Anyone here listen to Radio 1 in the mornings?

I think Bryan would fall into their target audience, but as a student he would still have been asleep.

Anyway, this morning Chris Moyles and his assistant Comedy Dave were having some kind of silly argument about who was taller.

One of them had measureed himslef at 69.5 inches and four of them in the studio spent the next 20mins arguing about how to convert that to feet and inches - which as we all know is how people refer to their height in Britain. Moyles got a calculator and did 69.5/12 to get 5.79 but insisted that he was taller than 5ft 8.

One of them sussed it eventually, but isn't that an interesting example of FOUR average mid-twenties Brits (I would suggest people of above average intelligence) struggling to do the most basic calculation using imperial?

I was waiting for one of them to say 'wouldn't it be much easier if we used metric' but no-one did.

No one did because - as you almost covered yourself - no-one really cares that much (or, infact, use metric).

BTW - I wouldn't put Chris moyles up there with the UK's most brainy people.

Although I admit I do like the "catchphrase" feature, which comes on at about 9.45am (or 09:45 in metrispeak!).

As it happens my girlfriend quite likes Moyles. I, however, as you astutely mentioned Andy, was and always will be firmly abed before noon. Anyway, in the real world I have never actually come across a single person who had a problem working in inches alone, feet and inches, or converting one to the other- maybe my circles are just brainer.. but then given these types on the show were office types and most of my acquaintences and colleague are pretty working-class... well, I am not going to be classist here (I am a uni student), but being from a working class area, and growing up working class, I can tell you the idiocy of white-collar types sometiems is stupendous. Well, Moyles is a northerner I gather, so who knows... I dunno, just my tuppence worth.

<<As it happens my girlfriend quite likes Moyles. >>

Don't get me wrong - he's still quite good. Just not the brightest person in the world ;-)

One concern though.

He is strating to turn into a Chris Evans.

ie. if he's not careful he'll turn into a right wa...

(I'll stop there)

Steve said:
"if he's not careful he'll turn into a right wa..."

Wales Supporter???

:-) :-) :-)

<<<I wouldn't put Chris moyles up there with the UK's most brainy people.>>>

If imperial measurement was understood by younger generations, it wouldn't take a brainy person to work out soemthing like that!

There were four of them I think in the studio, only one of them worked it out (after 20mins).

I don't think the BBC employs complete muppets

Maybe you missed my clssist rant, Andy :) I seem to find that folks who sit behind computers in offices all day seem to flap about when it comes to simple mental arithmetic.

No I didn't miss your classist rant;-) Looks like you got away with the comment about northerners must be none on this board - don't think they have t'internet up there yet

I think you're clutching at straws anyway - when four 20's/30's people are confused by something as basic as this, it proves that most younger people simply do not understand imperial measuremtns very well. Yes, they know roughly what a foot is, or an inch, but get them to do a calculation or estimate the size of something in imperial and you might find that they aint got a clue

Maybe, maybe. I do have anecdotes myself- loads of anecdotes about teenagers working in inches and feet for practical tasks and understanding perfectly, and loads of tales of teenagers going "wassanounts!?!!". So, I do think it is split. I would suggest that most people know better and prefer Imperial tho'. But this is only one element of the argument, as another is the compulsion that brought this lack of hegemony in the first place.

Andy, If one of the people in the studio said I'm 1.89 metres tall I can more or less garauntee that the unanimous response would be.....

???

Yes you guessed it - I didn't even have to type it.

Works both ways you see.

Maybe, maybe. I do have anecdotes myself- loads of anecdotes about teenagers working in inches and feet for practical tasks and understanding perfectly, and loads of tales of teenagers going "wassanounts!?!!". So, I do think it is split. I would suggest that most people know better and prefer Imperial tho'. But this is only one element of the argument, as another is the compulsion that brought this lack of hegemony in the first place.
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Yes - it is split, but one thing that I don't think can be disputed (although someone no doubt will!) is that the number of people knowing and preferring imperial is decreasing whereas the number of people knowing and preferring metric is increasing.

If we hadn't started to go metric, there would be a good argument for staying imperial, but now we're stuck halfway - unless you believe that the current mish mash is viable as a long-term solution, there seems only one logical direction to move towards.

<<the number of people knowing and preferring imperial is decreasing whereas the number of people knowing and preferring metric is increasing>>

Metric was most popular in the UK in the early 70's

It is now, in opinion polls, very unpopular.

Blame the politicians for that!

LONG LIVE IMPERIAL!

<<<Metric was most popular in the UK in the early 70's>>>

What makes you think that?

Andy, If one of the people in the studio said I'm 1.89 metres tall I can more or less garauntee that the unanimous response would be.....

???

Yes you guessed it - I didn't even have to type it.

Works both ways you see.
-----------------------------------------------------------

Thats my point. We use feet and inches for heights of people, but this is not an indication that most people prefer or understand feet and inches.

If you asked me my height I would give you the answer in feet/inches because to be quite honest I don't know it in metres.

So I guess if some BWMA guy asked me my height as part of a survey I would be down as a "prefers imperial"

I could exercise my freedom of choice and give it in metric, but then I would feel like one of those awkward people who hold up the queue at the deli stubbornly asking for things in pounds and ounces when they know full well that the guy behind the counter weighs it out in grams.

<<<Metric was most popular in the UK in the early 70's>>>

"What makes you think that?"

Opinion polls that you won't agree with or glibly pass away as rubbish or something.


"I could exercise my freedom of choice and give it in metric, but then I would feel like one of those awkward people who hold up the queue at the deli stubbornly asking for things in pounds and ounces when they know full well that the guy behind the counter weighs it out in grams"

Over 80% of people are "awkward".

Apparently.

<<<Opinion polls that you won't agree with or glibly pass away as rubbish or something.>>>

Indeed, some of them would have me down as an imperial supporter.

SteveH wrote

<<
Andy, If one of the people in the studio said I'm 1.89 metres tall I can more or less garauntee that the unanimous response would be.....
>>

... that he over-estimated. Your earlier postings suggest that you are 1.80m tall.

"Yes - it is split, but one thing that I don't think can be disputed (although someone no doubt will!) is that the number of people knowing and preferring imperial is decreasing whereas the number of people knowing and preferring metric is increasing."


Well, that is as you say only becaus of the introduction of metric. Personally, I think we should revert to a situation like in America- primarily Imperial but able to use metric if you please.

<<Indeed, some of them would have me down as an imperial supporter.>>


Predictable.
I suppose anyone who uses the Euro supports the Euro too, then?

<<... that he over-estimated. Your earlier postings suggest that you are 1.80m tall.>>

Martin,
In metric its preferable to leave a space between the amount and the unit - thus "1.80 m".

<<<I suppose anyone who uses the Euro supports the Euro too, then? >>>

Yeah, when we join the euro 100% of the population will be in favour

You appear to be using my argument to blow yours out of the water.

Maybe I should just sit back and watch.

SteveH sits back and daydreams about commentary: "Giggs gets the ball past Beckham - what a superb effort - he kicks deeply from the corner - It Reaches Hartson - WHO CLIPS IT BEAUTIFULLY - THE BALL FLIES PAST [enter chosen England goalkeep] GOOOOAAAAAALLLLL! ONE NIL to WALES! WHO WOULD BELIEVE IT..."

[splutter]

You appear to be using my argument to blow yours out of the water.

Actually I'm using your argument to blow your own out of the water..

The fact that people use feet and inches for height in the UK is often used by the imperial side to show preference for imperial - when in reality we don't make the choice to use imperial, we just follow the norm. Even someone like myself who prefers metric finds himself using imperial for a persons height - just as you are 'forced' to use metric to describe the engine size of your car.

I agree with yout sentiments - I have done all along - buts its not the "be all and end all". Many polls have been quite specific - like "should we complete metrication" etc

You are milking your idea a little too much to suggest all people who "prefer" imperial are those who answer "yes" when asked "Do you know your height in Feet and Inches?".

Are you pro-euro?
If so Mr Blair could do with your help in composing the question for the Euro-referendum when it happens.

(which it won't, if you read a bit into the current affairs regarding the labour party's future or an unlikely tory victory)