This board has turned into the private playgroud of a mad scientist. Instead of an intelligent discusion of the merits of Imperial units we are bombarded with abstruse meanderings through the inscrutible depths of mathematics, physics and chemistry.

It is time to go back to basics. BRITISH IS BEST. Let us have no hesitation in stating it loud and clear. We have a mission to accomplish - the retention of what is left of our heritage. Obscurant ravings by one whom I suspect has no real interest in our cause only serves as a distraction fom the main issuses. (I am convinced that he is a German).

Let us then hold our heads high with our nose to the grindstone. Make conributions which reflect the issues confronting the concerns of the average person - Pints, Pounds, Miles. Also social issuses such as the Irish, the Asians, the Welsh, the CE, those not in the CE, the papacy, politics and of course (no, I won't say that).

Be quite clear about this - my nose is out of joint. Most of the time I do not know what people here are on about. Get rid of the clap-trap. Speak plain English.

I feel better now.
Good Day to you all.

<<<It is time to go back to basics. BRITISH IS BEST>>>.

Absolutely. More British scientists contributed to the development of the metric system than those of any other nation.

Lets get rid of these silly old roman measurements/German temperature scale etc

There are some obtuse meanderings here, but if only pro-Imperial statements are allowed, I think the board would be boring. I've always felt that if one's argument can't stand up to a little criticism from the other side, it isn't much of an argument.

Part of the case for a measurement system is its scientific underpinnings and that gets mathematical and scientific. The other part, of course, is how well it meets everyday needs. Obviously, people here hold many opinions about both aspects, but we all learn something from hearing each other out and making our best case for our views.

Once again, I must protest regarding the lack of good behavior on this board.

You have deliberately avoided the main thrust of my post to speciously question a minor point. This is far to common amongst this group.

Firstly, I will answer your trite rejoinder.

<<Andy
Absolutely. More British scientists contributed to the development of the metric system than those of any other nation.>>

True, British scientists are top notch. However, who employs them and who pays their salaries? Few scientists these days can claim to be doing independent research in their specific interest area.

<<Andy
Lets get rid of these silly old roman measurements/German temperature scale etc>>

You provoke me Sir!
Pray tell, why should we replace perfectly good and time tested British measurements with French ones with funny names that are an abomination to the British ear.

Secondly, I reiterate my main point.

There is far too much science on this board. Scientists have had their own way of measuring things for ages and that is OK by me. I must insist however that everyday traditions and conventions should not be tampered with unless consented to by the general populace. The Tories and the pseudo-Labor Party, have a lot to answer for.

I am starting to ramble a bit now, but I give you one minor, but to me a significant change since metric was introduced. Pork Pies do not taste the same. I am not sure why, perhaps the ratio of ingredients has changed because of the difference in measurements. Things just are not the same anymore.

I bid you Good Day.

You Sir appear to be a sycophant of the Teutonic physicist who attempts to overwhelm all others here by the sheer magnitude of his scientific gobbledygook.

Your appeal to sweet reason and balanced argument is a ploy to countenance the continuance of the domination of this board by an autocratic delusional bedlamite.

This is a British site. It should be treated as such. Fair play Sir, Fair play!

Good Day.

You Sir appear to be a sycophant of the Teutonic physicist who attempts to overwhelm all others here by the sheer magnitude of his scientific gobbledygook.

Your appeal to sweet reason and balanced argument is a ploy to countenance the continuance of the domination of this board by an autocratic delusional bedlamite.

This is a British site. It should be treated as such. Fair play Sir, Fair play!

Good Day.

<<<You provoke me Sir!
Pray tell, why should we replace perfectly good and time tested British measurements with French ones with funny names that are an abomination to the British ear.>>>

My point was that metric measurements are not "French" or "foreign" and imperial measurements are not really "British". This is all a myth.

Fahrenheit - now theres a good old British name if ever I heard one!

Imperial measurements have been "time tested" and they are no longer appropriate in the modern world.

To JohnS-MI:

You ignore these luddites! Don't let them keep you from displaying the truth! Britain is metric and will continue to be so!

<<
Pray tell, why should we replace perfectly good and time tested British measurements with French ones with funny names that are an abomination to the British ear.
>>

I could help but notice that the French word for "weight" is "poid", while the German word for field is "Akker". I believe that the words "pound" and "acre" were derived from these two words.

<<To JohnS-MI:

You ignore these luddites! Don't let them keep you from displaying the truth! Britain is metric and will continue to be so!>>

I am actually more concerned with the US progressing on conversion. Since the Brits have stalled out in mid-conversion, I'm hoping there are some lessons to be learned from understanding what went wrong.

Also, as long as they remain incomplete, there is that American competitive spirit that says we could get our act together, come from behind, and beat them and Canada. I must concede to the Australians, however. :)

<<You provoke me Sir!
Pray tell, why should we replace perfectly good and time tested British measurements with French ones with funny names that are an abomination to the British ear.>>

[ugly American] If you just learned to spell "meter", "liter," and say "metric ton," they wouldn't sound so French.[/ugly American]

And it goes without saying that Newton, Watt, Faraday, Kelvin, and even Celsius, don't sound particularly French.

<<<Britain is metric and will continue to be so!>>>

So why all the moaning?

Tell you what - I know a certain pamphlet that you posted here once - something called "A very British Mess". Try reading it again!

LOL!!!!

You're the mess. The industries are fine being 100 % metric.

Thats exactly how it is in your mind.

It's a fine insight.