this post was submitted on 26 Dec 2024
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Anything But Metric

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Americans will use anything but metric

The Rules:

  1. Posts must be a screenshot, crosspost, or link to someone using a bizarre unit of measurement (33 lanes wide, as heavy as 10 semi-trucks, etc.)

  2. Standard units are not allowed, unless it's a sufficiently bizarre usage of the unit (this is up to mod discretion.)

  3. Intentionally terrible units are completely fine! Satire is welcome here

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[–] jbk@discuss.tchncs.de 5 points 18 hours ago (1 children)

honestly better for the average joe

[–] Senseless 9 points 23 hours ago* (last edited 23 hours ago) (1 children)

I didn't even know blue whales contain that much electronics. 🀯

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 3 points 17 hours ago

Well they are filter feeders.

[–] tpihkal@lemmy.world 4 points 20 hours ago

Give or take a pickup truck.

[–] rhythmisaprancer@moist.catsweat.com 6 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Do newspapers in non-US countries do this stuff? How are these comparisons helpful πŸ˜‚ Nope, I have no experience with a pound/kg/stone but now whales, yes, that really helps πŸ™ƒ

[–] prettybunnys@sh.itjust.works 18 points 1 day ago (3 children)

People understand units of measure.

A kilogram or a pound have no real tangible comparison to real world things unless you yourself make the comparison.

It’s fun to equate two things, here they’ve taken things people understand as β€œhuge” and compare them using actual measurements to draw that comparison.

It’s fun.

I hope this helps.

[–] labsin@sh.itjust.works 1 points 20 hours ago (2 children)

A kilogram or a pound have no real tangible comparison to real world things unless you yourself make the comparison

A kilogram is a 1l bottle of water. A ton a 1m3 cube of water or a car. 10 ton a truck.

Anything bigger is just unimaginable ^^

[–] neo2478@sh.itjust.works 2 points 18 hours ago

Anything bigger is your mom

[–] prettybunnys@sh.itjust.works 1 points 20 hours ago

unless you yourself make this comparison

[–] lunarul@lemmy.world 1 points 21 hours ago

On the other hand, I can pretty much estimate by hand that something weighs around 1kg from experience, but I've never actually seen a blue wale in real life or have a real understanding of its weight.

That's a good point. I tend to see the comparisons as comedy, like a car as big as a whale, but maybe I need to get off the scales and into the books πŸ˜…

[–] infectoid@lemmy.world 6 points 1 day ago (2 children)

I only understand Rhode Island’s.

[–] the_crotch@sh.itjust.works 1 points 20 hours ago

Just Rhode Island or the entire Commonwealth of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations?

[–] Stalinwolf@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 day ago (1 children)

We talking standard Rhode Islands, or Olympic-size swimming pool Rhode Islands?

International Competition Standards Rhode Island is the preferred measure

[–] echodot@feddit.uk 1 points 17 hours ago

Something something metric something something.