[SmellyGeekBoy]

As a younger person who predominantly uses metric - as long as there's a conversion I don't see the issue. Just list both. I'm not sure why the sight of imperial units makes some people irrationally angry.

[melling]

He’s probably referring to the time NASA lost the $125 million spacecraft because teams used different systems.

https://www.wired.com/2010/11/1110mars-climate-observer-repo...

It’s helpful when there’s only one system. In the US, it’s too costly to switch. HN readers are global and we’re technical so there’s no reason not to simply use metric.

[EdwardDiego]

> In the US, it’s too costly to switch.

What is the estimated cost out of curiosity?

[adrianmonk]

I estimate the cost to be 1 unit of national pride.

[melling]

Everything has a cost. NASA estimated their cost was $370 million to switch to metric.

https://www.cnbc.com/2015/06/04/why-the-us-hasnt-fully-adopt...

The cost of switching road signs alone was quite expensive. Exit numbers, for example, are often the mile marker number.

[adrianmonk]

Oh yeah, I'm not saying there's zero monetary cost. I'm saying the blocker isn't affordability.

[Loughla]

Honestly. Communication is about clarity, not about arbitrary 'correctness' in word-choice. Put both so everyone can understand it.

[melling]

95% of the world officially uses metric.

https://www.reddit.com/r/theydidthemath/comments/2cjiau/self...

Do they still teach the metric system in US schools? I learned it over 40 years ago. Metric is the official system for science.

It’s hard to believe that we’re so close but we still have holdouts. It’s not an arbitrary choice at this point.