http://www.metricsucks.com/cgi-bin/webbbs/webbbs_config.pl?read=16423
Another supporter-October 14 2003 at 11:16 AM
I took that post from the BWMA site to show how imperialists argue! Facts
are never spoiling their presumptions. A glance at UK and US history shows
that measurements good or bad were always enforced by law and their ease of
use was dictated by horse and buggy requirements in those days.
This is what a new contributor to BWMA has to say:
Hello everyone,I've been browsing this forum for a few weeks now and decided
it was time to join in. I guess that supporting either side of this debate
is going to result in instant friends and enemies, but that can't be helped!
I support the continued use of Imperial/U.S. customary units, and these are
the measurements that I use for everyday purposes. I use metric measurements
in some scientific work, where appropriate. Although we need standardized
units in some areas for safety, I believe that the government has no
business telling people what measurements they must use for a private
transaction. If I want to offer something for sale by the foot, pound,
meter, or kilogram, that is my choice, and my right. If someone decides not
to buy from me because he doesn't understand the units I am using, that is
his choice. The only official sanctions should be those to prevent fraud by
short measures.
In answer:
Your introduction puzzles me? Why should adherence to a particular measuring
system turn you into a friend, or foe? That seems to be an indication that
your preference for imperial is not logic, but emotion based. Enmity usually
occurs when people's emotions cloud undisputed facts.
May I elaborate? You believe that governments have no business regulating
measurements. You are absolutely right, since your emphasis is on "private"
transaction". That laissez-faire attitude changes when trade takes place in
the public domain and only legally accepted units are recognised.
Governments always reserved the right to regulate measurements and units
used. Prior to Britain going metric it was illegal to use metric
measurements. Today pints, miles and troy ounces are still legal and cannot
be substituted with metric units without an act of parliament.
Who decreed that US gallons are illegal in Canada and vice-versa? In the
past Britain suffered like France nominally identical units with different
values. Over time some were streamlined to represent identical values and
others declared illegal. According to official history only parliamentary
decrees could and can change measurements units. Once signed into law people
have no choice but to accept them.
Now, should you have proof that no legal coercion occurred and people
streamlined units voluntarily Nation wide in Britain and America, you win
that argument. Failing that, you are wrong and compulsion always existed.
Never mind who wins on facts presented; either party should accept it
gracefully. Supporting my argument are some excerpts taken from:
"A History of Measurement and Metrics", no author given.
In the Thirteenth Century, King Edward I of England took a step forward.
He -{ordered)- a permanent measuring stick made of iron to serve as a master
standard yardstick for the entire kingdom. He also -(decreed)- that the foot
measure should be one-third the length of the yard, and the inch one
thirty-sixth. King Edward II, in 1324, reverted back to the seed concept of
the ancients and passed a -(statute)- (law) that "three barleycorns, round
and dry," make an inch.. In 1824, the English Parliament (legalized) a new
standard yard which had been made in 1760.
So what is it to be? And please don't make the mistake and say, but people
liked their measurements! If this is your argument how come all nations,
including Britain, had such a hodgepodge of nominally identical, but value
wise incredibly different units?
To prevent the BWMA from repeating the lie that this did not happen in
Britain, let me tell you it did, and it can be proven!
Another supporter-October 14 2003 at 11:16 AM
I took that post from the BWMA site to show how imperialists argue! Facts
are never spoiling their presumptions. A glance at UK and US history showes
that measurements good or bad were always enforced by law and their ease of
use was dictated by horse and buggy requirements in those days.
This is what a new contributor to BWMA has to say:
Hello everyone,I've been browsing this forum for a few weeks now and decided
it was time to join in. I guess that supporting either side of this debate
is going to result in instant friends and enemies, but that can't be helped!
I support the continued use of Imperial/U.S. customary units, and these are
the measurements that I use for everyday purposes. I use metric measurements
in some scientific work, where appropriate. Although we need standardized
units in some areas for safety, I believe that the government has no
business telling people what measurements they must use for a private
transaction. If I want to offer something for sale by the foot, pound,
meter, or kilogram, that is my choice, and my right. If someone decides not
to buy from me because he doesn't understand the units I am using, that is
his choice. The only official sanctions should be those to prevent fraud by
short measures.
In answer:
Your introduction puzzles me? Why should adherence to a particular measuring
system turn you into a friend, or foe? That seems to be an indication that
your preference for imperial is not logic, but emotion based. Enmity usually
occurs when people's emotions cloud undisputed facts.
May I elaborate? You believe that governments have no business regulating
measurements. You are absolutely right, since your emphasis is on "private"
transaction". That laissez-faire attitude changes when trade takes place in
the public domain and only legally accepted units are recognised.
Governments always reserved the right to regulate measurements and units
used. Prior to Britain going metric it was illegal to use metric
measurements. Today pints, miles and troy ounces are still legal and cannot
be substituted with metric units without an act of parliament.
Who decreed that US gallons are illegal in Canada and vice-versa? In the
past Britain suffered like France nominally identical units with different
values. Over time some were streamlined to represent identical values and
others declared illegal. According to official history only parliamentary
decrees could and can change measurements units. Once signed into law people
have no choice but to accept them.
Now, should you have proof that no legal coercion occurred and people
streamlined units voluntarily Nation wide in Britain and America, you win
that argument. Failing that, you are wrong and compulsion always existed.
Never mind who wins on facts presented; either party should accept it
gracefully. Supporting my argument are some excerpts taken from:
"A History of Measurement and Metrics", no author given.
In the Thirteenth Century, King Edward I of England took a step forward.
He -{ordered)- a permanent measuring stick made of iron to serve as a master
standard yardstick for the entire kingdom. He also -(decreed)- that the foot
measure should be one-third the length of the yard, and the inch one
thirty-sixth. King Edward II, in 1324, reverted back to the seed concept of
the ancients and passed a -(statute)- (law) that "three barleycorns, round
and dry," make an inch.. In 1824, the English Parliament (legalized) a new
standard yard which had been made in 1760.
So what is it to be? And please don't make the mistake and say, but people
liked their measurements! If this is your argument how come all nations,
including Britain, had such a hodgepodge of nominally identical, but value
wise incredibly different units?
To prevent the BWMA from repeating the lie that this did not happen in
Britain, let me tell you it did, and it can be proven!
