this post was submitted on 22 Oct 2024
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xkcd

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In my new scale, °X, 0 is Earths' record lowest surface temperature, 50 is the global average, and 100 is the record highest, with a linear scale between each point and adjustment every year as needed.

https://explainxkcd.com/3001/

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[–] jmcs@discuss.tchncs.de 67 points 3 weeks ago (24 children)

Because it implies you are using US Costumary/Imperial units for science or "fancy" engineering.

[–] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 0 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (22 children)

Yeah, well that’s a cultural thing really. Celcius and fahrenheit scales are both quite arbitrary. The kelvin scale uses absolute zero, which totally makes sense, but the other fixed point is pretty arbitrary when you think of it. The fahrenheit scale makes sense for the human experience of weather, while the celcius scale makes sense for generally life on Earth where water plays an important role. Neither of them are particularly universal, and they both suck in their unique ways.

see also: natural units

(Edit)

Life Pro Tip: If you take the piss out of two units at the same time, you can make everyone equally angry.

[–] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 10 points 3 weeks ago (8 children)

The fahrenheit scale makes sense for the human experience of weather

Wat. Yanks keep saying this but... wat

[–] Hamartiogonic@sopuli.xyz 1 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

It’s only fair to give credit when credit is due. Doesn’t mean I like that unit, but I can see where they’re coming from.

[–] Kusimulkku@lemm.ee 4 points 3 weeks ago

It doesn't make any sense to me, sorry

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