# When the US goes metric, will it be all at once or in pieces? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 19, 2006, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062 "2006-03-19T23:13:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/1 "2006-03-19T23:13:06Z")
I was around in the '70s when there was a big push to go metric. Some mileage signs also had (and some still have, I think) km next to miles. I seem to recall during the 1979 oil embargo that some gas stations were selling gas by the litre, since the pumps could not display three digits. I remember a _huge_ amount of opposition to converting at the time. As I was schoolboy, I thought it was great. But most adults seemed to resent it, make jokes abot it, etc. I really don’t see the U.S. converting to the metric system any time soon. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/2 "2006-03-19T23:35:08Z")
**cubicle** , that’s how it happened in the UK. It was pretty successful, barring a few silly rules that forbade a butcher from selling meat “by the pound”, and some bizarre sizing, such as beer cans that are 454ml. Ireland has, in the last 2 years, gone over to exclusively kilometre distance signs and speed limits - that was a bigger upheaval, but people have settled into it pretty quickly. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/3 "2006-03-19T23:36:24Z")
I should mention that in the UK, distances and speeds are still in mph, but I suspect that will go soon-ish. Despite this, both the UK and Ireland still sell beer by the pint. ---
**Author:** ![fubbleskag](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@fubbleskag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fubbleskag)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/4 "2006-03-19T23:46:59Z")
i think the chances of the US switching to metric are about the same as Thailand winning the gold in hockey at the next olympics. ---
**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:** [March 19, 2006, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/5 "2006-03-19T23:48:06Z")
I doubt it happens. As long as we are the economic powerhouse on the planet, there is really no reason for us to change to suit the rest of the world. Besides, a Quarter-Pounder sounds silly in metric. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2006, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/6 "2006-03-19T23:55:29Z")
**Johnny L.A.** did NOT originate this thread. Just in case you wonder why it reads strangely. The OP was disappeared. **samclem** ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/7 "2006-03-20T00:22:58Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Besides, a Quarter-Pounder sounds silly in metric. Only if you read the small print. Seriously. A British quarter-pounder reads like this: > [@](#): > > **Quarter-pounder** > > - Pre-cooked weight: 454g ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/8 "2006-03-20T00:25:38Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Besides, a Quarter-Pounder sounds silly in metric. We all know what they call a quarter-pounder with cheese in France. What do they call a quarter-pounder with cheese in SoCal? They don’t. They get the salad. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/9 "2006-03-20T00:27:22Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > **Johnny L.A.** did NOT originate this thread. Just in case you wonder why it reads strangely. The OP was disappeared. > > **samclem** That had me confused for a moment. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/10 "2006-03-20T00:31:15Z")
Just a thought, but if the board software allows, it might be a good thing to c&p the OP, _sans_ name, into the first remaining post so we can see what people are talking about. Having been an admin on several other boards, though, I suspect it might not allow it. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/11 "2006-03-20T00:42:56Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > Only if you read the small print. Seriously. A British quarter-pounder reads like this: > > > [@](#): > > > > Quarter-pounder > > > > - Pre-cooked weight: 454g Gosh, that represents some serious shrinkage/loss if the pre-cooked weight of the meat is about a pound. Is it really fatty meat? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/12 "2006-03-20T00:47:28Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > Gosh, that represents some serious shrinkage/loss if the pre-cooked weight of the meat is about a pound. Is it really fatty meat? Oh, be quiet, you know what I meant 😛 ---
**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:** [March 20, 2006, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/13 "2006-03-20T02:16:31Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > **Johnny L.A.** did NOT originate this thread. Just in case you wonder why it reads strangely. The OP was disappeared. > > **samclem** Interesting side question: Does he now get credit for starting the thread? If I search “Threads started by Johnny L.A.” will this one show up? ---
**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/14 "2006-03-20T02:22:22Z")
> [@silenus](#): > > Interesting side question: Does he now get credit for starting the thread? If I search “Threads started by Johnny L.A.” will this one show up? Why don’t you try? Another thought on the original issue: It could be a reasonable concession. If the rest of the world agrees to speak English, we’ll go metric. ---
**Author:** ![threemae](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/5f9b8f/32.png) [@threemae](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threemae)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 2:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/15 "2006-03-20T02:28:37Z")
I’m sorry, I don’t get what the big deal is about going metric. Human beings don’t think in abstract terms such as kilometer or miles, they think in terms relative to other known distances. For almost any example I can think of, simply comparing that measurment to similar items or situations is what’s important, not in making the size of my toaster easly comparable to the distance from Boulder to Denver. ---
**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:** [March 20, 2006, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/16 "2006-03-20T02:30:46Z")
> [@Rigamarole](#): > > Why don’t you try? I’ll have you know that finding the answer myselt took me two mouse-moves, three clicks and a scroll. You owe be big! The answer is “Yes. he does now get credit for it.” This could have…interesting implications. ---
**Author:** ![Xploder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a183cd/32.png) [@Xploder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xploder)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/17 "2006-03-20T02:31:17Z")
> [@Johnny L.A.](#): > > I was around in the '70s when there was a big push to go metric. Some mileage signs also had (and some still have, I think) km next to miles. I seem to recall during the 1979 oil embargo that some gas stations were selling gas by the litre, since the pumps could not display three digits. > > I remember a _huge_ amount of opposition to converting at the time. As I was schoolboy, I thought it was great. But most adults seemed to resent it, make jokes abot it, etc. I really don’t see the U.S. converting to the metric system any time soon. Well then, shouldn’t you change your name to Johnny U.K.? I mean, after all, you seem to have this total, incest-like love for all things British. Plus, it’s **liter** here in the states, you know, the place you actually **live** in. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 2:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/18 "2006-03-20T02:33:36Z")
> [@threemae](#): > > Human beings don’t think in abstract terms such as kilometer or miles, they think in terms relative to other known distances. I agree, totally. And also, where possible, we think in terms of time rather than distance. I can list every one of my many weekly drives, almost to the minute, but I couldn’t tell you the distance of any of them, in miles or kilometres. And I defy anyone to look at a chicken, or a joint of beef, and not think at least partly “that’ll be the right size to feed x people” ---
**Author:** ![Xploder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a183cd/32.png) [@Xploder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xploder)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/19 "2006-03-20T02:34:03Z")
Damnit, here I thought I was in the PIT and find out differently. I apologize for my intemperate posting. Guess I shouldn’t have multiple windows open huh? Still, it **IS** a legitimate question, just in a rather more sedate questioning manner dont’cha know…also with a spot of tea. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 20, 2006, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062/20 "2006-03-20T02:34:45Z")
> [@Xploder](#): > > Well then, shouldn’t you change your name to Johnny U.K.? I mean, after all, you seem to have this total, incest-like love for all things British. > > Plus, it’s **liter** here in the states, you know, the place you actually **live** in. Um… Let me see. The metric system was part of the curriculum in school. Seemed like a good idea to me. Decimals are easier than fractions. And it was spelled ‘litre’ on my dad’s '66 Ford. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/when-the-us-goes-metric-will-it-be-all-at-once-or-in-pieces/349062.md?page=2)