Dear Ezra, On 2011/06/13, at 17:08 , [email protected] wrote:
> As I've mentioned before, I have speculated that the advantage of using mm > for those who are familiar with Imperial is that it helps break the Imperial > mindset by avoiding any use of fractions (even decimal) and it provides a set > of numbers for measuring that is clearly distinct from inches (not even > close). I totally agree. > The problem with centimeters is likely a cognitive one for most people used > to inches. They end up using fractions with centimeters (and often vulgar > fractions to boot!!!) and the size of the cm is close enough to an inch to > muddle things up for these folks. The use of centimetres carries this sort of baggage. But, it also carries other impediments to acceptance. I will mull on this thought with a view to writing about why centimetres don't work for a metrication upgrade as I really don't know an answer to this question. Leave this one with me for further consideration. > That's what I suspect is the issue. So, it's not metric that's the problem > ... it's the mental place where people who are going to convert to metric are > starting from and the cognitive pitfalls that most people encounter in trying > to make the transition. Using mm gives them an unmistakenly and completely > clean break from Imperial, which is why I bet it works so much better for > most folks. I think this is right, too. > -- Ezra Cheers, Pat Naughtin Geelong, Australia > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Pat Naughtin" <[email protected]> > To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> > Cc: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> > Sent: Sunday, June 12, 2011 10:33:09 PM > Subject: [USMA:50603] RE: cm vs. mm > > Dear Brian and Harry, > > My discussions about centimetres are based on direct observations that prove > to me that centimetres have never been used for a smooth, economical, and > FAST metrication upgrade - anywhere in the world or at any time. > > I have no hatred of centimetres. I only have observations that the use of > centimetres impedes and dramatically delays any effort you put into your > metrication efforts. However, that said, if you choose to use the slowest > possible path to your metrication for yourself, your work group, your > company, your industry, and your nation then I respect your decision to do so > using centimetres as part of your approach. I also challenge you to let me > know of any examples where centimetres have successfully produced a > metrication transition in an economical, smooth, and FAST way. > > For me, I know that metrication for a company can be done in a single day > using millimetres and, as I have said before the metrication process can take > 200 years or more using centimetres - it's your choice. See > http://metricationmatters.com/docs/MetricationInADay.pdf > > By the way, could you please let me know about examples that you have found > where the reverse is true i.e. that centimetres can be used for a rapid > metrication transition. I have not been able to find an example of this > happening. > > Cheers, > > Pat Naughtin > Geelong, Australia > > On 2011/06/13, at 14:06 , <[email protected]> <[email protected]> wrote: > > I've always thought the same thing. This whole cm vs mm thing is nonsense. > It really doesn't matter. > My skis are 168 cm....I know that's 1680 mm. I know 2.4 km is 2400 meters. > Ok....we all get it. That's what makes the metric system so easy. > > So--grab a 250 mL (or 25 cL) glass of wine, take a sip and relax. > > This has to go down as one of the dumbest threads on this list yet-- > centimeter hatred. Now that's rich. > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [USMA:50601] cm vs. mm > From: Harry Wyeth <[email protected]> > Date: Sun, June 12, 2011 9:01 pm > To: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> > Cc: "U.S. Metric Association" <[email protected]> > > May I suggest that the issue of mm vs. cm is pretty low on the agenda for > moving forward with adoption of the metric system in the US? I know that > Aussies usually refer to short measurements in mm, which is fine. But if an > American wants to order a piece of plywood cut at the lumber yard as, say, > 155 x 80 cm, I would be really pleased (I once overheard a Kiwi--NZ > citizen--asking just such a thing). Telling someone that an easy way to know > what a cm is by referring to his finger can be useful. Same with the > distance of 10 cm or 100 mm with reference to a palm width. I personally > find it easier to visualize the size of a cat, for example, as perhaps 40 cm > long than 400 mm. > > The key to adopting the metric system in the US is just to use it. It > doesn't matter if people use it incorrectly at first, or use cm instead of > mm, or even use kms instead of km, or KM, or even kph. What we need is > leadership from government--this has always been my belief--which could start > with, for example, weighing mail in grams and measuring postal packages in mm > or cm and on and on. My favorite easy one would be selling milk in liter > dairy cartons, as they do in Canada and Australia and probably everywhere > else. > > The cm vs. mm debates may be technically interesting, but they do not do much > toward actually advancing metrication. > > HARRY WYETH > > Pat Naughtin LCAMS > Author of the ebook, Metrication Leaders Guide, see > http://metricationmatters.com/MetricationLeadersGuideInfo.html > Hear Pat speak at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lshRAPvPZY > 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. > > Pat Naughtin LCAMS Author of the ebook, Metrication Leaders Guide, see http://metricationmatters.com/MetricationLeadersGuideInfo.html Hear Pat speak at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lshRAPvPZY 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.
