• jungle@lemmy.world
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    10 months ago

    There’s several different types of miles: nautical, statute, scandinavian, irish, etc. Which makes using the imperial system all the more stupid.

    • lugal@lemmy.ml
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      10 months ago

      True but there are also many different types of meters: kilometers, centimeters, millimeters, thermometers, barometers, … face it: the metric system isn’t better

        • lugal@lemmy.ml
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          10 months ago

          Tbf most commenters got the joke, even if the upvote/downvote ratio doesn’t show it

      • pacology@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        You are right. But the metric system is intuitive. 12 millimeters = 1 centimeter, 3 centimeter = 1 meter, 100 meter is a football pitch, and 1760 meters are a kilometer (I had to google this one because I never know. The designers really missed out at using 1776 meters in a kilometer).

        /s

      • adj16@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        This is a good and funny comment. Sorry the people voting are too thick to get it

      • owsei@lemmy.world
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        10 months ago

        kilo is a common prefix meaning *1000

        milli is /1000

        and you can use them for several units

        it’s not like we use “irish” to mean *1.27

        • lugal@lemmy.ml
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          10 months ago

          Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t Irish Coffee exactly 1.27 coffees?

          • Dave@lemmy.nz
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            10 months ago

            When I make an Irish coffee, that’s definetly not what makes it Irish. Though by coincidence it does end up 1.27 times the size of a regular one, on account of the additives.

          • Tanoh@lemmy.world
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            10 months ago

            No, “irish coffee” is coffee with alcohol in it. At least where I am from.

          • owsei@lemmy.world
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            10 months ago

            it may be

            but the usability is about being common

            if everyone (or almost everyone) used it, it would be useful

            tho, I still like metric better because it matches our base

            but if ppl around you use irish to mean *1.27, go for it

      • Troy
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        10 months ago

        No. A metre is always a metre. The prefixes are standardizex.

        • lugal@lemmy.ml
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          10 months ago

          Still: the difference between a kilometer and a centimeter is much bigger than the difference between a nautical mile and an Irish mile. And not even all meters are standardized. Thermometers and barometers vary hugely in size

          • Troy
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            10 months ago

            Ah, you must live in the US. Because in the rest of the English speaking world, a metre is a unit of length, and a meter is a measuring device. Note the difference in spelling. ;)

            Not that it makes a tonne of difference.

            • lugal@lemmy.ml
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              10 months ago

              Jokes on you: I live outside the English speaking world. Checkmate atheist

        • lugal@lemmy.ml
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          9 months ago

          I see your point but my ratio is much better than it was before. I guess some people are able to read my comments 2 level lower (like this one)