# The Metric system is the tool of the devil! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 9, 2019, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256 "2019-06-09T17:26:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/41 "2019-06-10T18:21:37Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > That’s far more information than the OP offers. Thanks. The Metric System is a revolutionary system, dating from the Age of Enlightenment. Now, if you think about it, the Americans too had themselves a little revolution around the same time, not only the French, so one would imagine they would be aggressive proponents of the new system in America. Those staunchly resisting it are clearly counterrevolutionary imperialists. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 6:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/42 "2019-06-10T18:32:07Z")
> [@Encinitas](#): > > I worked on an archaeological dig once. The director wanted to use feet and inches for measurement. I urged that he switch to metric. His compromise was to excavate levels in tenths of feet! I have a tape measure with tenths of feet instead of inches. VERY useful when calculating area&volume for landscaping. In your case, it doesn’t seem like that sensible a choice. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 6:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/43 "2019-06-10T18:58:46Z")
Ignorance and arrogance. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/44 "2019-06-10T19:26:25Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > No, a .357. > > See how hard the metric system is? It’s always struck me as really weird that people would make bullets with a three fifty-sevenths of an inch diameter cross-section. Also not that pragmatic. No, I don’t own any firearms. Why do you ask? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/45 "2019-06-10T19:33:33Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > A mile is a thousand paces @ 5’ each. I wonder if anyone has the legs for a 5’ stride. If you consider a stride to be from left footfall to the next left footfall (or right, if that’s the way you roll), it seems a bit less implausible. The fact that very few soldiers had identically-sized legs does complicate things a bit. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/46 "2019-06-10T19:37:42Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > He even threw in a gratuitous reference to Robespierre (which he also pronounced correctly). But the closed captioning got it as “rogue spears”… 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/47 "2019-06-10T20:03:51Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > If you consider a stride to be from left footfall to the next left footfall (or right, if that’s the way you roll), it seems a bit less implausible. > > The fact that very few soldiers had identically-sized legs does complicate things a bit. Wouldn’t the parameters of formation movement have required them to train their soldiers to march with the same stride despite any differences in leg length? ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/48 "2019-06-10T20:03:59Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > The fact that very few soldiers had identically-sized legs does complicate things a bit. It seems like a soldier without identically sized legs wouldn’t be very effective. I’m glad we’ve made that a requirement in modern armies. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/49 "2019-06-10T20:11:51Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Just FYI, the metric system has been “the preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce” pursuant to federal law since 1975. It’s just not mandatory. And as an aside, this has to do with why the big multi serving bottles of soda are sold by the liter, while everything else in the US is sold in ounces/quarts/gallons. The first soda company to introduce a bottle larger than a single serving did so in the 1970s around the time this law was passed, so they decided to make it 2 liters to be compliant with the new law that was about to be passed. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/50 "2019-06-10T20:33:00Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > If you consider a stride to be from left footfall to the next left footfall (or right, if that’s the way you roll), it seems a bit less implausible. > > The fact that very few soldiers had identically-sized legs does complicate things a bit. For nighttime land navigation, we were taught to measure how many double strides (right foot to right foot), on average, it took us to advance 100 meters. The average for a male soldier was 60, I think, although I’m fairly long-legged myself, so I remember doing it in 57. That makes a kilometer 600 double paces or so, which is fairly close to 1000 per mile. YMMV (literally), but the math checks out. ---
**Author:** ![outlierrn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/outlierrn/32/3005_2.png) [@outlierrn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/outlierrn)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/51 "2019-06-10T20:46:40Z")
I, for one, welcome our New Metric Overlords. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/52 "2019-06-10T20:55:29Z")
Tucker must not be aware that those revolutionary founding fathers imposed decimal currency on us, not those pounds, shillings and pence as was traditional. So Tucker is unAmerican, but we knew that. Anyhow, all measurements should be based on cubits, as God intended, so Tucker must be an atheist too. Communist atheists are infiltrating Fox News! Write the Trump to warn him! ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/53 "2019-06-10T20:59:22Z")
> [@outlierrn](#): > > I, for one, welcome our New Metric Overlords. Hail Amps! (The ampere is a base unit in the metric system. Which makes all electronics part of Satan’s plan. Tucker better get off the TeeVee.) ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/54 "2019-06-10T21:00:44Z")
> [@](#): > > Quoth **Cheesesteak** : > > I have a tape measure with tenths of feet instead of inches. VERY useful when calculating area&volume for landscaping. I was running a lab once where one of the groups ended up with a ruler marked in 32nds of an inch (apparently, used in making scale drawings). It took us a long time to figure out why all of their centimeter measurements were off. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/55 "2019-06-10T21:31:15Z")
I dunno, the segment strikes me as “obvious troll is obvious”, done precisely to rile up people. OTOH I \*have \*known some ultracons who not only want to roll back the Great Society and the New Deal and even the Square Deal but who seem to dream of rolling back the whole fuggin’ Enlightenment and its notion that human reason can determine what’s right and good. These are the people that insist that all those Masons and Deists and High Church Anglicans gathered in Philadelphia were actually devout fundies establishing an explicitly Christian nation. ---
**Author:** ![Kiwi\_Fruit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kiwi_fruit/32/12_2.png) [@Kiwi\_Fruit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kiwi_Fruit)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/56 "2019-06-10T22:05:41Z")
> [@WildaBeast](#): > > And as an aside, this has to do with why the big multi serving bottles of soda are sold by the liter, while everything else in the US is sold in ounces/quarts/gallons. The first soda company to introduce a bottle larger than a single serving did so in the 1970s around the time this law was passed, so they decided to make it 2 liters to be compliant with the new law that was about to be passed. Implausible. Before the two litre bottle, there was the 26 oz, nearly the size of the 750mL. Definitely multiserve sizes. And it was around before the 70s. Apparently Coke introduced the 26 oz (Family size) in 1955, the year I was born. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/57 "2019-06-10T22:41:21Z")
> [@Kiwi\_Fruit](#): > > Implausible. Before the two litre bottle, there was the 26 oz, nearly the size of the 750mL. Definitely multiserve sizes. And it was around before the 70s. > > Apparently Coke introduced the 26 oz (Family size) in 1955, the year I was born. [This](https://www.marketplace.org/2017/10/10/why-does-soda-come-liters-and-milk-gallons/) is where I heard that. You’re right, I misremembered some details. It wasn’t necessarily the first multiserve bottle, I probably incorrectly inferred that from the fact that it was born out of Pepsi wanting to have a bigger bottle than Coke. It it was two liters because it happened to come out at a time when everyone thought America would be converting to metric any day now, not specifically because of the 1975 law, although other companies got onboard with the two liter size after the law was passed. ---
**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:** [June 10, 2019, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/58 "2019-06-10T23:06:04Z")
It also was the first plastic soda bottle. Before the two liter, the 32 oz. glass bottle was the biggest, except for certain root beer brand jugs. I also remember that two liters being a bit bigger than two quarts was used as a promotion point. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/59 "2019-06-10T23:23:17Z")
> [@septimus](#): > > Their big argument for “customary” units is that a third of a foot is 4 inches — nice and simple. I think a reason that anti-Metricism hasn’t caught on among FoxPotatoes is that many of them couldn’t correctly answer “How many inches in a third of a foot?” anyway. The only reason a FoxPotato knows what a third of a foot is is that that’s how long his dick is. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 10, 2019, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256/60 "2019-06-10T23:34:23Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > The only reason a FoxPotato knows what a third of a foot is is that that’s how long his dick is. Wait till he finds out that’s a 10 in metric. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-metric-system-is-the-tool-of-the-devil/835256.md?page=4)