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scott <sco### [at] scottcom> wrote:
> > It doesn't matter which measurement system is used: If you have grown up
> > using it, it will feel "most natural" to you. To a person who has grown
> > up using the metric system it feels the most natural.
>
> Indeed, and a way to judge which one is "better" is to look at what
> happens when people are forced to change and stop using the old system
> completely.
>
> In the UK in 1971 we changed from using a pound divided into 20
> shillings and a shilling in 12 pence to the new "metric" system of 100
> pence in a pound. Everyone was forced to make the change, you couldn't
> continue with the old system. Initially people complained and got
> confused, but very quickly afterwards everybody realised it was a far
> superior and easier to use system. *Nobody* I have ever spoken to (who
> was alive at the time) would want to go back to the old system and
> everyone generally thinks it was a good decision. At the time however I
> bet there were loads of people against it. People just don't like change.
LOL
It is really perversity (and trolling). I was hoping the Zarathustra comment
would give it away. (I was referring to my utterances not Warp.)
I went through a lot of effort and pain (literally) to learn and remember that
there were 240 pee (written d) in a pound and there were fourteen pounds in a
stone etc. The only thing that you can say for the imperial system is that it
keeps your mind active, by necessity. Well It was romantic sounding too. I mean
39 thou makes it sound as if you know what you are talking about and spending a
bawbee or a florin has a ring to it.
complain and it is easier to use.
Stephen the Elder (but not of the kirk)
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