Since the launch of 'Metric v. Imperial: The Great Debate', there have been 1,604 postings. This compares with 868 so far under 'Metric Transport Signs'.

A preliminary analysis of those posts reveals the following:

The 'pro-Imperials' rely on two key arguments:

1. The Imperial system is more familiar and human

2. The Imperial system is more popular and we should therefore keep it if that's what people want

The 'pro-metrics' rely on two key arguments:

1. Metric is simpler

2. Metric is becoming universal and it's therefore sensible to adopt it.

Very few postings outline arguments for either system that can't be placed under these headings.

The 'pro-Imperials' are generally in favour of freedom of choice.

The 'pro-metrics' are generally in favour of compulsion.

The 'pro-metrics' resort to abuse of their opponents to a significantly greater extent than 'pro-Imperials' (in terms of numbers and degree of abusive nouns or adjectives used).

T Bennett

Abuse is in the eye of the beholder.

T Bennet & pals have used steroeotyping, demonisation, assumptions. They have employed poor logic & have poor reasoning. They have been selective and partisan. They have used cliches as insults. I could go on.

Mt Bennet's "analysis" is an example of many of these.

They are great on motes in others eyes yet blind to the planks in theirs.

There is another difference: metrical people say using non-metric "harms children" as it conflicts with what they were taught at school.

BWMA says that it is the government's responsibility to teach in schools the units of measure that people use outside of it.

"the" or "some"?

Do you meant "the" in front of "units of measure". Yes, we mean "the".

There's another difference a statistical analysis would probably confirm: the "pro-metrics" are more likely to remain anonymous; the "pro-imperials" (or "pro-choice" as I'd prefer to put it) are more likely to give their real or full names.

Well, there's a good reason for that: You are organized, we are not, so you have to/want to put names to the things you do. Apart from that, I for myself don't consider the metric system endangered by any means in the UK, the forces and supporters for it are just too strong and numerous.

Ralf

"The2 or "some" pro-metric people. Or are you happy generalising.

Nice bit of self-righteousness Tony, by the way.

QUOTE: "The or "some" pro-metric people. Or are you happy generalising".

What do you mean? Rephrase the question. Explain the point you are trying to make.

Tony Bennet is attemting to stereotype people on either side of the debate.

There is plenty of evidence that Tony Bennett himself is not in favour of freedom of choice. He is blatantly anti-metric. He tells us that the metric system should be rejected because it was invented by nasty French revolutionaries. He calls upon fellow Christians to do the same.

His remarks are motivated by the same biased thinking.

Here are some of the full names used by the anti-metric people:

ARM

BWMA

Polly Peck

Firkin

RL

Council of ARM

Wun Ton, Mile High, Pole, Ellie, Yardstick,
Hundredweight, Q and Furlong

ARM Inspector

Active Service Unit

A Doctor

Yardstick

Inchesrule

Miss Metric Martyr


Well, Mr Bennett

Been trying to make the facts fit another of your dubious theories again, haven't you?

Hello anonymous author of "The real names"
who used to sign himself APP. I think APP
is a very apt name and you should go back
to using it to make replying convenient.

It is circumlocutie to have to say " anonymous
author of 'The real names'" when one knows
it is just old APP anyway.

Any distinctive identifier would do I guess
but just for sentimental reasons why not go
back to APP?

I lament the passing of APP. His lyrical command of the English language was a joy to behold and will be sorely missed. We never actually discovered what he did for a living - he claimed once to be something in communications, but I fear the line has since gone dead. To judge from his reliance on one authority in the field of political ideas, Popper, he may once have been a sociology student at a New University. Possibly the last surviving example. Be that as it may, I shall miss that characteristic signature of lofty censoriousness and self righteousness indignation coupled with an infinitely complacent smugness concealed beneath layers of opaque jargon. I fear he never recovered from the shock of discovering that there actually exist people with the temerity to harbour views at variance with his own.

I miss APP, then, becuase he encapsulated the prejudices of metricators and modernisers everywhere.

Keep it up Gordon - you'll convince yourself, if no-one else.

Anyway, apart from your usual mix of make-believe and barely concealed ignorance, it's good to see you back. Odd though it may seem, I feel we have more in common that you will allow yourself to believe and it's good to debate with you. You bring a definate touch of class to the dreary halls of the BWMA.