Concerning the math Ed, anyone promoting metrication should skip that word , because there is no math in SI. There is plenty of it in I-P but none in SI unless one includes numerals recognition as math. For example, saying kilo instead of thousand is not math, it is vocabulary. As is milli and thousandth. Orr the British thermal unit and the joule. This emphasis on math in promoting SI is one of the reasons for the repetitious failures of the metric system phasing in. Teachers are to be blamed alongside politicians. Stan J.
On Thu, Jun 4, 2015 at 3:39 PM, Edward Schlesinger <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi Al, and everyone, > I also agree that Martin made good points. I also think that most people > do not want to be bothered with math, however pointing out cans of > vegetables like many groceries come in 500mL cans and figuring out cost per > mL or gram is to the consumer's advantage. > > On Thu, Jun 4, 2015 at 12:27 PM, Al Lawrence <[email protected]> wrote: > >> I agree completely with Martin Morrison. This has to be done very, very >> carefully. The danger of a backlash is huge. Americans are terrified of >> math, and "going metric" brings up visions of math, conversion charts, >> having to learn a whole bunch of numbers and jokes about "An inch is as >> good as 1.609344 kilometers". It does not have to be that way, people know >> what a two liter bottle looks like without using math, and there a many >> other examples, but, in spite of the facts, way too many people will think >> they will have to do a lot of mathematical calculations and learn a bunch >> numbers. Most people do not want to be bothered with that. Even many of >> those who understand the advantage of metric do not want to be bothered >> with that. Many will resist. We cannot rely on logic alone, we have to >> account for people's emotional response. >> >> Al Lawrence >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> > Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2015 11:45:39 -0700 >> > From: [email protected] >> > To: [email protected] >> > Subject: [USMA:54727] An Opportunity for the USMA (or Chafee Could Do a >> Lot of Harm) >> >> > >> > Paul (Trusten) -- A good response as always, Paul. The advantage of >> > Chaffee's statement is that it has drawn attention to the metric >> question >> > once again. BUT -- and it is a big BUT: >> > >> > Chafee did an absolutely lousy job in rolling out his policy. He >> claimed >> > (briefly) that metrication would be a boost to international commerce, >> but >> > he didn't give any argument for why that would be the case. He could >> have >> > talked about figures from the U.S. Metric Study (updated), he could >> have >> > talked about improving STEM education to get our students jobs, he >> could >> > have talked to the benefit to U.S. workers not having to buy two sets >> of >> > tools, he could talked about greater markets for U.S. goods. BUT -- he >> > didn't. >> > >> > Moreover, I would have hoped that he would mention that the U.S. is >> > already half metric and is paying a high price for not pushing the >> > conversion to completion, but remaining in limbo. He could have >> educated >> > people (briefly) about the fact that they are already metric in >> medicine, >> > pharmaceuticals, alcohol, lighting, electricity, automotive, and many >> > other areas. American still remain ignorant of this fact. BUT -- he >> > didn't. >> > >> > As a result, the press simply dredged up the old jokes against metric >> > instead of discussing the issue as an economic and educational one. I >> > noted that one of the hosts on Fox News said that Chafee was "thousands >> of >> > meters behind" in getting votes. It is of interest that Fox News, the >> > leading cable news company, is using meters more and more in its >> > broadcasts. >> > >> > It's going to be an uphill battle, but if we are to avoid metric being >> the >> > butt of jokes instead of the way to the future economy, I strongly urge >> > that you, Paul, or Dan, or someone of like metric knowledge and >> > credentials, make a real effort to get through to Chafee, educate him >> on >> > metric, and help him develop "talking points" for his speeches so that >> he >> > won't sound like the -- sorry -- fool that he came across on television >> > yesterday. >> > >> > If Chafee continues to play the fool, the result will be that >> candidates >> > back off any recommendation toward metric. And you know that every one >> of >> > the candidates in both parties will be asked the question -- if they >> > haven't been already. USMA needs to move fast. >> > >> > My recommendation would be to downplay the metric law and emphasize >> jobs >> > and commerce. The U.S. needs a lot of education about this, but if we >> can >> > get the message across that "Metric Means Jobs and Money" (how's that >> for >> > a motto!), we might be able to move the debate to our side. >> > >> > Martin Morrison >> > "USMA Today" Training & Education Columnist >> > >> > > > > -- > Sincerely, > Edward B. >
