Please explain Hitcher

**YellowDog** · 28th April 2009, 16:15

And of course there is the good old HD motorcycles stating the size of their engines in cubic inches! It is such a bad idea that the Japs are starting to copy.

Imagine being from the UK. They sell fuel in litres, but state how many miles to the gallon their car can do.

They don't know the difference between a Ton and a Tonne, which is great if you are selling (not buying) and buy their meat in pounds and ounces; yet cook it in time per Kilo.

They weigh themselves in stone and ounces and all this to be the same as the American's who don't use Stone (pounds only) and have their own sized gallon.

And if your dick is less than six inches, you'd better keep your shorts on in the shower.

The UK can't change because the old people will get confused (like there will never be any old people to get confusted). No wonder the rest of Europe thinks the Poms are nuts.

**MSTRS:Me** · 28th April 2009, 16:37

Originally Posted by Hitcher

Women's corsetry also contributes to this malaise.

As do tyres...180mm/55% x 17inches

**The Stranger:Me** · 28th April 2009, 16:49

Originally Posted by YellowDog

They don't know the difference between a Ton and a Tonne, which is great if you are selling (not buying) and buy their meat in pounds and ounces; yet cook it in time per Kilo.

F u c k a l l.

**Big Dave** · 28th April 2009, 18:41

Originally Posted by James Deuce

No one can explain Hitcher.

The Rider of the Apostrophclipse.

**Swoop** · 28th April 2009, 19:14

Originally Posted by madmal64

No BMW is here on KB you all should know that

No! She is in the south island!!!

**Motu** · 28th April 2009, 20:04

While I wouldn't ever want to go back to calculating in the old Imperial system (what a waste of all that schooling) - that fact that the old measuring system is still used,even by younger people....proves that the old standards just make mental sense,whereas the metric system isn't an easy fit in the brain.It's just too French for those who won't consider surrender....

**Mikkel** · 28th April 2009, 20:37

Originally Posted by Skunk

What sort of measure is BMW?

Easy - 12/7 of a BTU.

**Edbear** · 28th April 2009, 20:38

Originally Posted by Skunk

What sort of measure is BMW?

There's no substitute for cubes...

**Trouser** · 28th April 2009, 20:58

Originally Posted by The Stranger

F u c k a l l.

Long or short. I wouldn't mind selling a short ton and calling it a tonne. 10% extra money for me please.

**Edbear** · 28th April 2009, 21:10

Originally Posted by Trouser

Long or short. I wouldn't mind selling a short ton and calling it a tonne. 10% extra money for me please.

Well if it's a thrown ton rather than a stacked one... mind you you might be accused of stacking the odds in your favour...

**Forest** · 28th April 2009, 22:57

The metric systems is just as arbitrary as the imperial system.

The reason imperial measurement is still used so much is because it relates to the human scale so well.

**pzkpfw** · 28th April 2009, 23:02

Originally Posted by Forest

The metric systems is just as arbitrary as the imperial system.

The reason imperial measurement is still used so much is because it relates to the human scale so well.

The basis of metric may be essentially arbitrary (though they tried to use meaningfull things [divide Earth to define metres...]) but after that it's at least consistent.

Inches per foot? Feet per yard? Yards per mile?

Similar for weight etc.

Hard for physics too - units of weight are different to units for mass (see "slug").

I'm "six foot three inches" though (not 1.93 or so metres) - but that's just habit.

**Motu** · 28th April 2009, 23:30

6'3'' is easy to visualise,1.93 metres isn't.MPG is easy to visualise (for those who have used it),litres per 100km needs thinking about.If you want precision then metrics are the best,but for a quick mental assesment the old imperial system clicks into place.As we use metrics more (it's still new to me) somethings get imprinted...eg - plastic 20 litre containers are now standard packaging,we all know them.My tank holds 22 litres...so just a couple of litres bigger...yeah,ok,I can grasp that as a mental picture.

I has just discovered (after 55 years) that I am dislexic....they think in 3D pictures which was a bit of a clue as I thought everyone else did too.If I think 20 litres,I see a 20 litre Fuchs floating in the air.

**Ixion** · 28th April 2009, 23:40

proper measurements is MUCH better cos you can measure things without having to have a digital funfillofimeter and a computer.

My pace is excatly one imperial yard. So I can always measure distance
A foot is , duh, a foot long. Easy to step out X number of feet .
My hand is precisely , duh again, one hand wide - four inches. You go measure a horse in metrodonglidangles without any equipment.

A beer glass contain one pint (that alone should make it obvious which is the better system. Who the hell wants to order a 478.7 millimuffin of Speights, please. )

In short the imperials system is better because it is based on universal and always availab le references. Whereas to measure anything in metrofarts you either have to have equipment or run around the world and do a massive arithmetical sum.

Avoirdupois FTW.