Why does America have Fahrenheit, mph, miles?

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Defenestration Aug 12, 2016 @ 1:20am

I'm American, but I've always wondered why American education system taught different measures. Hell, I'll admit I don't know how fast 100 kilometers is exactly on the top of my head. When I went to vacation in Iran to visit my dad's brothers and sisters and his mom, everytime we would drive I see Kilometers per hour speed. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I'm pretty sure every country in the world uses Celcius, KMPH, and Kilometers except for America.

Now, it's not a big deal, I'm not ranting or anything. I'm just wondering why it's like that?

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Showing 1-15 of 23 comments

𝕙.𝕓𝕒𝕣𝕜𝕒𝕤 Aug 12, 2016 @ 1:45am

An official US source answered that they don't have the metric system because it's to 'complicated'.
I estimate the damage done by wrong conversion in technical specifications goes in the
billions. Even a spacecraft is rumored to have failed because of wrong conversion of
construction data.

[ZUCC]Lucar901™ Aug 12, 2016 @ 1:58am

Because AMERICA ♥♥♥ YEA

-V- Aug 12, 2016 @ 2:01am

100 kph is 60 mph, and that's off the the top of my head.

But basically

Originally posted by LAFCLucar901:
Because AMERICA ♥♥♥ YEA

Sums it up.

Arya Aug 12, 2016 @ 2:16am

My guess would be practicality. Converting America to metric would be a massive job, it'd take decades and you would probably have legal challenges from the nativists. The hardest part would be educating people, the Metric system works very differently to Imperial.

It's an elegant system, but teaching people how to use it and converting all the automated systems and software would be an absolute nightmare.

And besides, you're a stubborn bunch. I can't see Metric America ever happening.

Narcoleptic Marshmallow Aug 12, 2016 @ 2:32am

Most half decent people in America can use either system just fine.

The reason they won't officially change to metric is because it would cost billions or maybe even close to trillions of dollars, as well as several years if not decades to replace every single road sign, correct every single school book, and everything else. And then there would be the problem of making the 300 million people living there actually stop using imperial and start using metric.

It's a change that would be completely pointless for them, but not changing it allows the rest of us to keep making fun of them for using imperial. It's a lose-lose situation and very amusing.

Last edited by Narcoleptic Marshmallow; Aug 12, 2016 @ 2:36am

Washell Aug 12, 2016 @ 2:33am

Originally posted by h.barkas:
An official US source answered that they don't have the metric system because it's to 'complicated'.

The metric system itself, or the process of converting the entire country to metric?

Last edited by Washell; Aug 12, 2016 @ 2:33am

imgivingfreestuff Aug 12, 2016 @ 2:41am

When I go on a site about diets and stuff and there's a question about my weight.
*Types in the weight*
*Sees that they ask for lbs (pounds?)*
"♥♥♥♥ that, I don't how how many pounds I weight. There's literally 2 countries in the world that use pounds instead of kilograms, and you still had to choose pounds. Damn you, America."

Me when watching a movie
*Scene where somebody watches weather report*
"100 degrees tomorrow"
Me: "Bloody hell! Hundred degrees? Where do they live?! Oh, wait, it's fahrenheit. So what is it, 37 degrees celsius? Still rather hot, but boy does 100 sound worse. Damn you, America."

That's why I like Star Wars. They have parsecs, and only physics eggheads know what parsecs are, so everyone's on even grounds

Last edited by imgivingfreestuff; Aug 12, 2016 @ 2:43am

76561198034396398 Aug 12, 2016 @ 3:17am

cause thier living in the 60's we converted to metric in 67 you also drive on the wrong side of the bloody road

Jango'Cepp Aug 12, 2016 @ 3:40am

Didn't the Americans try to convert to metric in the 70s but the whole thing bombed pretty badly?

ChadChaddingtonWomanRespecter Aug 12, 2016 @ 4:29am

it`s cause MERICA YEA i know i did cause when it sould of been because and i did yea instead of yeah

#10

laff Aug 12, 2016 @ 5:06am

I didn't realize imperial units rustled so many metric jimmies, it's like they don't know all of our science classes use the metric system.

The imperial and US customary systems of measurement are two closely inter-related systems of measurement both derived from earlier English system of measurement units which can be traced back to Ancient Roman units of measurement, and Carolingian and Saxon units of measure.

#11