BuckyTom--I agree with you in principle. I live in a metric society, but was raised in the US. I have lived in Germany and spent 2 months in Stockholm, so I've had to deal with other units of measure (the temperature of the oven is what always got the best of me) and cultures.
This is discuss cooking and the discussions do go off the rails every now and again. The jokes, slang, etc. make this forum interesting and one of the things that keeps me coming back. The other is the camaraderie. I have the feeling that if I were able to buzz on down to joisey and drop in, we'd have a lot of things in common, the same is true if I could get out to MT or over to Wales or other places in between.
I have learned so much from DCers and I've stretched my cooking skills thanks to the inspiration I've found here. I have cried tears for the losses DCers have suffered, done the "high five" at the successes reported, felt as if I was there on vacation with those who have shared their vac photos...I could go on, but I think you get the picture.
Cerise--I understand the frustration. I have had to look up ingredients, tools, and terminology as I've read through various posts. With the Internet right behind the forum, it doesn't take me long and if I can't find the answer or don't understand, I ask. I think that you've been given a couple of good resources to consult when s/one posts a recipe with a measurement you don't recognize (I still struggle over the term castor sugar when I encounter it in recipes and having to convert C to F re: oven temperatures or sourdough starter temps).
I think it is fair to say that DCers come from all walks of life and from a global community. That is one of the things that makes this forum so much fun (and interesting). Embrace the differences, enjoy them! Life's too short to get hung up on the little things.