Re: HDTV Flat Panels: bad systems of measure

Christian Weisgerber (naddy@mips.rhein-neckar.de)
8 Nov 1998 15:26:49 +0100

In article <3644E87B.3A398AAA@ibm.net>,
Spike Jones <extropians@extropy.com> wrote:

> dan im suggesting the elimination of english measurements.

Are they still in use anywhere?
Oh, that third world country, I forgot.

> perhaps english measures will be one of those memes, like taliban and
> other oppressive religious systems, that must gradually wear out
> instead of being violently overthrown.

Yes.

There's a simple way to further this process. Don't use English units. If somebody tells you measurements in those units, put up resistance. If you give measurements to somebody, use metric/SI units and push against (and maybe past) their resistance. In the early stages, compromising is fine.

I could waste resources arguing with people that it is a bad idea to write today's date as 08.11.98, 08/11/98, or 11/08/98. Or I can simply go ahead and use 1998-11-08.
"What's that peculiar way you write the date?" "It's the ISO world standard, it's international, logical, and it's not ambiguous since there is no competing notation that reverses month and day."
"Oh."
Idea planted. Repetition will re-inforce it. 

-- 
Christian "naddy" Weisgerber                  naddy@mips.rhein-neckar.de
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