Lenny Conundrum Biased

[coming2atvnearu]

I think its high time that Neopets stopped doing things because they're convenient for the United States and ignoring the rest of the world.

Let's look at the new LC, shall we?

There was a steel beam 50 feet long. The entire Skeith construction crew (total weight: 6000 pounds) was standing at the center of the beam. Assume the modulus of elasticity is 29,000,000 pounds per square inch, the moment of inertia is 850 inches^4, the beam has simple pin connections at either end, and all loads other than the weight of the crew are disregarded.

Most of you probably see where I'm going with this.

At last check there were 3 countries that had not officially converted to the metric system: Liberia, Myanmar and -guess who?- the United States of My-Way-Or-The-Highwamerica.

Now, I'm may be a little rusty on the real stats, but I don't think that there were many Myanmarian or Liberians on Neopets, so I think its safe to assume that we're mostly being influenced by the other guy.

We can all see that in real life, other countries don't always get a fair shake. But hey, you didn't really want to buy that merchandise anyways, did you? The fact is, the US isn't the only country participating in this game and unless Neopets stops ostracizing every single country and starts building solid fanbases there, they are going to find themselves in the "dumb fad" column before too long.

[vtothec]

I understand where your coming from it is really hard to work out the units when your not from the US. I guess because its a US based game and most of their players are from the US they do it in their own units. There have been a lot of math type questions lately too

[Laelya]

*walks through thread with a banner reading "YAY METRIC SYSTEM!"*

I wish they would use the metric system.. it's so much more logical.

EDIT:

because its a US based game

Erm.. isn't it UK based? Err... originally, I mean.

Last edited by Laelya on Fri Jan 07, 2005 8:37 am, edited 1 time in total.

[coming2atvnearu]

I understand where your coming from it is really hard to work out the units when your not from the US. I guess because its a US based game and most of their players are from the US they do it in their own units. There have been a lot of math type questions lately too

Would you say most of the players are from the US?

If you take the players from every single country besides the United States, wouldn't it outnumber the number of Americans. (Wait! Don't forget to factor in the Myanmarians and Liberians.)

[Mxytdvc]

As much as I would love for them to do it in metric (because that's what I learned most of my physics in), it's not hard to calculate it out. Changing it over to metric isn't that hard.

And remember, this is their site, they'll do it in whatever they please. I mean, if they wanted to, they could do it in a made up measurement system.

And for all you know, Neopia uses standard .

[coming2atvnearu]

And remember, this is their site, they'll do it in whatever they please. I mean, if they wanted to, they could do it in a made up measurement system.

Of course they can do what they want. If they wanted, they could change the entire site over into a Richard Simmons fan site, but they don't.

Why not? Because that would be bad business.

I'm saying its bad business to only pander to one part of your demographic instead of the entire kit and kaboodle.

When I was a kid, I sold lemonade on my block. Everyone on my block speaks english except for one family. Now do you think it would be better for business to put the sign up in the language most people speak or should I just write out "Si vous voulez j'en ai du limonade pour dix sous" and see what happens?

[Weewoo]

I don't understand that question at all

Not that I've understood any of them anyway

[ahoteinrun]

Mmm... well...

I'm a fine arts student, and frankly; i've been taught to work with both Metric and Imperial. Doesn't phase me one iota.
But then again.

I don't do math. So what do I care about the LC anyways?

[maruka]

I the SI units but that's because i used them since young. However, Neopets is based in america, so i guess it's logical for them to write in inches and feet.

[simsman24000]

Well... perhaps since the office is located in America, then couldn't it be perfectly possible that perhaps 'the writer of the Conundrums' isn't familiar with the other systems, as you're not familiar with SI?

[cipher_text]

it could have been a clumsy mistake (the neo staff is human)
or it could be a factor to make it harder

consider both

[synthetique]

Consider for a moment that the very technologies that enable you to play Neopets at all, and then to complain about a trivial detail on said website...all originated in the United States. The CRT, transistor, telephones, ICs, PCs, UNIX and MS operating systems, as well as the discovery of electricity - all American in origin. I never quite understood why people from other countries don't first think of the hypocracy of insulting the US via an Internet connection.

Also remember that Adam and Donna came to the US to start their business venture and that the bulk of the investors are US-based companies.

[AnGG]

Maybe they just want to use both to give everyone a chance?
There have been LC's before where they used metres (round 97 for example)

[Qanda]

I am used to the metric system too, it is indeed more logical and organised. I mean, counting in blocks of 10s, 100s and 1000s is much easier for the Americans to learn then for the rest of the world to learn the irregular conversion of inches, pounds and feet.

Since it is an International site (and translated in many languages) it should use SI units.

[messyjessie]

As annoying as working in imperial is usually; it's okay for this week's question, because all the units (except inches) cancel each other out anyways. You don't have to do any conversion.