I am a 51 year old chap who is very comfortable using metric, in fact, I remember very little about imperial measurements and what I do remember is pretty chaotic. So when I shop for clothes or food or anything else, I use metric. I know that most brits are uncomfortable with metric weights and measurements and I don't knock them for using a system that they understand and are used to. The point is, that respect has to be given to the users of both systems. That is until there is a groundswell of opinion towards metric, if ever.

Can I safely assume that you are not from the UK? (or don't live in the uk).

That's not a confrontational question, by the way....

I'm english and have always lived in england or wales. Its just that the metric system is so much easier, for me at any rate. Lets just say, it has a logic and simplicity.

Hmmm ok, its just that I was confused by these two quotes:

<<in fact, I remember very little about imperial measurements and what I do remember is pretty chaotic.>>

The entire road system is imperial (if you drive on it), so is most of the TV and newspaper output along with a whole host of everyday things. I'd go as far as to say that you'd have to actively avoid imperial all day long if you were trying to make it a memory of the past.

<<So when I shop for clothes or food or anything else, I use metric.>>

A Tesco survey reports that more than 80% use imperial - but it doesn't matter because you can choose either metric or imperial in this case.

Your point on clothes utterly confuses me as I have never ever heard anyone buy clothing in metric (in fact quite a lot of clothing doesn't even have metric on the labelling). I've never heard anyone say that their shirt collar size is 38cm or asked a shop attendant for trousers that were 60cm/64cm in size. I doubt that even ardent metric fans here would ask for it that way for fear of embarrasment.

(and I mean embarrasment because of ensuing confusion with the shop seller rather than being embarrassed about metric per sé).

I'm at odds with the logic of this thread. Very mush so.

re (des): "So when I shop for clothes or food or anything else, I use metric..."


REPLY:

What's your shirt size, des?

44

Chest size?

112

Waist?

84

Hips?

104

Leg length?

82

Shoe size?

44

What size beer do you normally order?

Half-litre

What size milk do you get from the supermarket?

2.272 litres

What size pizza do you usually order?

30.5cm

As far as I know, clothes include metric sizes as well so if someone wants to look at these instead of the more prominent imperial sizes, why shouldn't they? It is no different to you going out of your way to read the small print when buying your fruit and veg (unless you shop at Tesco)

Personally I know my sizes in imperial only - however, its just a number I remember and I don't associate it with any unit. My shirt size 15 I see no differently to my shoe size 8 (whihc correct me if I'm wrong is just a number)

"As far as I know, clothes include metric sizes as well so if someone wants to look at these instead of the more prominent imperial sizes, why shouldn't they?"

I am totally at ease with metric being there with imperial. And it suits some european visitors too especially when they can buy VAT free childrens clothes. I say "some" because the inch sizes do get used in some respect in europe too. It might be to do with easy low numbering.


"to my shoe size 8 (whihc correct me if I'm wrong is just a number)"

Its based upon imperial but I don'tr knwo how exactly.

In europe I think its something like - take your foot length in cm and add 20 to it.

I think its even easier in the US where (I believe) its just your foot length in inches.

Funnily - when I was in a sport shop in florida - My wife wanted a pair of good trainers (they were high quality and low priced). She said 'I'm a UK size 6' and immediately the attendant quoted her US size (with no reference to charts or anything) so there must be an easy tie up there. Either that or a lot of Brits buy trainers from the US.

Steve,

Shoe sizes are still a very confused issue in many countries and NO (not even a metric) standard is univedrsally accepted.

You are correct in referring to UK and US shoe sizes as being related to Imperial measures as each size is 1/3 inch or 1 barleycorn larger than the previous size, but the size numbers in the UK and US are different for the same length shoe.

Europe uses an antiquated French system called the Paris Point of 2/3 cm for each succesive size (yeah thats right 2/3 cm).

For a very good account see http://podiatry.curtin.edu.au/shoo.html very near the end of the page under the heading of "Shoe Size System ".

So does that mean we Brits think in barleycorns when it comes to shoe size? - as apparently buying clothes etc sized in inches means we "think" in inches

From what I've just read (above) I'd think in 1/3rds of an inch.

Since I know inches very well and quite naturally its not rocket science to me to visualise a third of it (without having to call it a name that got evolved out of the imperial system many moons ago).

Hey perhaps the US / UK shoe sizes are like womens dress sizes. ie you jusy knock-off two from the UK size and you get the exact US size. Perhaps there's a similar way of doing it with shoes.

....and having read Ray's link its exactly that.

(wish I'd read it before I posted that now!)

<<<From what I've just read (above) I'd think in 1/3rds of an inch.>>>

But you don't think in any unit, you just know your size - as a number. What the units are, is irrelevant.

This is the same for many things, which are often falsely used as evidence that people think in imperial.

Agreed in circumferential (eg waist size) and shoe-measures its just a number. But for other things its not.

Although I'd be pretty pleased if I lost an inch around my waist and its something tangible I can measure out in my mind or with my thumb and forefinger.

Actually I wouldn't mind losing an inch or two. Christmas has done the usual trick, if you get my meaning.

In general, American shoe sizes are 1/2 size above UK sizes.
http://www.dancesport.uk.com/shoes/conchart.htm

I think Ray was showing (from his link) that it's exactly "1"

Des: "I am a 51 year old chap who is very comfortable using metric, in fact, I remember very little about imperial measurements and what I do remember is pretty chaotic. So when I shop for clothes or food or anything else, I use metric. I know that most brits are uncomfortable with metric weights and measurements and I don't knock them for using a system that they understand and are used to. The point is, that respect has to be given to the users of both systems. That is until there is a groundswell of opinion towards metric, if ever."

Stan: There will be no "groundswell of opinion" unless people learn it, try it and use it. Without a reasonable experience of using metric it is difficult to appreciate its advantages.

To go fully metric in the UK requires leadership, promotion, education and an explanation as to why it's worth doing.

I've learned it, used it etc etc.

I recognise metrics' advantages.

But I will still choose imperial for the majority of applications - not all - but the majority.

You don't need to brainwash an already metrically educated nation - we've all been taught metric since the late 60's. To claim we "forget it all" once we leave the classroom is as crass as saying that we forget French or German or any other language we chose to study at school simply because it's not used in day to day British life. *And* languages are more difficult to learn!

Given the freedom to choose over state sponsored coercion - now THAT'S the way forward.

that link is full of factional inaccuracies.