrigerators.
They seem to be more inch then metric as the centimetres are in tenths. I
would suspect some IKEA products are made by US companies in inches and
brand labeled for IKEA for use in the local market, especially those that
are subject to local building codes.
I'm sure the FMI is somehow connected with the TABD and is composed of
people, who for whatever reason, oppose metric in any way, shape or form.
They don't oppose dual labels as long as they can put USC/imperial as the
primary system in rounded numbers and metric in funny numbers that are
designed to turn people off to metric. The next time you are in your
local grocery store go check out the products that have metric sizing to
one or two decimal point "accuracy". We both know it isn't necessary so
why is it done? Most likely deliberately to scare people away from
metric.
Allowing for metric only, in the view of the FMI, is the first step in the
gradual drift to rounded metric sizes, something the FMI opposes. Maybe
because rounded metric sizes means giving the consumer more, when they
want to give less. In the UK there was no resistance to metrication from
manufacturers as going from rounded imperial sizes to rounded metric meant
downsizing. If the UK units were the same size as US units, metrication
would have meant upsizing products and thus would have been rejected.
Another possibility is that members of the FMI know that USC is very
confusing to the consumer and metric sizing would make it easy to see
through many scams. They want to keep it as difficult as possible for the
consumer to make intelligent choices. Thus in their view metric is
something to be resisted. Metric was invented in the first place to end
the practice of merchants using confusing measurements to deceive
consumers. The same methods, although modified are still practiced today.
The best thing for the EU to do is let the directive become law. If it
harms US companies, then it will be the fault of US companies. Sometimes
a little hardship sends the right message to the right people: adapt or
die. It is better to let those who fight metrication to go under then to
have them continue to oppose metrication and the sooner the better.
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