30 ms·

Er, they are aware that the inch, foot etc were not invented in the US right?

deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
ahartmetz 4y ago
"It's always been that way" is similar to "it was invented here" in that regard. Besides, the imperial units had local versions and some still do. There are AFAIK no US inches and yards, but US gallons and US pints.
zethus 4y ago
Trusting us Americans to know history? Not a chance.
robertakarobin 4y ago
You might be surprised at how many Americans think that Jesus spoke English. Source: am American.
- seanw444 4y ago
  If Jesus exists, he probably can speak English. I'm sure that's not one of his limitations.
yardie 4y ago
The US mile is different from the UK mile and US gallons are sufficiently different from UK gallons. Yes, our measurement system is almost entirely homegrown at this point.
- vel0city 4y ago
  I wish the pub down the street served UK pints :(
- joshuaissac 4y ago
  The UK had multiple incompatible measures with the same name. The 'imperial' measures were the result of a standardisation of these measures. The US gallon is the same as the now-defunct English 'wine gallon'. The US mile was similarly the same as the UK statute mile, until it was indirectly redefined in terms of the metric metre in 1893. So at least the two examples given are not homegrown.
mrguyorama 4y ago
Many americans seem unaware of many things that happened before 1776. How many americans even know that the constitution wasn't made until many years later, how many even know the articles of confederation exist, or the politics of 1600s colonies? Many americans seem to think the declaration of independence is legally binding. We are an incredibly stupid country, because many of us actively devalue education, or otherwise denigrate people who learn. The requirements for teaching and education varies wildly state to state, including many states that basically have NO requirements for teachers, and we have actual, real, paper textbooks purchased by southern school systems that teach slavery as "not that bad"

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

"It's always been that way" is similar to "it was invented here" in that regard. Besides, the imperial units had local versions and some still do. There are AFAIK no US inches and yards, but US gallons and US pints.

zethus 4y ago

Trusting us Americans to know history? Not a chance.

robertakarobin 4y ago

You might be surprised at how many Americans think that Jesus spoke English. Source: am American.

seanw444 4y ago
If Jesus exists, he probably can speak English. I'm sure that's not one of his limitations.

yardie 4y ago

The US mile is different from the UK mile and US gallons are sufficiently different from UK gallons. Yes, our measurement system is almost entirely homegrown at this point.

vel0city 4y ago
I wish the pub down the street served UK pints :(
joshuaissac 4y ago
The UK had multiple incompatible measures with the same name. The 'imperial' measures were the result of a standardisation of these measures. The US gallon is the same as the now-defunct English 'wine gallon'. The US mile was similarly the same as the UK statute mile, until it was indirectly redefined in terms of the metric metre in 1893. So at least the two examples given are not homegrown.

mrguyorama 4y ago

Many americans seem unaware of many things that happened before 1776. How many americans even know that the constitution wasn't made until many years later, how many even know the articles of confederation exist, or the politics of 1600s colonies? Many americans seem to think the declaration of independence is legally binding. We are an incredibly stupid country, because many of us actively devalue education, or otherwise denigrate people who learn. The requirements for teaching and education varies wildly state to state, including many states that basically have NO requirements for teachers, and we have actual, real, paper textbooks purchased by southern school systems that teach slavery as "not that bad"