Non diving market research.

[Allan Carr]

The history of Imperial measures is based upon body measurements and is easier to estimate than metric. I find it easier to estimate an inch than a centimetre.

[WFO]

And of course they correspond to the mathematical Radians;

Wut? How? Unless you're starting to express your lats and longs in radians?

[jamesp]

As someone earlier "Froggie" measurements, the cm is a true French metric system standard.

The UK signed up to the SI system, which is based on the mm and metre.
The cm is just another example of UK stupidity, they just managed to teach the wrong system for the last fifty years.

For the guys who only think imperial, 1cm is 10mm, which is 40 thou more than 3/8" or 7/64" less than 1/2".

[steelemonkey]

[steelemonkey]

As someone earlier "Froggie" measurements, the cm is a true French metric system standard.

The UK signed up to the SI system, which is based on the mm and metre.
The cm is just another example of UK stupidity, they just managed to teach the wrong system for the last fifty years.

For the guys who only think imperial, 1cm is 10mm, which is 40 thou more than 3/8" or 7/64" less than 1/2".

It also helps to understand the antique finances of the UK if you know the original British monetary system: Two farthings = One Ha'penny. Two ha'pennies = One Penny. Three pennies = A Thrupenny Bit. Two Thrupences = A Sixpence. Two Sixpences = One Shilling, or Bob. Two Bob = A Florin. One Florin and One Sixpence = Half a Crown. Four Half Crowns = Ten Bob Note. Two Ten Bob Notes = One Pound (or 240 pennies). One Pound and One Shilling = One Guinea. The British resisted decimalized currency for a long time because they thought it was too complicated.
Neil Gaiman. Terry Pratchett.

[Neilwood]

Ahh, Nautical Miles... So much easier off of a paper chart. As divers we should all be able to understand Nm's.

And of course they correspond to the mathematical Radians; now ask NASA how easy they found using Nautical Miles (directly related to Radians) instead of kilometres - seem to remember there was NASA space vehicle that went astray cause of the confusion between nautical miles and KM's.

AFAIK there have been a number of international space projects that have had failings due to imperial/metric screwups. I have even heard mention of the Hubble space telescope in that vein - the grinding discrepancy was alleged to have been caused by that (according to an astrophysicist that I was doing a construction job for).

[Neilwood]

It also helps to understand the antique finances of the UK if you know the original British monetary system: Two farthings = One Ha'penny. Two ha'pennies = One Penny. Three pennies = A Thrupenny Bit. Two Thrupences = A Sixpence. Two Sixpences = One Shilling, or Bob. Two Bob = A Florin. One Florin and One Sixpence = Half a Crown. Four Half Crowns = Ten Bob Note. Two Ten Bob Notes = One Pound (or 240 pennies). One Pound and One Shilling = One Guinea. The British resisted decimalized currency for a long time because they thought it was too complicated.
Neil Gaiman. Terry Pratchett.

The reason for the 240 pennies to the pound is that (on average) that was how many pennies there were in relation to one pound in weight.

[Jay_Benson]

The flow chart is not entirely correct, but pretty damn close. The measurement of train track in the UK is indeed in miles and chains. Except between Marylebone and a junction near Banbury where it is miles and metres.

The reason we have standard gauge in Great Britain is because that was the standard distance between wheels on a Roman chariot which was based on the size of a horses backside. Rumours that Brunel’s broad gauge was based on the size of Queen Victoria’s backside are probably not true (but that gauge is still in use in Ireland, north and south).

Considering the number of replies on this thread I would hope that some people revisit the survey and aid young Finless.

[Finless]

Thank you to all you pollsters. I shall follow the majority (and my also my preference) and put the full detail up on the website.

[Finless]

Hmm. "All you pollsters"? I wonder if that should be "all you pollsterees"?