Couldn't have said it better myself.
Most of you are aware that in Canada they use the metric system. Actually, the only countries that don’t use the metric system are the United States, Liberia, and Myanmar. My next vacation is going to take place in Liberia or Myanmar, just so you know. I don’t want to be a complainer, but the metric system is so hard to get used to. The only thing that I like is the band, Metric, and they aren’t even part of the system (but they are from Canada).
Gas always seems so cheap when I look at the prices– “$1.10 a gallon?!…oh wait LITERS.” I think it’s fine to measure soda in liters. And that’s pretty much the extent of it. Plus, the more you use liters, the more chances that some loser will spell it “litres” and I hate nothing more than the letter ‘r’ sneaking before the ‘e’. Get in line ‘r’!
The speed is always in kilometers. For awhile I thought Canada was really lenient and let everyone go super fast. NOPE. Luckily I have a kilometer gauge in my car, granted it’s below the mph gauge, but at least its there. Miles are clearly the best and most powerful and that’s why they’re on top (not because we got our car in the States or anything…).
I can usually look past those other defaults. The measurement I have the most trouble with is degrees Celsius. I refuse to acknowledge it’s existence. It makes no sense that on the hottest day of the year the temperature would be 45 degrees. Just no. It does make sense however, that in Celsius terms, freezing is at 0. That’s fine. I will give you that. But I will not allow people to say “Oh, it’s so nice out today. I love 20 degree weather!” No, no you don’t. No one loves 20 degree weather except for polar bears and Inuits.
Final note: I had to ask the guy who worked at the meat counter to convert my ground beef from kilograms to pounds. He secretly judged me. Actually, he was really nice and taught me how to convert it, but still. UGH.
Lily In Canada 
To convert means I have to do Math. I don’t do Math. Period. (Sorry for the redundant sentence.).
I hate math and converting things. I basically hate anything that is more work, or just work in general.
Lol! I couldn’t agree with you more. What a pain in the neck! And let me just add one more thing… military time!!! UGH! I’m dyslexic, get real. Don’t people know that when it’s dark out and 3:00, that it’s am and when it’s light out and 3:00 it’s p.m.??? Puh-lease!
Yeah. I was forced to learn military time in England because its used SO much there. But here they don’t really use it THANKFULLY. My brain would have exploded by now.
I love that they gave up trying to teach us the metric system in schools. I think in 4th grade they gave-it-a-go but quit when they realized we didn’t even understand Algebra.
I’m amazed at the other countries that don’t use the metric system. That’s what you don’t call a Powerhouse.
Yeah I am completely retarded at all things math and science related as well so learning a completely new system was beyond my capabilities. I know right, how random about Liberia and Myanmar. I have an all-new respect though.
Mooselicker, we must be the same age because I remember in fourth grade they tried to give the metric system a go as well. I remember being scared that…”the metric system is coming to take over the United States.” But, it never happened. My son now has a military style haircut…much to his chagrin. The younger brother whispered to me, “I think we need to start talking to Matt in military time.” I froze. I can’t let my children know how dumb I am in the math department. I get so confused with %’s, adding things in my head, subtracting things in my head, and telling me that 2 p.m. is 1400 hours is waaaay outside of the box for me.
Unfortunately I think they tried to convert every 4th grade class in the US to the metric system. Bleh. Military time is tricky, but not impossible. But its definitely more work and I am not a fan of that.
It’s a bit of a mish-mash here in the UK.
For short measurements we use metric, Coke bottles and cans are measured in litres but we use MPH and miles to measure travel and use pints in the pub and for milk.
I refuse to acknowledge your post because of the way you spell liters.
Liters? Like the Zippo ones you mean?
Oh Michael, you’re so silly.
litres and theatres and centres. haha.
also, do they spell tires as tyres there, too?
No. Thank goodness. Otherwise I wouldn’t leave the house. Okay, I still don’t really leave the house.
There needs to be a Like button.
I was sick when I was living in London and used a thermometer only realizing after I had no idea what my temperature was in REAL numbers was. I just remember thinking “I could be dying and I’ll never know!”
I like that you used a thermometer. Didn’t realize those still existed. hah I’m convinced everyone in England wants Americans to die a slow, cruel death.
I’m English and I certainly don’t want… Oh wait, no you’re right. 🙂
…Only the stupid ones though…
If I didn’t know how to convert between systems I would have never even gotten my degree. That being said it is annoying having to convert and I have no undying love for math either.
It is the most annoying. That’s why you actually EARNED your degree. I basically wikipedia-ed my whole degree.
Hahahaha. I don’t have a problem with the metric system. That may be because I’m really good at conversions. Celsius was weird at first (when I first moved to Canada), but I got the hang of it quickly. Now I’m back to fahrenheit in The Bahamas. Fahrenheit and gallons (of milk) and stuff.
I love that you are in the Bahamas…so jealous! Why were you in Canada?
Hahaha. I went for school. Gonna go back, for sure. If they let me.
The Bahamas is cool to visit. To live though? Meeehhh. Not working out. In a place like this, you end up breathing, but not really living. Know what I mean?
I totally know what you mean. I’ve been to the Nassau once and loved it but yeah, I couldn’t picture living there for good. You should definitely come back!
i am so used to the metric system now, all those useless chem courses made me used to it. its easier to convert the stuff…but not with how us americans measure stuff…it forces me to run to google.
I ALWAYS google. I think I am the most retarded person here because everyone seems to get it.
I really don’t understand the opposition against the metric system, and militairy time. The arguments against either are so… well, silly. The only problems most of you seem to have with the metric system, is: you have to get used to it. After that, there are no real reasons to use anything other than the metric system. 0 degrees Celsius is where water makes the transition from a solid to a liquied; 100 degrees Celsius is where it makes the transition from liquid to gas. (Under standard pressure.) Who of you knows -without looking it up- how 0 F is defined? I’ve heard Americans with a university degree in (a science area!) claim that they prefer F over C “because it is more precise”. Argh!
There’s 100 centimeter in a meter and 1,000 meters in a kilometer. Again, without looking it up: how many feet are there in a mile? Bonus points for answering the question: why is it such a weird number?
I believe that people who refuse to make the transition to the far superior system just because they are to lazy to, are bound to end up atrophied. Kinda like the fat people in floaty chairs Wall-E, and the population of the planet Earth in The Time Machine by H.G. Wells. 😉
That’s cute that you’re so passionate about the Metric system. My blog is basically one big joke but I’m glad I managed to get you so worked up.
Thanks for teaching me how the Metric system works because I was soooo confused!! Good thing I have you around to help me out. Here’s a question for you: Without looking it up, how many annoying people come onto my blog and can’t figure out I’m joking and try to teach me something I already know? Bonus points if you remember to count yourself as one of these people. 😉
No idea, but your blog did seem to be in dire need of an opposing voice.;-) I wouldn’t call myself passionate about the metric system, but I am very interested in finding the first legit argument in favor of NOT adopting it. The closest I got so far, was “I prefer mph over km/h because there are 60 minutes in an hour and I can drive 60mph, so I know that driving x mile on a highway should take at least x minutes.” It’s flimsy, but it’s still far better than other arguments I’ve heard.;-)