Dear All,
The history of the metric system is the history of seeking honesty in
all measurement. This is true from the earliest hieroglyphs about
Thoth in the pyramids, through the first books of the Bible, to the
current activities of the CGPM through the BIPM.
Opponents of honesty seek to maintain old pre-metric measures that
have proven to be useful to dishonest people, for example pints of
beer in the UK, barrels of oil internationally, and hiding the reality
of metric inches, metric feet, etc.
One of the leading proponents in the world on the topic of how
organisations change is Professor John Kotter from Harvard. Here is a
4 1/2 minute statement of what he has to say about opponents to the
metrication cause.
http://www.kotterinternational.com/Default.aspx?showvideo=true&ID=126
His message is clear, 'Mr NoNo is a no-no!'
Cheers,
Pat Naughtin
On 2010/06/02, at 13:44 , Kilopascal wrote:
Paul,
Can you provide by example where offering the opposition a say on
any matter has actually helped in promoting that particular matter?
Didn't metrication fail in the '70s~80s because the US Metric Board
was required to include persons opposed to metrication?
You don't promote metrication by giving those who oppose your ideals
a voice. If you do, then you guarantee your ideal will NEVER bear
fruit. As for the statement below where ....The Listserver is meant
to promote communication between USMA members and
others interested in metrication, I would take it to mean something
quite different.
Persons opposed to metrication are not interested in metrication.
The whole concept of the existence of the USMA is to PROMOTE
metrication. If you allow those who oppose metrication to be apart
of your group (even under the false belief that they will change
their beliefs) your are assuring its failure.
I believe the words of Jesus in Matthew 12:30 apply to this situation:
"He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather
with me scatters.
Think of how these words apply to the issue at hand. If the people
whom you allow to be apart of your group do not back you 100 % then
your goals will fail. Case and point; the fate of the US Metric
Board.
In order for the Listserver to be successful and meet its goal, it
must only contain members who support metrication, otherwise
metrication will continue to fail and people like your self will see
your frustrations increase.
Discussions and debates should be tailored to finding ways to
formulate a workable plan that can be presented to the government in
the name of the USMA. I've have yet to see anything even close to
this happening. By allowing those with opposing viewpoints, you
have caused the potential supporters of metrication to scatter, not
gather. The result is a failure of the nation to metricate.
Metrication needs strong leadership and that only comes from
surrounding yourself with true and loyal supporters. If you
really want to see metrication happen in the US you will do what it
takes to assure the USMA is a group of supporters. Otherwise you
might as well give up and concede defeat.
Opposing viewpoints may be an excellent source of lively discussion,
but it is a terrible source for promoting metrication. The
opposition is using you to divide your efforts and conquer you. It
is up to you as an officer in the USMA to determine if that is in
the USMA's best interests.
Truthfully, I doubt you will do what is right and continue along the
wrong path. So, don't be surprised when your frustration with going
nowhere increases. Actually, I think it is somewhat exciting to
watch the metric world progress at America's expense. Maybe helping
keep the metric system out of the US isn't such a bad thing, if it
gives other the power to move ahead.
Ametrica
[USMA:47463] Purpose of USMA Listserver (was Re: Re: Bespoke
tailoring)
Paul Trusten
Mon, 31 May 2010 21:56:03 -0700
Ametrica,
The description of the USMA Listserver is stated on our Web site at
www.metric.org/listserver.htm , in part, as follows:
The Listserver is meant to promote communication between USMA
members and
others interested in metrication. The subscribers alone determine
the volume
and content of messages.
I would interpret this to mean that, since metrication is a
measurement issue,
any discussion of related measurement issues is welcome. While the
majority of
subscribers to our Listserver support U.S. metrication, opposing
viewpoints
are always welcome. Indeed, opposing viewpoints are excellent
sources of lively
discussion of the issue.
Paul Trusten, R.Ph.
Public Relations Director
U.S. Metric Association, Inc.
[email protected]
www.metric.org
www.twitter.com/usmetric
+1(432)528-7724
----- Original Message -----
From: Ametrica
To: Undisclosed-Recipient:;
Sent: 31 May, 2010 11:21
Subject: [USMA:47454] Re: Bespoke tailoring
What better way can you think of to damage metrication by using a
pro-metric
forum to utter non-metric terms?
Why is this permitted?
[USMA:47454] Re: Bespoke tailoring
Stephen Humphreys
Sun, 30 May 2010 14:37:03 -0700
Interestingly enough for distances we would not say '200' for yards
and '10'
for miles but we do 'go unitless' on speed - eg 'We topped 140' -
with the
colloquialism extending to 100mph being called a 'ton' (do km
countries refer
to a ton like that?). However most of our (long) distance signs are
unitless.
BTW - with 'step down' measures (like 11 stone 11 as used below)
time uses the
same model - ie 'it took 4 minutes 20'
From: [email protected]
To: [email protected]
Subject: [USMA:47453] Re: Bespoke tailoring
Date: Sun, 30 May 2010 19:47:27 +0100
Pat Naughtin
Author of the ebook, Metrication Leaders Guide, that you can obtain
from http://metricationmatters.com/MetricationLeadersGuideInfo.html
PO Box 305 Belmont 3216,
Geelong, Australia
Phone: 61 3 5241 2008
Metric system consultant, writer, and speaker, Pat Naughtin, has
helped thousands of people and hundreds of companies upgrade to the
modern metric system smoothly, quickly, and so economically that they
now save thousands each year when buying, processing, or selling for
their businesses. Pat provides services and resources for many
different trades, crafts, and professions for commercial, industrial
and government metrication leaders in Asia, Europe, and in the USA.
Pat's clients include the Australian Government, Google, NASA, NIST,
and the metric associations of Canada, the UK, and the USA. See http://www.metricationmatters.com
for more metrication information, contact Pat at [email protected]
or to get the free 'Metrication matters' newsletter go to: http://www.metricationmatters.com/newsletter
to subscribe.
