this post was submitted on 06 Nov 2026
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British Columbia

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[–] farmgineer@nord.pub 1 points 1 hour ago

As someone who moved to a place where everything practical is metric it's much easier. We do have a combination of traditional units for a couple of minor things (room/property size, alcohol size) but they're almost always posted side-by-side with metric. We do get screens and some tires in inches, but those also always have metric with them. Most Japanese probably also don't realize that the unit is inches because it's basically a "60-type TV" not a "60-inch TV".

[–] droopy4096@lemmy.ca 2 points 2 hours ago

considering we want to get closer to EU and further away from US it would make sense. Exporting feet yards and gallons doesn't work for non-US. BUT entire country is hooked on imperial- all construction supplies and hardware are primarily imperial, all the training is done imperial, windows and doors are all imperial. So it's.not an overnight thing but steps could be taken, say, over a decade or so to shift further away from imperial

[–] droopy4096@lemmy.ca 1 points 2 hours ago

at least our money uses decimal system 😃

[–] Canajan@piefed.ca 10 points 5 hours ago

A4 paper for everyone, coast to beautiful coast.

[–] m0darn@lemmy.ca 4 points 5 hours ago

What I think is hilarious is that even the imperial system uses metric.

The inch is defined in millimeters

[–] GreatBlueHeron@lemmy.ca 9 points 8 hours ago (2 children)

I moved to Canada from Australia 5 years ago and was dumbfounded by the amount of American measurement still in use. It's been an interesting exercise for my ageing brain to figure out how to do math with fractions of an inch etc. I'm also baffled by the number of people using American date format!

We're trying though - I'm installing new flooring in my house and the size written on the box is 7.5" x 48" x 10mm - that gave me a chuckle.

I had hoped that the current discontent with the US would prompt more people to cringe at using their measurement system, but nobody seems to see the connection.

[–] funksoulkitchen@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 hours ago

I love how outside temperature is in C and inside temperature (or pool water) is F

[–] SreudianFlip@sh.itjust.works 8 points 7 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

7.5" x 48" x 10mm

Canadian consciousness lol

How warm is it? 21C

How tall are you? 5’11”

How much do you weigh? 175? 82? I dunno

How far is it? About 40 minutes

What time is it? Noone is sure this week

[–] NotMyOldRedditName@lemmy.world 2 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

What time is it? Noone is sure this week

I hope people at least know what time it is in their province... but I have no fucking clue what it is all across Canada now 😂

[–] SreudianFlip@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Lots of us had clocks that didn't update properly, tech was confused as shit lol

Oh I got some stuff that didn't update as well, but at least my real what time is it stuff worked hah.

[–] Tigeroovy@lemmy.ca 2 points 8 hours ago

I mean, we’re as metric as you wanna be. I’m unfortunately poisoned by imperial measurements but I still use metric plenty.

[–] tottle@lemmy.ca 4 points 10 hours ago (4 children)

Aren't we officially already fully metric?

[–] potatomuncher@lemmy.ca 21 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

We're inching towards it...

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 4 points 9 hours ago
[–] ILikeBoobies@lemmy.ca 2 points 7 hours ago

So is the US.

But we use imperial on things sold to the US.

[–] Peppycito@sh.itjust.works 4 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

You don't buy much lumber I guess.

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 6 points 9 hours ago* (last edited 9 hours ago) (2 children)

2x4 is just a name/label now. They haven't been those inch dimensions in a very long time.

[–] ikidd@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

That's not a shrinkflation thing, that's a nominal vs. finished size. A 2x4 has been 1.5x3.5 since planed lumber has been a thing, well over a century. You can still buy roughcut 2x6 that are really 2"x6".

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 1 points 1 hour ago (1 children)

Did you see the picture. Original 2x4 was 2inch x 4inch. Then there was the planing in the middle, then the even smaller planing.

[–] ikidd@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 27 minutes ago* (last edited 25 minutes ago)

Yes. And I'm explaining for anyone thinking this picture represents some sort of reality of the enshittification of finished lumber that nominal is not finished and graded size and hasn't been since 1919.

The 2x4 (rough) has had a finished size of 1.5x3.5 for well over a century, there was a very brief time it was standardized at 1-5/8x 3-5/8 but that was a pain in the ass for carpenters and mills. You can still buy unplaned lumber that is the full 2x4 or 2x6 dimensions, but it's ungraded and not suitable for anything but fences. It will not pass a building inspection.

This picture isn't saying anything useful.

[–] Peppycito@sh.itjust.works 2 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

It may not be 2" by 4" but go try to buy a 38mm by 89mm

[–] BCsven@lemmy.ca 3 points 8 hours ago

That's what I mean, it has become a label, rather than a size. Like how a #10 drill bit is 0.19"

[–] TheSecondVariety@lemmy.ca 3 points 10 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago)

I believe so, but this guy wants to go after everything else like getting trades to use it and make metric the default setting on electronics.

IDK if thats the best plan or if he realizes what an uphill battle certain things might be. Like ovens; our oven somehow switched over to metric on thanksgiving and it totally messed me up, I spent a LOT of time figuring out how to change that back to F. Another issue is industries that just aren't going to want to change: aviation, boats I think are imperial, railways are, home building, etc.

[–] betanumerus@lemmy.ca 1 points 10 hours ago (4 children)

Who is still using the imperial system in Canada?

[–] ikidd@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 hour ago

Try being in agriculture.

Hell, I have to clarify what type of bushel a line company is quoting prices for oats in.

[–] ehxor@lemmy.ca 1 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago) (1 children)

What does the dial on your oven say? 350°?

[–] betanumerus@lemmy.ca 2 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 5 hours ago)

My oven is scaled in deg C. Not yours?

[–] potatomuncher@lemmy.ca 7 points 9 hours ago

Officially it's all metric. Everyone i know or ever met uses a combination of imperial and metric.

[–] non_burglar@lemmy.world 6 points 9 hours ago (2 children)

Trades, architecture, engineers, railways, weights and measures people from industry Canada, aviation, roadwork, steelmills, steelworkers, coffeeshops, farmers, clothing, textiles, restaurants, recipes, and many more!

I suppose you don't live in Canada? Imperial is everywhere.

[–] GreatBlueHeron@lemmy.ca 2 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Trades - except electricians apparently

[–] ikidd@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 1 hour ago

Try to buy wire in mm2 and watch the guy at the electrical supply counter look at you like you have 3 heads.

[–] betanumerus@lemmy.ca -3 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 7 hours ago) (1 children)

"I suppose you don’t live in Canada? Imperial is everywhere." ... 🙄

I suppose you don't know as much about Canada as you think you do.

I could add to your list btw, but not with that attitude of yours.

[–] non_burglar@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago

I didnt mean anything by that.