I just don't get it. I'm watching long jump right now, the distance
line shown on screen is in meters, but they say the results in feet.
Why bother!? Swimming was reported perfectly in meters, and only
meters. I don't get the inconsistency.
Carleton MacDonald wrote:
You really wonder what is going through their minds. They don't dumb down
the foot races or the swimming.
The only thing I can think of is that the latter are even-number distances
(100 m, 400 m, etc.), and converting those to odd wombat measure would look
really strange. But things like shot put are random distances, depending on
the ability of the athlete. So in most cases the distance achieved will not
be a round figure, so it doesn't seem as "dumb" to show it in feet.
Nonetheless, it gives an entirely misleading indication to the American
public, and makes them think that the Olympics use the measurements they
hold near and dear. Of course, the Olympics does not.
Carleton
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf
Of Harry Wyeth
Sent: Saturday, August 16, 2008 21:28
To: U.S. Metric Association
Subject: [USMA:41589] Olympics
I told you. NBC is giving track and field--actually field--events in
feet and inches. I just watched womens shot put reporting showing the
shot landing at the 19 m line, and the announcer and the on-screen
display showing feet and inches. Same old...same old....
HARRY WYETH
