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One Born Every Minute - Use of Imperial measurements
Will2911
Posts: 464 Forum Member
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My wife and I watch One Born Every Minute each week and I am starting to get seriously fed up with the programmes use of Imperial Measurements for baby weights.
I don't get why they do it? The NHS routinely uses the Metric system for Babies weights and this means that OBEM are converting the weights themselves to put it in the horrible Imperial system.
I have complained to Channel 4 about this on numerous occasions asking them to at least show the weights in both metric and imperial, however I am continually ignored.
I really get fed up with people clinging to the Imperial system, it is illogical, backwards and very inaccurate. Metric allows for accuracy and is in simple and easy to use units. I think that Channel 4s use of Imperial is encouraging people to stick with this system and anyway is it nor now illegal to provide measurements in only imperial?
I don't get why they do it? The NHS routinely uses the Metric system for Babies weights and this means that OBEM are converting the weights themselves to put it in the horrible Imperial system.
I have complained to Channel 4 about this on numerous occasions asking them to at least show the weights in both metric and imperial, however I am continually ignored.
I really get fed up with people clinging to the Imperial system, it is illogical, backwards and very inaccurate. Metric allows for accuracy and is in simple and easy to use units. I think that Channel 4s use of Imperial is encouraging people to stick with this system and anyway is it nor now illegal to provide measurements in only imperial?
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I totally agree about using metric from a scientific point of view. And I always use metric in weights and measures for food etc but there is something I like about using imperial for heights and weights. For some reason it's feels easier to visualise. For example it's easier to understand the difference when people describe a 5ft or a 6ft person, metres is harder to picture. I feel the same about baby weights, you can sort of imagine what a 5, 6 or 7lb baby would look like but in kgs I wouldn't have a clue without converting it to pounds.
Nothing wrong with imperial where necessary, as surely in baby weights it is, I've never heard anyone describe a babies weight in metric terms.
NHS use Metric, just people demand they convert as there seems to be some perverse attachment to Imperial in the UK
Nothing perverse about it, imperial and metric live happily side by side, will you be complaining to the government about the use of imperial distance and speed signs on roads?
Yep, I am a supporter of the UKMA, and believe we should be using kilometres for distance and speed
Can't see it ever happening, certainly not in my, or your lifetime, have you never been in France or Spain or Holland for example? They'll happily sell you a pint of beer
Nearly everyone in the UK will use pounds and ounces for a baby weight. If you told people your baby weighed 3.2kg they'd look at you like you were nuts.
I bet Channel 4 are enthralled each time they receive a complaint from the OP.
I prefer having both, imperial for heights and weight, speed and distance, but metric for most other things.
I was taught both at school (I'm 27, so not that old!). I do hate doing the conversions though, and don't get me started about the American food measuring system of 'cup' a cup to me is something you drink out of, they're all different sizes!!
I assume every American kitchen come with an official "CUP" so everyone knows what it is!
It is a defined amount, not just a random cup of something. I've got a set of 'cups' at home.
Personally, I've never heard of a baby's weight being given in metric (in the UK) - always pounds and ounces - it's a British tradition!
That's because 82 degrees Fahrenheit sounds much hotter than 28 degrees Celcius (it's a bigger number, so it must be hotter ..... )
I believe a "cup" is eight ounces.
I still get the odd customer at my work asking for "ounce of Golden Virginia please" (other rolling tobaccos are available) and I know to give them the 25g pack, but some of my colleagues have no idea how much they want.
It's true, there is no metric equivalent to the imperial foot, but there doesn't need to be.
If television and film studios are measured in metric feet, then they are measured in millimetres, or possibly metres and millimetres.
No .. Not all air traffic control heights throughout the world are measured in thousands of feet. China and Russia are exceptions they use metres.
And most measurements in aviation are measured in metric.
Aircraft weight, fuel weight, runway length, air temperature, air pressure, are all measured in metric. The only exceptions are aircraft height (feet), visibility ( mile and sometimes nautical mile) and most times wind speed (knots).
Metrication doesn't change old traditional names like Mille Miglia and the Livre is 500 g.