3 ms·

Now can we redefine 1 pound to equal 1 kg? (the opposite of https://xkcd.com/2073 https://xkcd.com/2073)

beloch 8y ago
Considering the speed at which metrologists create new standards, we'll be about three iterations into the infinite loop by the end of the century.
max76 8y ago
Can you imagine the confusion? Having the same word mean a different amount of something would cause a lot of misunderstanding. Saying "This car weighs 2200 poundsm" have two different meanings depending on the year you said it sounds awful. The new metric definitions work because they don't change the actual amount, they just change the way the amount is defined. (Natural constant vs reference weight)
- rangibaby 8y ago
  See ton vs tonne
- int_19h 8y ago
  We could gradually redefine pound to be closer and closer to kilogram, say, over a century, so that people don't notice. ~
  - max76 8y ago
    That sounds like it would require more coordination than just adopting the kilogram as the primary unit of measure in a short period of time.
tempodox 8y ago
Nope, 1 pound should equal 0.5 kg.
- gcthomas 8y ago
  It does in France already and has done for years, so when you ask for a pound of cheese you get 500g. Simples.
  - vickihectora 8y ago
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Considering the speed at which metrologists create new standards, we'll be about three iterations into the infinite loop by the end of the century.

max76 8y ago

Can you imagine the confusion? Having the same word mean a different amount of something would cause a lot of misunderstanding. Saying "This car weighs 2200 poundsm" have two different meanings depending on the year you said it sounds awful. The new metric definitions work because they don't change the actual amount, they just change the way the amount is defined. (Natural constant vs reference weight)

rangibaby 8y ago
See ton vs tonne
int_19h 8y ago
We could gradually redefine pound to be closer and closer to kilogram, say, over a century, so that people don't notice. ~
- max76 8y ago
  That sounds like it would require more coordination than just adopting the kilogram as the primary unit of measure in a short period of time.

tempodox 8y ago

Nope, 1 pound should equal 0.5 kg.

gcthomas 8y ago
It does in France already and has done for years, so when you ask for a pound of cheese you get 500g. Simples.
- vickihectora 8y ago
  Need help in gaining access/passwords to facebook, gmail, instagram, bbm, yahoomail, snapchat, twitter, hotmail, badoo, zoosk, various blogs, icloud, dropbox, apple accounts etc. Password retrieval, breaching of bank accounts: (for local and international banks, block transfers, make transfers), clear debts, pay for bills at give away rates, breach of web host servers, firewall breaches, application cracks, credit score upgrade, change of school grades, professional hacking into institutional servers, clearing of criminal records, mobile airtime recharge, keylogging, smartphone,tablet portable device hacks, pc hacks on any OS and ip tracking and genral tracking opperations. contact via lucidionysus@gmail.com