• zeroConnection@programming.dev
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    9 hours ago

    In an apocalypse, the Imperial system of measurement is easier to reestablish than the metric system

    How would you measure one feet more accurately than one meter without any measurement tool? You might say that you could, but how can you prove that your “feet” measurement is more accurate than my “meter” measurement? Or one kilo vs one pound? You couldn’t. You would have to start with a brand new system either way.

    And establishing a “new metric” system would be much easier, because everything is pretty just multiples of 10.

    • morriscox@lemmy.world
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      8 hours ago

      It’s not meant to be real accurate. It’s meant to “do for now”. There’s a reason that the metric system took so long to come into existence. We have the advantage of hindsight. Any society starting over might not have access to that experience.

      • zeroConnection@programming.dev
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        8 hours ago

        I prefer using bananas to feet though. Both are just as accurate measurement tools.

        Metric would be easier to re-establish exactly because we have hindsight and prior knowledge of it. Everything is basically just multiples of 10, once you establish the base measurement.