Comments on: Free-for-all on packages sizes, but no help for consumers? http://metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/free-for-all-packages/ Commentary on the measurement muddle in the UK Sun, 01 Aug 2010 07:48:13 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: lee kelly http://metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/free-for-all-packages/comment-page-1/#comment-18931 lee kelly Mon, 02 Mar 2009 13:32:48 +0000 http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/31/free-for-all-packages/#comment-18931 Michael Glass, I completely agree with you. The only reason we in Europe export using pounds & ounces or dual measurement is because of the American market, though what that has to do with Australia I don't know ? Also, I wish we in the UK were as advanced as the great people of Australia, because  Australia managed to do in less than a decade what we have been trying to do since 1965. Michael Glass, I completely agree with you. The only reason we in Europe export using pounds & ounces or dual measurement is because of the American market, though what that has to do with Australia I don’t know ?
Also, I wish we in the UK were as advanced as the great people of Australia, because  Australia managed to do in less than a decade what we have been trying to do since 1965.

]]> By: Michael Glass http://metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/free-for-all-packages/comment-page-1/#comment-18910 Michael Glass Sun, 01 Mar 2009 14:35:08 +0000 http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/31/free-for-all-packages/#comment-18910 As an Australian I am amazed that there should be so much confusion over packaging in the United Kingdom. All packaged goods in Australia are labelled in grams and kg. Dual weights in kg and pounds and ounces are only on some goods imported from Europe. I say, ditch the pounds and the ounces from packaged goods and go completely metric! As an Australian I am amazed that there should be so much confusion over packaging in the United Kingdom. All packaged goods in Australia are labelled in grams and kg. Dual weights in kg and pounds and ounces are only on some goods imported from Europe. I say, ditch the pounds and the ounces from packaged goods and go completely metric!

]]> By: Richard Birkby http://metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/free-for-all-packages/comment-page-1/#comment-18882 Richard Birkby Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:48:02 +0000 http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/31/free-for-all-packages/#comment-18882 Interestingly, and this may well only be an impression, it seems to me that in my local supermarket there are more pre-packaged goods marked in dual measures than metric only - I should explain that this is in Portugal. I saw one packet earlier today marked 125g/4.4oz. Perhaps it is only for goods that are likely to be shipped also to the UK. But one does wonder what logic there is for UK customers to have such fractions (or to be more correct, decimals) of ounces marked. It makes the maths so much more tricky. Interestingly, and this may well only be an impression, it seems to me that in my local supermarket there are more pre-packaged goods marked in dual measures than metric only – I should explain that this is in Portugal. I saw one packet earlier today marked 125g/4.4oz. Perhaps it is only for goods that are likely to be shipped also to the UK. But one does wonder what logic there is for UK customers to have such fractions (or to be more correct, decimals) of ounces marked. It makes the maths so much more tricky.

]]> By: lee kelly http://metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/free-for-all-packages/comment-page-1/#comment-18835 lee kelly Wed, 25 Feb 2009 11:12:34 +0000 http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/31/free-for-all-packages/#comment-18835 The Reason I think the government isn't telling consumers about package sizes is the fact most won't notice anyway, as long as its cheap & tastes nice which I think is crazy, but im allowed an oppinion. I think what supermarkets & shops should do is compere brands with other equally sized shops in Europe. At least when you go on holiday you know if your paying to much or if the size & price you buy is the same in Britain, still that's why the metric system is great because you can do that can't you The Reason I think the government isn’t telling consumers about package sizes is the fact most won’t notice anyway, as long as its cheap & tastes nice which I think is crazy, but im allowed an oppinion. I think what supermarkets & shops should do is compere brands with other equally sized shops in Europe. At least when you go on holiday you know if your paying to much or if the size & price you buy is the same in Britain, still that’s why the metric system is great because you can do that can’t you

]]> By: Martin Vlietstra http://metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/free-for-all-packages/comment-page-1/#comment-18819 Martin Vlietstra Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:58:39 +0000 http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/31/free-for-all-packages/#comment-18819 ARM is well-known to the UKMA. Rather than saying anying that is libellous about them , may I refer you to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Resistance_to_Metrication and to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Bennett_(English_politician). ARM is well-known to the UKMA. Rather than saying anying that is libellous about them , may I refer you to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Active_Resistance_to_Metrication and to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_Bennett_(English_politician).

]]> By: lee kelly http://metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/free-for-all-packages/comment-page-1/#comment-18797 lee kelly Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:29:30 +0000 http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/31/free-for-all-packages/#comment-18797 Martin Vlietstra I completely agree with you I personally only ever use metric at home if people dont like it tough! anyway thats not my point the point im trying to say a few years back where I live we used to have km's on country signs near the river lea in hertfordshire, they where destroyed by someone from ARM ( if you never heard about them they are anti-metric ) all the signs were taken down because of a few complaints I wrote to the council asking how much it will cost to replace thousand of km signs & replace them with miles I got no answer so i'll assume its comming out of our council tax, the joke about all this in 2012 where I live we will be hosting some of the events so we will have km signs back again. Swings & roundabouts I guess. Martin Vlietstra I completely agree with you I personally only ever use metric at home if people dont like it tough! anyway thats not my point the point im trying to say a few years back where I live we used to have km’s on country signs near the river lea in hertfordshire, they where destroyed by someone from ARM ( if you never heard about them they are anti-metric )
all the signs were taken down because of a few complaints I wrote to the council asking how much it will cost to replace thousand of km signs & replace them with miles I got no answer so i’ll assume its comming out of our council tax, the joke about all this in 2012 where I live we will be hosting some of the events so we will have km signs back again. Swings & roundabouts I guess.

]]> By: Martin Vlietstra http://metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/free-for-all-packages/comment-page-1/#comment-18793 Martin Vlietstra Mon, 23 Feb 2009 09:03:01 +0000 http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/31/free-for-all-packages/#comment-18793 Having two systems of measure in the United Kingdom is harming the country. Children are being taught metric units at school, but encounter imperial units at home and in the playground. As a result, they do not learn how to manipulate either. The problem is compounded by newspaper editors and politicians who take note of every whinger. The result is that in many areas of life we either have so much data that many people switch off, or so little data that the message being conveyed is of little use. It is not a matter of heritage, but of survival. Having two systems of measure in the United Kingdom is harming the country. Children are being taught metric units at school, but encounter imperial units at home and in the playground. As a result, they do not learn how to manipulate either. The problem is compounded by newspaper editors and politicians who take note of every whinger. The result is that in many areas of life we either have so much data that many people switch off, or so little data that the message being conveyed is of little use.

It is not a matter of heritage, but of survival.

]]> By: Richard Birkby http://metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/free-for-all-packages/comment-page-1/#comment-18754 Richard Birkby Fri, 20 Feb 2009 21:13:46 +0000 http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/31/free-for-all-packages/#comment-18754 I think, to add to Lee's points, it's also very important not to see metrication as a whole (as distinct from the particular topic on this thread) as an imposition by the European Union. Metrication started long before the EU was even dreamed of, and every other Commonwealth country has completed its changeover. I think, to add to Lee’s points, it’s also very important not to see metrication as a whole (as distinct from the particular topic on this thread) as an imposition by the European Union. Metrication started long before the EU was even dreamed of, and every other Commonwealth country has completed its changeover.

]]> By: lee kelly http://metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/free-for-all-packages/comment-page-1/#comment-18747 lee kelly Fri, 20 Feb 2009 14:08:35 +0000 http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/31/free-for-all-packages/#comment-18747 Ian, this is not a "pointless battle". The issue is not about trade; it is about the consumer knowing that when they buy something they are not being conned. If we use the same measurements, we can at least compare prices. I don't want to see this country held back because of tradition or xenophobia. Before you say it affects British tradition there are more Metric measurements that are British than are Imperial. Just look them up. To each their own, I say. Ian, this is not a “pointless battle”. The issue is not about trade; it is about the consumer knowing that when they buy something they are not being conned. If we use the same measurements, we can at least compare prices. I don’t want to see this country held back because of tradition or xenophobia. Before you say it affects British tradition there are more Metric measurements that are British than are Imperial. Just look them up. To each their own, I say.

]]> By: Ian http://metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/free-for-all-packages/comment-page-1/#comment-18710 Ian Wed, 18 Feb 2009 16:34:26 +0000 http://www.metricviews.org.uk/2009/01/31/free-for-all-packages/#comment-18710 "This is a pointless battle and I could not see that this issue affects the European single market, or cross-border trade; but it does affect the British tradition, culture and lifestyle which I, for one, highly value. When I looked into this matter it was obvious to me that there was no reason why imperial measures should go." “This is a pointless battle and I could not see that this issue affects the European single market, or cross-border trade; but it does affect the British tradition, culture and lifestyle which I, for one, highly value. When I looked into this matter it was obvious to me that there was no reason why imperial measures should go.”

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