# I'm American. When I Use The Metric System or Celsius Do I Sound Like A Pretentious Twit? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 1, 2019, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016 "2019-08-01T18:14:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/61 "2019-08-02T01:02:16Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Choose your battles. Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Rayks\_Marcial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e47c2d/32.png) [@Rayks\_Marcial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rayks_Marcial)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 2:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/62 "2019-08-02T02:23:30Z")
Just multiply inches by 2.54 and you will get centimeters Feet multiplied by point-three-o-five will give you equivalent meters You multiply pounds by .45 and you’ll get kilograms it’s true A gallon times three-point-seventy nine will turn to liters for you [and others] ---
**Author:** ![Daylate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9dc877/32.png) [@Daylate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Daylate)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/63 "2019-08-02T02:32:46Z")
There are two types of countries. Those that use the metric system, And those that have walked on the Moon. ---
**Author:** ![Personal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Personal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Personal)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/64 "2019-08-02T02:33:24Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > Height was one of the last holdouts in Aus after forced conversion. That and bookshelves. Eventually everybody who knows their height in feed and inches dies out. And everybody who reads books. Don’t even get me started on the bookshelves. ---
**Author:** ![orcenio](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/orcenio/32/1036_2.png) [@orcenio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/orcenio)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 2:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/65 "2019-08-02T02:40:35Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > How hard is it to adopt this? Take a good look at your own temperature scale. It probably breaks down > 0. damn cold (below 0C) > > 1. water freezes (0C) > 2. i’m chilly (10C) > 3. i’m cool (15C) > 4. i’m fine (20C) > 5. i’m warm (25C) > 6. i’m hot (30C) > 7. really hot (35C) > 8. hell with this, I’m visiting my mother in Minneapolis (40C) > 9. hottest desert hot (45C) > > Nice round numbers in Celsius, but all kind of weird random numbers in Fahrenheit. The point is not that round numbers are better, the point is that if we’re talking about everyday familiarity, you’re only talking about 10 temperatures, so fewer degrees is better. Actually I’d like to see the above scale reduced to just 10 degrees, but scientific calculations also use basic relationships like 1 degree per 1 gram equals 1 of some other measurement, so it would mess that up. Honestly I’m fairly confident that non-Americans do not care what system is currently used in the US (unless they’re involved in the country in some matter). But the simplest explainer scale I know of is the following[ul] [li]\<0°C Freezing[/li][li]10°C Cold[/li][li]20°C Warm[/li][li]30°C Hot[/li][/ul] There’s even a simple rhyme for tots; _30 is hot, 20 is nice, 10 is cold, 0 is ice._ ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/66 "2019-08-02T02:48:10Z")
I’m American. I’m also a retired high school science teacher. Therefore, yardsticks feel short to me. If someone states a distance or length in centimeters or meters, I automatically get a decent mind’s eye image of it. I can teach anyone how to have a basic feel for the SI units in just a few minutes if one is interested. The definitions for inches, feet, and miles have been legally defined in metric units in this country for over a century. I’d be favorably impressed by a fellow American casually using metric units. ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/67 "2019-08-02T03:37:10Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > As an American, I believe the time has come – indeed, it’s been here for two centuries – for the U.S. to convert to the Metric System and Celsius. I’ve been trying to force myself to use those systems in my daily life, because The Buddha said to be the change you want to see. /nitpicks - The metric system is now known as International System of Units (SI) … well actually since 1960 but “it’s tasking longer than we thought” to get everyone to just to metrify, let alone change the name. - Celsius (Centigrade scale) IS part of the metric or SI - While the U.S. has not officially adopted the SI, it is being used in many industries. Contrarily, Canada, the U.K, et al. have only adopted partial metrification which creates a complex system of weights, measures, etc… depending on the product, industry, etc… As a contractor, I prefer the imperial system or USCS. It’s what I know, I can do the math faster, I can visualize plans better, and I can estimate sizes easier. With a tape measure, I can read, calculate, and mark measurements much faster I know instinctively which wrench/socket will fit a bolt and know exactly how long a screw or nail is, on sight. Is this learned behaviour? Some of it… but the SI system has it’s limitations and I don’t see many of my trades willing to metrify any time soon. Of course, sometimes you do run into metric, so you need to have those mm wrenches, sockets, Allen keys, etc. on hand… and pray someone hasn’t lost your 10mm again! ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/68 "2019-08-02T03:45:36Z")
Interestingly, the one other hold out I’ve noticed is that most people (I know anyway) still use Fahrenheit on their oven thermostat, even when there is an option to set it to Celsius. > [@Melbourne](#): > > Height was one of the last holdouts in Aus after forced conversion. That and bookshelves. Eventually everybody who knows their height in feed and inches dies out. And everybody who reads books. What type of feed do you use?😃 ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/69 "2019-08-02T05:44:25Z")
> [@HMS\_Irruncible](#): > > We have measuring scales to quantify real things. It’s absolutely required that the reference points are distinct (some physical constant). It helps if the constant is universal (a wavelength of light is good). It is better if the constant is accessible (I can’t generate a specific wavelength of light, but I can definitely freeze water). It is best if the constant is relevant (I cook when I boil water. I avoid roads when water freezes). And it helps most if the system is mathematically easy to work with (metric is powers of 10, vs powers of 2 times 3 which somehow add up to a mile of 5,280 feet). > > The metric system strives to provide all of these. That’s why most of the world has adopted it. The imperial people is stupid and is only followed by countries that want to demonstrate they’re so powerful they don’t need to be smart. Is the 3 spaces after a period a metric space, I’ve only seen 1, or 2 by ancient people? 😃 To be clear: the US does not and has never used Imperial measurements. US contemporary, which are similar, but completely different when talking about liquid measures. > [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > How many people speak Mandarin? About 900 million out of about 7.35 billion people. > > How many people use metric? About 7 billion out of 7.35 billion people. > > Choose your battles. The UK is just waking up, but they use miles and pints, alongside feet, inches, and pounds in some contexts. Alongside **stones**. Australia and Ireland have some non-metric as well. Meanwhile all US packaging has metric measurements alongside ounces/fluid ounces. IOW, these things aren’t cut and dried. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/70 "2019-08-02T06:42:40Z")
> [@Sparky812](#): > > Of course, sometimes you do run into metric, so you need to have those mm wrenches, sockets, Allen keys, etc. on hand… and pray someone hasn’t lost your 10mm again! Although it’s metric/SI, around about 1/2" is still the size that’s used most often: the one you want is your 13mm spanner. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 9:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/71 "2019-08-02T09:14:35Z")
> [@NAF1138](#): > > I don’t get celcius. Other than being less precise and having 0 and 100 corrospond to freezing and boiling… What’s the value? That 0 and 100 correspond to freezing and boiling. And there’s no loss of precision, but there is one capital C and two little s’s: Celsius. ---
**Author:** ![Sangahyando](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f14d63/32.png) [@Sangahyando](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sangahyando)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 9:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/72 "2019-08-02T09:51:24Z")
> [@HeyHomie](#): > > As an American, I believe the time has come – indeed, it’s been here for two centuries – for the U.S. to convert to the Metric System and Celsius. I’ve been trying to force myself to use those systems in my daily life, because The Buddha said to be the change you want to see. > > But I’m concerned? Do I sound like a pretentious twit when I say that St. Louis is a 175-kilometer drive? Or when I say it’s about 27 degrees outside when it’s the 1st of August? Or when I say, “the 1st of August” rather than “August 1st”? There’s a British guy – see link below, which I hope will work – who would I think, in his self-conferred role as defender of old-fashioned measuring ways: regret your described “making-over” efforts. However, IMO Rees-Mogg is himself the ultimate poster child for pretentious twittishness, but of the backward-looking kind (in everything, not just methods of measuring stuff.) > **[Jacob Rees-Mogg’s aides issue strict style guide to new staff](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jacob-rees-mogg-rules-staff-language-grammar-spelling-a9022981.html)** > > The phrase “no longer fit for purpose” has been deemed no longer fit for purpose ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/73 "2019-08-02T11:48:28Z")
> [@Declan](#): > > You will probably get the opposite reaction that I get when i use American up in Canada. Have no use for the metric system and as an American, the only time you should be using Metric is when buying drugs and Ammo. Other wise its like getting a hooker and only wanting to cuddle. Not sure what part of Canada you’re in, but in Ontario, the use of non-metric units is still alive and well. I might confuse people with my US-sized gallons, but other than that, it would generally not be a problem. FWIW, I’m pretty much metric in my daily life, just because it’s convenient. Other than mile post markers, the USA is already pretty much metric, for those who want to be. I mean, what more do metric people want? Violate free speech by forcing publishers to ship only metric cook books? We could mandate that auto speedometers are metric, and change our signs, but that doesn’t really make us any more competitive with the rest of the world. Every time there’s a “we should become metric” thread, I always ask, “what does it mean to become metric”? No one ever really answers. Oh, and to the OP, depending on context, yeah, using metric units sounds pretentious. For me, switching units is just part of the normal code-switching of my everyday language. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/74 "2019-08-02T14:08:52Z")
> [@scr4](#): > > people know what a 2-liter bottle looks like, anda standard wine bottle is 750 ml, so I think referring to beverage bottle sizes in ml or liters is more acceptable & understandable than using kilometers. ummm…it’s gonna get _really_ confusing if yourefer to beverage sizes in kilometers. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![NAF1138](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naf1138/32/3245_2.png) [@NAF1138](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NAF1138)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/75 "2019-08-02T14:10:01Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > That 0 and 100 correspond to freezing and boiling. And there’s no loss of precision, but there is one capital C and two little s’s: Celsius. :dubious: Sort of a jerk response to a genuine question, but go ahead and make fun of the dyslexic who was relying on auto correct. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/76 "2019-08-02T14:10:10Z")
I prefer being a pretentious troll and have taken a page out of Jeremy Clarkson’s book (a master troll). I give whatever measurement I’m giving: temperature, volume, distance, time, whatever, and then convert it to the other system in a very patronizing voice. “St. Louis? Oh yes that’s 850 miles, or 6,582 kilometers.” That way I can sound like a pretentious twat and still imply my certainty that you are a moron. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/77 "2019-08-02T14:25:22Z")
> [@Inigo\_Montoya](#): > > I prefer being a pretentious troll and have taken a page out of Jeremy Clarkson’s book (a master troll). I give whatever measurement I’m giving: temperature, volume, distance, time, whatever, and then convert it to the other system in a very patronizing voice. “St. Louis? Oh yes that’s 850 miles, or 6,582 kilometers.” That way I can sound like a pretentious twat and still imply my certainty that you are a moron. If you act like you think 850 miles is 6,582 km, most of my 9th grade physical science students would look at you with snarky expressions, and remind you that 1 km is about 5/8 of a mile. I guesstimated 850 mi at 1400 km, and it’s really 1360. Yep, if you said “St. Louis? Oh yes that’s 850 miles, or 6,582 kilometers”, I’d call you on it. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/78 "2019-08-02T14:26:15Z")
An experiment: I want every one of youse to go into your local supermarket. Go to the head of the soda-pop aisle and holler down, “Get me a half-gallon of Birch Beer, would ya?” Now, who’s the twit? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/79 "2019-08-02T14:27:57Z")
> [@txjim](#): > > You would love Puerto Rico, speed limits are in M/H but distances are in KM Everything you need to know about the evils of colonization right there. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2019, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016/80 "2019-08-02T14:35:34Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > How many people speak Mandarin? About 900 million out of about 7.35 billion people. > > How many people use metric? About 7 billion out of 7.35 billion people. > > Choose your battles. Just for the sake of being an argumentative bitch : it’s not the sum total, it’s the distribution. My favourite Chinese (Mandarin) teacher used to quip that you can get by speaking Chinese exclusively just about anywhere in the entire world ; simply because if it’s a physical geographical location that has breathable air there’s a Chinese community living there and they’ll sort you out like you’re long lost cousins, no worries. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-american-when-i-use-the-metric-system-or-celsius-do-i-sound-like-a-pretentious-twit/838016.md?page=5)