Category Archives: Myths

EU in or out: metric either way

Posted on 2016-03-24 by Ramsden

In February, the Prime Minister confirmed the date of the referendum which will decide whether the United Kingdom remains in or leaves the European Union (EU). The referendum will take place on 23 June 2016. In this article, Ronnie Cohen … Continue reading →

Posted in General, History, Law, Myths, Views from abroad | Tagged 1972 White Paper on metrication, EU, imperial, metric, metrication, weights and measures | 24 Comments

The 1972 White Paper Revisited

Posted on 2015-10-26 by ronniec

This week, Ronnie Cohen takes a look at the long-forgotten 1972 White Paper on Metrication. Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Posted in Consumer affairs, General, History, Myths | Tagged 1972, common market, EU, industry, metrication, myth, trade, White Paper | 14 Comments

The flip side of SI

Posted on 2015-09-06 by Ramsden

Charlie P, a regular if occasionally critical contributor to MV, promised he would on his return from holiday give his thoughts on “the flip side of the SI as far as the average man in the street is concerned”. These … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, General, History, Myths, Science, Technical | Tagged metric, metric system, SI | 27 Comments

Novel signs around the UK

Posted on 2015-07-17 by ronniec

Following on from our article last week about those curious signs in Southend, Ronnie Cohen, one of our regular readers, now reports on a few others that have attracted his attention. Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Posted in General, Myths, Road signs, Transport | Tagged authorised, confusion, conversion, errors, muddle, non-authorised, non-standard, official, restriction, sign, signage, signs, TSRGD, unauthorised, unofficial | 32 Comments

Waterloo 1815 – what if?

Posted on 2015-06-18 by Ramsden

We speculate on the consequences if there had been a different outcome at the Battle of Waterloo. Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Posted in Consumer affairs, General, History, Myths, Views from abroad | Tagged measurement units, mesures-usuelles, metric, Napoleon, The Low Countries, Waterloo, weights and measures | 38 Comments

Dying embers and a few flying sparks

Posted on 2015-06-07 by Ramsden

The concluding article of this series looks at the ignominious end of the UK’s attempt, began fifty years ago, to make the transition to a single, simple and universal measurement system. Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Posted in Consumer affairs, General, History, Law, Myths, Road signs, Views from abroad | Tagged DfT, EU, imperial measures, metric, metric road signs, Road signs | 13 Comments

Are imperial units ‘British’?

Posted on 2014-03-29 by ronniec

Continuing with our series on myths, misinformation and fallacies, we look at the claim occasionally made by defenders of imperial units that they are British and that they should continue in use for this reason. Likes(1)Dislikes(1)

Posted in Consumer affairs, Education, General, History, Myths | Tagged imperial measures, measurement units, metric, SI, USC | 33 Comments

Santa’s weighty problem

Posted on 2013-12-21 by admin

“Oh my goodness!” exclaimed Mrs Claus, as midnight approached on Christmas Eve. “I swear you put on more weight each year! You do give those reindeer a really hard time, you know.” Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Posted in Health, Myths | Tagged BMI | 3 Comments

Salisbury points to a solution (and to a problem)

Posted on 2013-12-04 by Ramsden

Metric Views’ attention has been drawn to a Victorian piece of legislation under which signs may be authorised. Likes(0)Dislikes(0)

Posted in General, Law, Myths, Road signs | Tagged Department for Transport, Road signs | 8 Comments

Was the metre invented by the Ancient Egyptians 4500 years ago?

Posted on 2013-06-07 by admin

One of our readers, John Frewen-Lord, speculates that the metre may be the modern version of a measure that was familiar to the Pharaohs. Likes(2)Dislikes(0)

Posted in Education, General, History, Myths, Science | Tagged ancient Egypt, metre, universal measure | 27 Comments