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DetlefK

(16,423 posts)
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 04:34 AM Jun 2019

Tucker Carlson: "The metric system is a globalist plot."

Last edited Thu Jun 6, 2019, 11:40 AM - Edit history (1)

https://www.rawstory.com/2019/06/tucker-carlson-the-metric-system-is-a-creepy-new-world-order-plot/

“Almost every nation on Earth has fallen to tyranny: the metric system,” said Carlson. “From Beijing to Buenos Aires, from Lusaka to London, the people of the world have been forced to measure their environment in millimeters and kilograms. The United States is the only country that is resisted, but we have no reason to be ashamed for using feet and pounds.”

...

But according to Carlson’s guest, self-proclaimed “anti-metrite” James Pinero, the metric system should be feared because it is “the original system of global revolution and new world orders.”

“Esperanto died, but the metric system continues, this weird, utopian, inelegant, creepy system that we alone have resisted,” said Carlson. “How long can we hold out against it, would you say?”

...

Pinero further noted that “all customary measures use man and his labor as the basis of the measurement. What is an acre? It is the land that an ox and can till in one day. 5,000 paces, a pace of 5,000 feet each. A meter is what? The globe that is not even accurate.” He added that the use of base ten in the metric system “is what remains of the radicalism … not great for measuring things in the real world. There is a reason why the measurement system has 12, eights and 60s. It comes from ancient knowledge, from the Romans, from the Babylonians.”


1.
The meter is not defined by Earth. It used to be defined by the length of an arbitrarily made rod whose length in turn was chosen based on the calculated circumference of Earth. Nowadays it is defined by light-speed and a quantum-mechanical parameter of the Caesium-atom.
If we want to explain to aliens what a meter is, we can simply say: "Well, do you have photons and a Caesium-atom?"
How would you explain to an alien what a foot or a mile is?

2.
Unelegant?
If you have a volume that is (((1 inch * 1 foot) + 1 acre) * (1 mile + 1 pace)) + 1 gallon, then how many pounds of water is that?

3.
Yes, there is a reason why ancient middle-eastern cultures prefered numbers like 4, 7, 12, 60... The reasons are numerology and astrology.
Why do we have 7 days in a week? Because a human can see 7 "planets" with the naked eye from Earth: Sol, Luna, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn.
Why do we have 360° in a full circle? Because egyptian astrologers divided the horizon into 36 segments (look up "horoscopes" ) and then divided each segment in 10.







For f**k's sake. A self-declared expert on metrics and doesn't know basic stuff about metrics.
46 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Tucker Carlson: "The metric system is a globalist plot." (Original Post) DetlefK Jun 2019 OP
Just a small correction about the history of the meter. LastLiberal in PalmSprings Jun 2019 #1
The kilogram (also officially kept in Paris) was recently changed. underpants Jun 2019 #3
The bar has been retired along with the Voltaire2 Jun 2019 #6
Another neat factoid... GetRidOfThem Jun 2019 #17
i never understood why the simplicity of the math didnt endear it to mopinko Jun 2019 #29
because it's always been taught by converting it to english/american instead of just using it. bbrady42 Jun 2019 #37
yeah, i got used to it in science classes, and mopinko Jun 2019 #38
Eh.......... BruceWane Jun 2019 #34
Fear the others underpants Jun 2019 #2
Don't let him know our non metric Voltaire2 Jun 2019 #4
Is he really a moron, or does he just play one on television? Tanuki Jun 2019 #5
Award winning performance BruceWane Jun 2019 #35
I prefer Fahrenheit, inches, and miles Blues Heron Jun 2019 #7
Tucky Boy needs to go back to his republican frat house Achilleaze Jun 2019 #8
Let's abolish decimals and stick to fractions RedParrot Jun 2019 #9
LOL. Can't believe this is not a parody. DanTex Jun 2019 #10
Next: Fox morons demand abolition of Arabic numerals and return to Roman numerals ??? mart48 Jun 2019 #11
Yes! And dump "zero" in the trash can, where it belongs. When Jesus NCjack Jun 2019 #23
President Thomas Jefferson wanted to adopt metric system SMoss Jun 2019 #12
Chuck Grassley - Enemy of the Meter!!! Ramsey Barner Jun 2019 #13
The rantings of a lunatic. yardwork Jun 2019 #14
Tucker needs help.. infinite_wisdom Jun 2019 #18
reality started to fall apart on jimmy carter. mopinko Jun 2019 #30
Has he uncovered the Arab plot on the numeric system too? Historic NY Jun 2019 #15
On one hand they invented Al-Gebra. On the other hand they invented Al-Cohol. DetlefK Jun 2019 #24
Message auto-removed Name removed Jun 2019 #16
don't tell him where our alphabet comes from either...or maybe do joe_stampingbull Jun 2019 #19
How come Fucker Carlson doesn't complain that time is measured by an atomic clock instead of manual? TheBlackAdder Jun 2019 #20
I think I'll pray for the first time in decades. LastDemocratInSC Jun 2019 #21
This is for the morons who watch Fox Botany Jun 2019 #22
He sounds like Jonah Ryan in Veep mcar Jun 2019 #25
Is he getting paid to make Repubs all seem like unhinged nutjobs? Turin_C3PO Jun 2019 #26
Nope zipplewrath Jun 2019 #27
Tucker Carlson is in desperate need of new material. Hope he doesn't find any. Paladin Jun 2019 #28
I think Carlson's area of expertise doesn't extend far beyond clip-on bow ties. DFW Jun 2019 #31
Another arcane statement from one of faux news best cretins Thekaspervote Jun 2019 #32
He, like 45 and all the other conservative profiteers are just getting of fucking with "the base" Cosmocat Jun 2019 #33
So are time zones, GPS coordinates, and uniform air traffic control CanonRay Jun 2019 #36
In medieval times people fear Arabic numbers and thought they were a satanic plot Johonny Jun 2019 #39
Shouldn't we still be using cubits? keithbvadu2 Jun 2019 #40
Only to build arks. Ramsey Barner Jun 2019 #45
Holy crap! Baitball Blogger Jun 2019 #41
Just when you think they can't possibly get any dumber... Initech Jun 2019 #42
We adopted the metric system in Canada... robbob Jun 2019 #43
I thought this was the onion. Mosby Jun 2019 #44
Tucker feels safe in his little fiefdumb Blue Owl Jun 2019 #46
1. Just a small correction about the history of the meter.
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 05:52 AM
Jun 2019

The French originated the meter in the 1790s as one/ten-millionth of the distance from the equator to the north pole along a meridian through Paris. It is realistically represented by the distance between two marks on an iron bar kept in Paris. source

Voltaire2

(12,626 posts)
6. The bar has been retired along with the
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 06:07 AM
Jun 2019

recent retirement of the physical kg. Both have been replaced with reproducible physical definitions. The kg is now defined using meters, seconds, and the Planck constant. The meter is defined by the distance traveled by a photon in a vacuum.

GetRidOfThem

(869 posts)
17. Another neat factoid...
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 07:34 AM
Jun 2019

The weight of one square meter of water is exactly one ton, which is 1,000 kilograms... It (the metric system) is a neat and comprehensive system...

bbrady42

(173 posts)
37. because it's always been taught by converting it to english/american instead of just using it.
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 10:11 AM
Jun 2019

In areas where it's simply used (science labs, track and field, soda bottles, etc...) we get used to the numbers and it makes sense. We know what 2 liters is because we see 2 liter bottles all the time. Runners know how far it is to run 10K or 5K.

But those same runners would probably be confused if told that the speed limit driving the same road was 40kph.

mopinko

(69,806 posts)
38. yeah, i got used to it in science classes, and
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 10:17 AM
Jun 2019

a couple of lab jobs.
never did get used °F/°C tho.
do still do a conversion in my head, but they are second nature.

underpants

(182,279 posts)
2. Fear the others
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 05:53 AM
Jun 2019

Don't listen to them, they'll tell you lies and have crazy ideas.

The metric system? Must have been a slow news day over at Fox.

Voltaire2

(12,626 posts)
4. Don't let him know our non metric
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 05:58 AM
Jun 2019

weights and measures are all defined using metric weights and measures.

Tanuki

(14,893 posts)
5. Is he really a moron, or does he just play one on television?
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 05:59 AM
Jun 2019

Hard to believe he could be that stupid.
 

RedParrot

(112 posts)
9. Let's abolish decimals and stick to fractions
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 06:30 AM
Jun 2019

Tucker keeps the same facial expression no matter how idiotic the comments made by a guest.

Another slow news day at Fox.

NCjack

(10,279 posts)
23. Yes! And dump "zero" in the trash can, where it belongs. When Jesus
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 08:00 AM
Jun 2019

worked as a carpenter, he got along just fine with the Roman system of measures, which had no "zero". If the Roman system was good enough for Jesus, well it is good enough for me. When we dump "zero", we completely wreck the metric system, which was the first Communist plot to wreck our economy. Let's do all of new fangle ideas. Outlaw logarithms. Change pi back to 3, and change e back to 3. Make math easy again. Easy enough for drunken frat rats.

SMoss

(112 posts)
12. President Thomas Jefferson wanted to adopt metric system
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 07:13 AM
Jun 2019

The envoy from France carrying the standard meter and Kgm was captured by pirates.

Ramsey Barner

(349 posts)
13. Chuck Grassley - Enemy of the Meter!!!
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 07:22 AM
Jun 2019

In 1866, the U.S. Congress authorized the use of the metric system and almost a decade later America became one of 17 original signatory nations to the Treaty of the Meter. A more modern system was approved in 1960 and is commonly known as SI or the International System of Units."

[****]

In 1975, Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act, which declared metric as the preferred system of the United States, and the U.S. Metric Board was created to implement the conversion.

[****]

Metric supporters argued the road signs were a crucial step in helping Americans get over any psychological blocks to switching measurement systems. But Republican Charles Grassley, then a congressman and now a senator from Iowa, killed proposed federal regulations that would have forced states to put up signs in kilometers.

"Forcing the American people to convert to the metric system goes against our democratic principles," Grassley declared in June 1977.

https://edition.cnn.com/interactive/2015/07/us/metric-road-american-story/

 

infinite_wisdom

(73 posts)
18. Tucker needs help..
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 07:37 AM
Jun 2019

he needs a wide variety of meds and a long stay in a "facility". He shouldn't be walking around in society at this point.

I remember back in the 70's there was a push to move the US to the metric system. They started teaching it to us in school. The whole thing seemed much simpler than our bizarre system from the 1500's or whatever that required people to carry around conversion tables in order to do a simple math problem.

But industry didn't want to put in the effort into switching and then the conspiracy theory loons crawled out from under their rocks and started ranting about how the metric system was part of the Anti-Christ's plan to move us to a one world government. The rapture was imminent, and those left behind would suffer the horrors of drinking from liter bottles.

Now we stand with Liberia and Burma as the only countries who haven't switched over. Pure genius.

mopinko

(69,806 posts)
30. reality started to fall apart on jimmy carter.
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 08:56 AM
Jun 2019

imho, not to be to ct about it, the saudis were behind the smearing of carter, and the tanking of the american economy. his prescience on energy and the future of oil scared the bejezuz out of them.

cuz, really, when have americans not wanted math to be easier?

the split reality started there, got worse under st ronnie of raygun, and it has gotten worse every day since.

DetlefK

(16,423 posts)
24. On one hand they invented Al-Gebra. On the other hand they invented Al-Cohol.
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 08:07 AM
Jun 2019

The word "algebra" is derived from an arab expression refering to fractions.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algebra#Etymology

The word "alcohol" is derived from an arab wordplay that eventually came to mean "essence".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alcohol#Etymology



"Alcohol? Them Arabs are now in our beer!!!"

Response to DetlefK (Original post)

joe_stampingbull

(165 posts)
19. don't tell him where our alphabet comes from either...or maybe do
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 07:39 AM
Jun 2019

It comes from the Middle East of course. He will go catatonic if he finds out it wasn't invented by white people.

LastDemocratInSC

(3,625 posts)
21. I think I'll pray for the first time in decades.
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 07:51 AM
Jun 2019

Dear God, please let this item be from an article in The Onion. Amen.

Turin_C3PO

(13,650 posts)
26. Is he getting paid to make Repubs all seem like unhinged nutjobs?
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 08:35 AM
Jun 2019

Because if so, he’s doing a bang up job of it.

zipplewrath

(16,646 posts)
27. Nope
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 08:43 AM
Jun 2019
Yes, there is a reason why ancient middle-eastern cultures preferred numbers like 4, 7, 12, 60... The reasons are numerology and astrology.


I mean, yeah, there were those influences. But the truth is that numbers like 12 influenced numerology because of their obvious utility. 12 is a highly divisible number. 2,3,4, and 6 can all divide 12 evenly. 10, not so much. When you're selling eggs, a dozen becomes a useful quantity.

The clear advantage of the metric system is its clear definitions. But the truth is, most people don't have much of a need for that feature. The order of magnitude relationship is cute, but not all the useful. One should always work in a single, consistent set of units. If on is going to work in meters, stick to meters. Too many errors and misunderstandings evolve from switching units.

And one will not find alot of physical constants or features in the world that are clear order of magnitude functions, or evenly divisible by 10. Pi, e, gravity, light years, Avogadro's constant, etc. are all very important numbers and none are evenly divisible by 10. Some are even "irrational" numbers.

The world is constantly inventing new units for their utility, and they rarely fit neatly into the metric system. conversely, they constantly invent new ones because the metric system frequently does not serve them well.

Paladin

(28,204 posts)
28. Tucker Carlson is in desperate need of new material. Hope he doesn't find any.
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 08:46 AM
Jun 2019

The metric system as a globalist plot? How many decades have right-wing crackpots been flogging that stupid notion?

DFW

(54,055 posts)
31. I think Carlson's area of expertise doesn't extend far beyond clip-on bow ties.
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 09:01 AM
Jun 2019

Though it's always possible he may have gleaned some knowledge of fast food from Trump that he is keeping in reserve for a slow news cycle.

Cosmocat

(14,543 posts)
33. He, like 45 and all the other conservative profiteers are just getting of fucking with "the base"
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 09:16 AM
Jun 2019

they know they can spin anything, not matter how simple minded, and 40% of this country will get behind it.

Johonny

(20,683 posts)
39. In medieval times people fear Arabic numbers and thought they were a satanic plot
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 10:28 AM
Jun 2019

FOX noise hasn't advanced much from those times.

robbob

(3,514 posts)
43. We adopted the metric system in Canada...
Thu Jun 6, 2019, 10:59 AM
Jun 2019

Many years ago, when I was barely a teenager. Everyone is now comfortable referring to distances in kilometres, 24 degrees means summer is finally starting, and the meat at the supermarket is measured in Kilo’s, BUT...

Ask someone how tall the are, or how much they weigh. Almost everyone young or old will give you the answer in feet and pounds. I don’t understand it, but that’s how it is.

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