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As a younger person who predominantly uses metric - as long as there's a conversion I don't see the issue. Just list both. I'm not sure why the sight of imperia

As a younger person who predominantly uses metric - as long as there's a conversion I don't see the issue. Just list both. I'm not sure why the sight of imperial units makes some people irrationally angry.

melling 7y ago
He’s probably referring to the time NASA lost the $125 million spacecraft because teams used different systems. https://www.wired.com/2010/11/1110mars-climate-observer-report/ https://www.wired.com/2010/11/1110mars-climate-observer-repo... It’s helpful when there’s only one system. In the US, it’s too costly to switch. HN readers are global and we’re technical so there’s no reason not to simply use metric.
- EdwardDiego 7y ago
  > In the US, it’s too costly to switch. What is the estimated cost out of curiosity?
  - adrianmonk 7y ago
    I estimate the cost to be 1 unit of national pride.
    - melling 7y ago
      Everything has a cost. NASA estimated their cost was $370 million to switch to metric. https://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/04/why-the-us-hasnt-fully-adopted-the-metric-system.html https://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/04/why-the-us-hasnt-fully-adopt... The cost of switching road signs alone was quite expensive. Exit numbers, for example, are often the mile marker number.
      - adrianmonk 7y ago
        Oh yeah, I'm not saying there's zero monetary cost. I'm saying the blocker isn't affordability.
Loughla 7y ago
Honestly. Communication is about clarity, not about arbitrary 'correctness' in word-choice. Put both so everyone can understand it.
- melling 7y ago
  95% of the world officially uses metric. https://www.reddit.com/r/theydidthemath/comments/2cjiau/selfpercentage_of_the_world_that_uses_metric_by/ https://www.reddit.com/r/theydidthemath/comments/2cjiau/self... Do they still teach the metric system in US schools? I learned it over 40 years ago. Metric is the official system for science. It’s hard to believe that we’re so close but we still have holdouts. It’s not an arbitrary choice at this point.

melling 7y ago

He’s probably referring to the time NASA lost the $125 million spacecraft because teams used different systems. https://www.wired.com/2010/11/1110mars-climate-observer-report/ https://www.wired.com/2010/11/1110mars-climate-observer-repo... It’s helpful when there’s only one system. In the US, it’s too costly to switch. HN readers are global and we’re technical so there’s no reason not to simply use metric.

EdwardDiego 7y ago
> In the US, it’s too costly to switch. What is the estimated cost out of curiosity?
- adrianmonk 7y ago
  I estimate the cost to be 1 unit of national pride.
  - melling 7y ago
    Everything has a cost. NASA estimated their cost was $370 million to switch to metric. https://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/04/why-the-us-hasnt-fully-adopted-the-metric-system.html https://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/04/why-the-us-hasnt-fully-adopt... The cost of switching road signs alone was quite expensive. Exit numbers, for example, are often the mile marker number.
    - adrianmonk 7y ago
      Oh yeah, I'm not saying there's zero monetary cost. I'm saying the blocker isn't affordability.

Loughla 7y ago

Honestly. Communication is about clarity, not about arbitrary 'correctness' in word-choice. Put both so everyone can understand it.

melling 7y ago
95% of the world officially uses metric. https://www.reddit.com/r/theydidthemath/comments/2cjiau/selfpercentage_of_the_world_that_uses_metric_by/ https://www.reddit.com/r/theydidthemath/comments/2cjiau/self... Do they still teach the metric system in US schools? I learned it over 40 years ago. Metric is the official system for science. It’s hard to believe that we’re so close but we still have holdouts. It’s not an arbitrary choice at this point.