
Fox News hosts like Tucker Carlson depend on frightening their viewers for ratings.
But using the metric system to fear monger...really Tucker? That's nutty, even for Fox News.
Carlson's show warned viewers about vague powers of "global revolution and new world order" that promote the menacing metric system. Crackpot guest James Pinero, went on to claim the metric system (widely used outside of the U.S) is linked to radicalism, revolution, and a "globe that is not even accurate."
We're all dumber after hearing Carlson and Pinero weigh in on the metric system.
Fox's Tucker Carlson rails against the "tyranny" of the metric system https://t.co/TDQrA3XSEJ— TPM Livewire (@TPM Livewire)1559831515.0
If you're terrified of units of measurement and generally hopeless with numbers, here's a quick refresher on the metric system, via InterExchange.
"There are two main systems for measuring distances and weight, the Imperial System of Measurement and the Metric System of Measurement."
"Most countries use the Metric System, which uses the measuring units such as meters and grams and adds prefixes like kilo, milli and centi to count orders of magnitude."
"In the United States, we use the older Imperial system, where things are measured in feet, inches and pounds."
Hearing Tucker and Pinero's brain melting conspiracy theories, you'd think the metric system was some evil sorcery.
"We should stand tall on our own 2 feet, I say. Because it is customary measures that measured out the revolution and customary measures that took us to the moon."
"The metric system meanwhile is the product of the French revolution. It was imposed at the business end of the guillotine."
Regrettably, Tucker asked his guest for more details...
'"So why are our leaders so anxious that we join the rest of the world in using Robespierre's favorite standard of measurement, I don't understand?"
But the more Pinero went on the less it made sense.
"All customary measures use man and his labour as the basis of the measurement."
"What is an acre? It is the land that an ox and can till in one day. 5,000 paces, a pace of 5,000 feet each."
"A meter is what? The globe that is not even accurate."
People on Twitter also found the exchange confusing.
What a perfect example of the idiocy of being an American contrarian. Literally against something because everyone… https://t.co/KuqwXlt5gq— DUSTIN KENSRUE (@DUSTIN KENSRUE)1559856979.0
@evanoconnell @TuckerCarlson Is this a deepfake?? 😛 this logic reaches new levels of bizarre in my opinion, even for FOX news.— Anika Heinmaa 🏳️🌈 (@Anika Heinmaa 🏳️🌈)1559823272.0
@DrJoeHanson I assume on the wall somewhere there's just a long list labeled "things that seem foreign" and they're just working through it.— Michael Moyer (@Michael Moyer)1559827627.0
Carlson railed against the "made-up" metric system, apparently forgetting all numerical systems are literally made-up.
@MJtheProphet @mmoyr Metric is at least sensible. 1kg of pure water=1 litre 1 litre of pure water = fits in a 10… https://t.co/RjoKNmbm8g— Andrew (@Andrew)1559840492.0
@goathobbit @mmoyr Yes but it is defined by universal Constants and have better subdivisions than imperial which is… https://t.co/KBhcwRDigr— Sai Hemanth BR (@Sai Hemanth BR)1559832996.0
@LiorMaleficent @mmoyr trying to make sense of this clip will get you running in circles trying to eat your own hai… https://t.co/ECirZ7URjc— The Man Who Walks Through Doors (@The Man Who Walks Through Doors)1559855448.0
Some noticed Tucker couldn't even pronounce 'kilograms' properly.
@oliverfoggin @mmoyr I had to stop listening at that point. I know he's dumber than a box of rocks, but seriously?… https://t.co/npnxqN08qe— MissLainey (@MissLainey)1559867119.0
A couple people flexed their math skills to clown on Tucker.
@russwilliamsiii @mmoyr Don't forget 7.92 inches in a link and 22 yards in a chain!— BackgroundLogic (@BackgroundLogic)1559832429.0
@mmoyr The metric system is based on earthly properties that everyone can agree on. The meter is based on the dista… https://t.co/k93nhWB7u7— Steven Hardison (@Steven Hardison)1559840999.0
Others found darker meaning in the Fox host's rant against the metric system.
@mmoyr Note they call metric system the yolk of tyranny but never use the word “imperial system.” Instead they call… https://t.co/CjXXn9dhgI— Julian Huguet 🏇 E3 (@Julian Huguet 🏇 E3)1559837294.0
But mostly, people just laughed at the lowly dumpster fire that is Fox News.
@mrmarktx1 @RawStory Too accurate!— Jane Splurky (@Jane Splurky)1559828821.0
@RawStory Another white supremacist clinging to archaic, oppressive systems. The English language and British Imper… https://t.co/5jiXJ2af2C— Lise Creed (@Lise Creed)1559831467.0
You know what? Forget the metric system...
I'd rather Fox News viewers convert to a different channel.