The rest of the world wonders why the United States still uses their old system of measurement which has a more complicated scale than using the metric system, employing a more standard and uniform scale of measurement. The British implemented the imperial system in America when they invaded but after America gained independence, why didn't they change after the metric system was created. Well, part of it is because of the history between the Americans and the French, who created the metric system. Despite that though, the US seriously tried converting to the metric system but the reason why they still aren't using it as the standard measurement is pretty simple.
Switching to metric is, in a sense, like switching to another language. If you’re not American, picture this: how would you feel if your government enacted a new rule that forced you to switch to the imperial system? Yes, the metric is simpler and uses fewer units, but rational reasons aside, you’d be furious simply because you’d have to change the frame of reference you’ve been using to all your life. The UK switched to metric in 1965, and this happened only because the industry forced it. UK companies were simply having too much a hard time trading with European countries. Even 50 years later, many Britons still refuse to move entirely to metric. Distances are still measured in miles, yards and inches, weight in pounds and stones; liquids in pints and gallons.
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The thing is, most US trades people (unless residential construction) are already fluent in metric and sae, and I'm guessing use metric for the majority of their work. How many vehicles, which are sent the world over, would use imperial size fasteners? I'd guess that mechanics are only breaking out the sae for older vehicles.
The fact that it was introduced in the US, but done so poorly from an education level upwards.... and then just given up on is crazy. USA, Liberia, and Myanmar (Burma). And Myanmar, they've only not officially switched to metric. Fluids are mostly sold in litres. New speed limit signs have been posted in km/h for almost a decade.. etc, etc. Government publications contain a lot of metric.
Since Canaderp is officially metric, but obviously our largest trading partner is the US, plus the fact that we simply have residual imperial practices floating about similar to the UK, we can basically switch from one to the other without issue. And agreed that one isn't better than the other, though metric is obviously very much simpler in regards to math since it's base 10... it just would be nice and easy to have a universal standard. That would be like being unilingual.
The really annoying thing is that most of the world seems to kind of know approximate values to convert metric to imperial, so when we're talking to Americans (and Liberians I guess) they'll understand the reference. Meters to feet, celcius to farenheit.. etc. Can do quick approximately accurate conversions on the fly. I have never mentioned celcius in conversation with an american however and had them understand. Not even have the slightest idea of the general conversion, as if I had stated a temp in kelvins. Watch some YouTube channels that are non-american and comments will be "what's that in normal temperature?".
Apologies. That was not meant to be a bashing of Americans (and I've really stereotyped here, where obviously there are many Americans who are fluent in metric). Your governments for the past 50+ years are to blame. The world is getting smaller, and borders mean less and less (well, not the southern US one apparently) as we deal with, trade, watch, and interact with people the world over on a daily basis. That's a statement that has become more true every decade for many, many moons, far before the internet. The rest of the world speaks English (I mean this as: English is generally accepted as the standard international language), so you're set on that front in the global communications line in not having to learn, but please, get your shit together and at least learn the basics of metric! It's aboot time.
Angry responses start..... now:
So no "Metric Martyrs" in the USA, they have the liberty to describe distances in "smoots" and speeds in "furlongs per fortnight" if they choose to do so.
Also the need to standardize for commerce (and calculating tarriffs!) that existed between pre-metric European states doesn't exist so urgently because of the vast size of the US market with its pre-existing standard of measurement already settled.
I find any efforts to describe a country's traditional units as "arbitrary" and SI units as "scientific" as pretty amusing. In many cases it is a Chesterton's fence issue - for example the Fahrenheit scale has a unit size that is equivalent to the "just noticeable difference" in temperature of the average human and the range of 0°F to 100°F is adequate to describe outdoor temperature in all but the most extreme weather in populous places. There is often a lot of cultural knowledge and utility buried in tradition.