On 2004 Jun 7 , at 10:27 AM, Paul Trusten, R.Ph. wrote:
... metrication (should) be applied rationally, without interfering with certain customs that have little to do with trade.
If "applied rationally" and "without interfering with certain customs" means we should allow every little minor sector of society continue to is a special set of non-SI measuring units, then I would have to disagree. That's how Ye Olde English system got to be the mess it is.
I will agree that the word "allow" in my statement above can be applied many ways. No, I do not think we should send in the measurement police to arrest people if the use "hands" to measure horses or "pounds" to measure horse meat in private conversation. But I do believe that all sectors of society should be encouraged to use SI for all their measurement processes, and they surely should be required to provide information in SI in all legal documents and proceedings.
I certainly do not think it is wise to give in to those who would use "custom" or "tradition" or "familiarity" or "convenience" (which is usually just a euphemism for familiarity) as an excuse to continue using and promoting old fashioned special units. At the very least, that practice should be officially frowned upon and officially discouraged. It is not "applying metrication rationally" to do anything less.
Regards,
Bill Hooper
Fernandina Beach, Florida, USA
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Make it simple; Make it Metric
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