please use meters

Ryan N wrote: I might be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure the science community as a whole, including aerospace, use primary metric units? Us included...

I'm not using any of my climbing gear to launch myself into space. Maybe the ground, but not space.

Jason Todd wrote:

You bring up a good point. While everyone knows that Neil Armstrong has the moon's first ascent, the next question then begs, what sort of rating do you give it knowing the gravity is only 17 percent of what we have on earth...or do you factor in the difficulty of the approach and call it even?
moon vs metric

Ryan N wrote: I might be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure the science community as a whole, including aerospace, use primary metric units? Us included...

Not always... And it tends to lead to $100 million mistakes as detailed here...

Wikipedia paraphrasing the NASA report wrote:The primary cause of this discrepancy was that one piece of ground software produced results in an "English system" unit, while a second system that used those results expected them to be in metric units.

Cubits are the only true unit of measure that are approved by God. (No feet or meters in the Bible.)

.

meter, meter, rope length units
but the pitch was spec'd in cubits

when he rapp'ed a single line
his math was wrong so broke his spine

or (alternative ending)

used a 50 to rap down
math was wrong so broke his crown.

.

Rather than a silly argument of feet or meters (meteres?), lets switch to something more universal.

Consider the unit of length one Horse, the average length of a thoroughbred horse, which is eight feet. This way, the average rope length is 25 Horses. One could say "brah, I took a whipper that was like, four horses!" This could be further divided in shorter measurements: One Pony is four feet. One Neck is two feet. One Horsehead is a foot. One Horsehair is how close one would come to sending when one punted their project.

Additionally, a similar measurement could be used to consolidate the many, many climbing difficulty grades. According to some very minimal googling I did, the average person can generate one Horsepower if one really tries. Therefore, if the average climber would have to generate one Horsepower on twelve moves on the route, then the route would be 12 Horsepower. Additional Horsepower could be awarded for mandatory Sharma-esque neighing on a given move on the route.

To further extrapolate, and to make this system even more universal, one could also use this system to quantify sandbagging, using the unit of Horse Shit. If a discrepancy of a given Horsepower rating is more than 25% off, then one could say that person is Full of Horse Shit. One Ton of Horse Shit would be 50%.

Those who use this system could be called Horse's Asses. Use appropriately.

I feel strongly both ways!

While most of the rest of the civilized world uses the metric system, I was born in the USA and taught the standard/imperial system. And during the formative years these types of measurements is what was commonly used where I lived. As a result I have a better understanding of the distance (et al) when these systems are used. I actually have to stop and attempt a rude conversion when other systems are used.

Does that mean they are wrong? Absolutely not. Just harder for me to understand. Does that make me stupid? (Yes that was an opening for heckling) Not at all. I just don't readily assimilate metric.

I can even deal with he International System of Units. What a concept, all of man kind using the same measurement systems. Of course I would have to buy all new wrenches, but what the hay, life is change.

But I do try to keep things simple. I do not attempt a 100 foot sport route with a 60 meter rope.

Bill Czajkowski wrote: only an idiot can't figure it out.

In other words, most people cant figure it out. I think that's what the OP is getting at. ;)

Ryan N wrote: I might be mistaken, but I'm pretty sure the science community as a whole, including aerospace, use primary metric units? Us included...

As someone who works for one of the largest aerospace manufacturers in the world, nope. We don't use metric.

For the record, I think that it's silly that we don't, but the fact remains.

-Josh

How come my 60m rope is longer when my fat friends hang off the bottom of it?

After finding out how many guys I work with can't divide a fraction, I think moving to the metric system might be a really good idea. Or at the very least, take the heat off of me as the shop's human calculator.

Was it an African or European Giraffe??

Mathias wrote:After finding out how many guys I work with can't divide a fraction, I think moving to the metric system might be a really good idea. Or at the very least, take the heat off of me as the shop's human calculator.

The guys at your shop know that they have an actual calculator in their pocket that can text and receive phone calls too right?

Mathias wrote:After finding out how many guys I work with can't divide a fraction, I think moving to the metric system might be a really good idea. Or at the very least, take the heat off of me as the shop's human calculator.

I had physics undergrads at UCLA who didn't know how to do fractions:
"So it's about 5 in 8 so that's .625"
"Whoa, how'd you do that?"
"It's a common metal shop fraction, so I have it memorized."
"No, how do you get .625?"
"Um, divide 5 by 8? Try it on you calculator."
"Really? Cool thanks.."
>facepalm<

It's handy to be dual language. I have done a lot of work in mils, and a lot in microns. It takes me a day or so to swap between the two and be fully proficient, but I can carry on a conversation with a machinist (mils, usually), then swap to working on an IC (microns) no problem.

Gunks Jesse wrote:Giraffes. Measure all things in giraffes. "I took a 1 giraffe fall yesterday." "Wow, are you ok?" "Yeah, but my neck is a little sore." "Must've been an adult male giraffe?" "Yep. It was a huge adult male giraffe fall."

Tell me you are referencing this:
what-if.xkcd.com/44/

hikingdrew wrote: I had physics undergrads at UCLA who didn't know how to do fractions: "So it's about 5 in 8 so that's .625" "Whoa, how'd you do that?" "It's a common metal shop fraction, so I have it memorized." "No, how do you get .625?" "Um, divide 5 by 8? Try it on you calculator." "Really? Cool thanks.." >facepalm<

That is simply horrifying. Fractions are probably the most complicated mathematical concept that everyone should know.

During the final days of graduate school (in physics) I overheard a class. The instructor said "see if you can figure this one out: one half times one fourth". This was, apparently, going to be on their final. In college.

I still, almost reflexively, convert decimals to fractions because the math is easier to do in my head that way.

Giraffes, best idea yet?

I vote to nominate giraffes as at least a consideration if this does go to vote.

You guys are hilarious. :)

Makes sense.

Until England starts driving on the correct side of the road, I don't want to hear anything.