Source: BroBible
Summary
A TikTok creator claims that British pirates are to blame for the United States not using the metric system. According to the story, Joseph Dombey, a French scientist, was sent to Philadelphia with the metric system standards, but his ship was captured by pirates in the Caribbean and he was imprisoned and died. The metric system standards were never delivered to Thomas Jefferson. However, this is an oversimplification, and the real reasons for the US not adopting the metric system are more complex.
Our Reading
The habit gets a new name.
Blaming pirates for the US not using the metric system is a fun story, but it’s not the whole truth. The real reasons are more complex and involve conversion costs, weak legislation, and voluntary adoption. The US has tried to adopt the metric system before, but it never stuck. Now, Americans are stuck with inches, feet, pounds, gallons, cups, and tablespoons. The metric system is like that one relative who always tries to visit but never quite makes it.
Original observation: The US is still using the pirate’s measurement system.
Author: Evan Null
