5 ms·

I know. But it's also a little weird because a foot is a very human size but metric in common usage just skips over that size range.

defrost 4y ago
A metre is very human sized also .. you can easily hold your hands a metre apart (it's ~3.3 feet (~3.28 if being picky)), about the same as a yard. I mean, who uses feet anymore anyway? I've just measured up a whole bunch of stuff making a parrot proof covering for a pear tree .. everything is jotted on the back side of a bit of board in mm (millimeters). 3230 mm is 3.2 metres and a bit .. a bit under 10 & a half feet (but, again, who even uses feet or thinks in them anyway? *) * We do use yards for conveying to USAians what distance we shoot targets at on the farm; (eg from the next door neighbours youtube channel [1] 5023 yards 24" x 24" target ULR shooting) [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7owwTz7Z0OE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7owwTz7Z0OE
- Fatnino 4y ago
  Look, I'm pro doing things in metric. I think the US should get in line with the rest of the planet. But doing things at yard scale in mm is not helping the cause. Who wants to be throwing around 4 digit numbers in their head?
  - defrost 4y ago
    Carpenters, woodworkers, metalworkers, electricians, etc. who work at a 10 to 50 foot (for the central north americans that like that kind of retrograde unit) scale AND who want a good fit ... Millimeter fit on cabinets is the fit you want, whether you work in metric, British Imperial, or US Common. When you have a long kitchen counter you're looking at 3 metres or more ( ~10 ft ) with framing and doors that join with barely the width a fingernail between. The measurements are 10 foot (two digits), 6 inches, (another digit) and then a bit (tenths or hundredths of an inch, or a fraction - depending which you prefer). That's ~ 4 digits for each measurement on a common household task. It's pretty simple doing this as 3245mm on paper .. tradies have been doing this here since the 1970s and nothing's fallen down yet. Dunno about you, I'm primarily a mathematican doing applied work - but I've worked as a TA (trades assistent) in electrical, gas fitting, plumbing, heavy mechanical, rigging (multi sling heavy lifting), welding, etc. (too much exposure to minesites and cattle stations I guess) and there's an entire class of people that are comfortable working with measurements that span the length of a truck and are accurate to the millimetre (or tenth of an inch) - so, four digits? No worries. Why do you struggle with that?
    - Fatnino 4y ago
      I think we're solving different problems here. You are doing precision work while I'm picturing loosy goosy mental estimations.

defrost 4y ago

A metre is very human sized also .. you can easily hold your hands a metre apart (it's ~3.3 feet (~3.28 if being picky)), about the same as a yard. I mean, who uses feet anymore anyway? I've just measured up a whole bunch of stuff making a parrot proof covering for a pear tree .. everything is jotted on the back side of a bit of board in mm (millimeters). 3230 mm is 3.2 metres and a bit .. a bit under 10 & a half feet (but, again, who even uses feet or thinks in them anyway? *) * We do use yards for conveying to USAians what distance we shoot targets at on the farm; (eg from the next door neighbours youtube channel [1] 5023 yards 24" x 24" target ULR shooting) [1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7owwTz7Z0OE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7owwTz7Z0OE

Fatnino 4y ago
Look, I'm pro doing things in metric. I think the US should get in line with the rest of the planet. But doing things at yard scale in mm is not helping the cause. Who wants to be throwing around 4 digit numbers in their head?
- defrost 4y ago
  Carpenters, woodworkers, metalworkers, electricians, etc. who work at a 10 to 50 foot (for the central north americans that like that kind of retrograde unit) scale AND who want a good fit ... Millimeter fit on cabinets is the fit you want, whether you work in metric, British Imperial, or US Common. When you have a long kitchen counter you're looking at 3 metres or more ( ~10 ft ) with framing and doors that join with barely the width a fingernail between. The measurements are 10 foot (two digits), 6 inches, (another digit) and then a bit (tenths or hundredths of an inch, or a fraction - depending which you prefer). That's ~ 4 digits for each measurement on a common household task. It's pretty simple doing this as 3245mm on paper .. tradies have been doing this here since the 1970s and nothing's fallen down yet. Dunno about you, I'm primarily a mathematican doing applied work - but I've worked as a TA (trades assistent) in electrical, gas fitting, plumbing, heavy mechanical, rigging (multi sling heavy lifting), welding, etc. (too much exposure to minesites and cattle stations I guess) and there's an entire class of people that are comfortable working with measurements that span the length of a truck and are accurate to the millimetre (or tenth of an inch) - so, four digits? No worries. Why do you struggle with that?
  - Fatnino 4y ago
    I think we're solving different problems here. You are doing precision work while I'm picturing loosy goosy mental estimations.