• @iopq
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    75 months ago

    Actually, we’re on the metric system. The foot and inch are defined exactly by their metric conversion values, and so is the pound

    We’re actually just using conversion factors

    • @[email protected]
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      fedilink
      25 months ago

      How is this supposed to be considered using the metric system? If you tell someone that you weigh 80kg and he doesn’t have a clue what you mean, then you’re not really using the metric system, are you?

      • @iopq
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        15 months ago

        That’s on them, the pound is exactly 0.45359237 kg

        So the conversion is trivial: 176lbs

        • @[email protected]
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          15 months ago

          Also, another issue with what you’re suggesting is that people have to memorize several conversion factors as well. Inherently, you only have to be able to convert inches -> cm and pounds -> kg, but unless you want to do even more math in your head, you also have to remember feet -> cm, yards -> cm, miles -> cm, square feet -> square meters, cubic feet -> cubic meters (phew, that’s just all the length conversions), pounds -> kg, ounces -> grams, pounds -> grams, cups -> grams (for every fluid you might want to measure), litres -> gallons, litres -> pints, etc.

          Or you could just go through the one-time effort of actually using the metric system so you don’t have to carry this mental burden with you everywhere you go…

        • @[email protected]
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          5 months ago

          The problems with that are:

          1. hardly anyone knows the conversion factor

          2. other people aren’t going to do the math in their head

          That’s on them

          them == everybody in this case. Practically, nobody is going to do what you suggest - instead, non-metric users will ask metric users to do the conversion for them. And why should we be responsible for doing the work when they are the ones who refuse to use the system that 96% of the world has adopted?