Comment on Banana for scale

agent_nycto@lemmy.world ⁨6⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

• Jiral@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

  It is incredibly hard defining something with a certain degree of error to it. Back then, it was impossible.

  The French" did not “get the calculations wrong”, it was the best that was possible back in the day. Nowadays the definition of the meter is dematerialised and the yard is defined as a conversion factor of the meter.

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  • agent_nycto@lemmy.world ⁨5⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

    I mean, that’s saying they got it wrong but it was understandable. I just find it mildly amusing is all.

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    • Jiral@lemmy.world ⁨4⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

      No, it doesn’t. Every measurement has error. The question is how big. It was minor already back then, but it could be further reduced and with the switch no dematerialised standards that are only possible with modern technology it is reduced even further, but it does have still an error, of course.

      By your logic, that’s saying they still get it wrong but it is understandable because everyone will get everything forever wrong. I just find it mildly amusing is all.

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      • agent_nycto@lemmy.world ⁨3⁩ ⁨days⁩ ago

        I think you’re taking my stance way too seriously. I just find it amusing that the system we use that’s very convenient, but also very accurate, the one we use for everything scientific which needs accuracy, was based off of something that was a little inaccurate. That’s a small chuckle at least and not something to get bent out of shape over.

        Unless you’re like, the avatar of the metric system, which is neat if you are, but damn dude, let someone have a mild amusement in life.

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