this post was submitted on 08 Mar 2024
167 points (96.1% liked)

Showerthoughts

29824 readers
785 users here now

A "Showerthought" is a simple term used to describe the thoughts that pop into your head while you're doing everyday things like taking a shower, driving, or just daydreaming. A showerthought should offer a unique perspective on an ordinary part of life.

Rules

  1. All posts must be showerthoughts
  2. The entire showerthought must be in the title
  3. Avoid politics
    • 3.1) NEW RULE as of 5 Nov 2024, trying it out
    • 3.2) Political posts often end up being circle jerks (not offering unique perspective) or enflaming (too much work for mods).
    • 3.3) Try c/politicaldiscussion, volunteer as a mod here, or start your own community.
  4. Posts must be original/unique
  5. Adhere to Lemmy's Code of Conduct

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
quinten
vatlark
forkball
Thekingoflorda
167
why don't people say mega meters (self.showerthoughts)
submitted 8 months ago by joel_feila to c/showerthoughts
75 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

How come people say 5,000 km and not 5 Mm?
why not just say millions of meters or Mega meters?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 3 points 8 months ago (2 children)

I've always found that strange. I guess a kilogram is a lot closer to "human scale" than a gram, maybe that's why they picked it.

[–] joel_feila 2 points 8 months ago

yeah humans do really need a small, inch and cm, a medium, meter and feet, and a big, mile and km.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 8 months ago (1 children)

SI also does meter instead of cm, so it overall checks out.

[–] [email protected] 7 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Having meter as a base unit makes more sense than kg because meter lacks any prefix.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 8 months ago

But that is like a giant difference in what they usually measure