Hi, I think in metric units, so almost everything is some form of a power of 10, like a kilogram is a 1000 grams, etc.

Sometimes I will think of an hour and half as 150 minutes before remembering that it is 90 minutes.

Does something similar happen to imperial units users? Because as far as I understand you don’t have obvious patterns that would cause you to make these mistakes, right?

  • SolidGrue@lemmy.world
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    8 months ago

    Except there are repeatable patterns within each Imperial dimension, but by all means continue deci-splaining your superior units to us. (I happen to be ambi-systemic BTW, so it’s whatever)

    Imperial works on base 2 nominally ¹, because most units double or quadruple into other units.

    • 2 cups to a pint, 2 pints to a quart, 4 quarts (16 cups) to a gallon
    • 16 drams to the ounce, 16 ounces to the pound, 2000 pounds to the ton
    • 4 teaspoon to the tablespoon, 16 tablespoons to the cup, see also cups to gallons

    Yeah, we have other, less common measures but those don’t matter. An inch is about a thumb’s width, and 12 of those is a foot, which is about the length of one’s foot. When you do actual work on actual farms instead of being all European and just exploit your colonists, these are useful ratios².

    But really, don’t be a gatekeeper about units. It doesn’t materially affect your life³.

    1. Except where it doesn’t.
    2. Not really, just being incendiary for the comedy
    3. Not comedy. Just get over it.
    • adam_y@lemmy.world
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      8 months ago

      As a scientist I’m SI/metric all the way, but I sort of agree. If it works for you that’s good enough.

      Measurement is essentially perception of reality… And the accuracy of reality is dependent upon circumstance.

      If you need cubits to build a pyramid, and that pyramid is still standing, well, good for you.

      • adam_y@lemmy.world
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        8 months ago

        As for the European thing. Being British we measure distance in metres but hight in feet. We measure weight by grams except our own which is often stone and pounds. We drive miles per hour too.

        There’s still a ton of discrepancy when it comes to purchasing drugs too.

        • SolidGrue@lemmy.world
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          8 months ago

          You guys did Brexit and renounced your Europeen. Kinda like being circumcised which, eh, you do you.

          Viva L’impériale, hey? Keep that sun a’shining

            • adam_y@lemmy.world
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              8 months ago

              I mean, at least until the folk on the east coast row harder and we can drift into the Atlantic a bit more. Still have to navigate around Ireland, but I’ve a feeling they’ll scooch over and let us pass.