1y ago

How Pirates Thwarted America’s Plan to Go Metric

In the late 1700s, Thomas Jefferson wanted the United States to adopt a unified system of measurement and saw the metric system as the best solution. However, a pirate attack in the Caribbean disrupted these plans. Joseph Dombey, a French scientist carrying a kilogram and meter stick to demonstrate the metric system, was captured by pirates. By the time France sent another scientist to explain the system to the Americans, Jefferson was no longer in office, and plans to go metric were disregarded.

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That is good content! Off to google I went to explore the rabbit hole
And here’s a good read! https://time.com/3633514/why-wont-america-go-metric/
- I always find it funny to read about how much it's the public who wants America to be a "leader" and not a "follower" and keep resisting the change. Meanwhile metric is in widespread use across the country. Most science and medicine is done in metric. NASA and the US Military are metric. Most soldiers knows how long a "klick" is, which is literally just slang for kilometer. Every car mechanic can show you exactly how much a centimeter is, since the 10mm wrench/socket size is burned into their memory.
  And because of the global trade market, a lot of products that are also meant for export is manufactured in metric
  Not to mention that when it comes to conversion it's so much easier that US students are in some cases taught to convert to metric, apply that formula and then convert back(like calculating work) since it's so much faster and easier.
  
  NASA still almost lost the Mars Climate Orbiter in '98- they used metric, and Lockheed used US customary. Probably put it on approach too close to mars, and uh, it "encountered" the planet....
  NASA has the best euphemisms.
  (edit: also in 3d printing world...we almost always use metric, partly because it's literally an international community.)
  
  One thing I find humourous is the term 'US Customary' - I've only come across it recently; to most of the world they're Imperial units, which is ironic given the nature of how the USA came about.
  
  Strictly speaking, there are a few places where Imperial measurements diverge from US customary measurements; the sizes of a fluid ounce, pint and gallon are a few examples.
  
  To be fair, the 10mm socket is burned into their memory because they keep fucking disappearing.
  
  They're afraid of the 17/2 inch socket
  
  Well said!
  
  I think it's funny that they have to have a converter button on every medical scale in this country so that patients can find out what their weight is in pounds.
  
  I completely agree. It’s hilarious!!!

44 comments