posted
Lots of people get around fine without a watch. They show up to events when they're ready to go, knowing that nothing important will happen until they're present, knowing that the bus would never leave without them.
When breakfast is done and it's time for the keynote speaker, they know that they can just follow the crowd so they'll get there on time.
When the dance is getting started, they wander in when it looks like the most people are there.
And then, there's the host faction of society:
They show up on time, load their things on the bus, and then have to sit there for 45 minutes, making calls to non-watch-wearers who are late and who can't be left behind.
They hurry and eat their breakfast so they can get to the speaker on time and get a good seat, and then wait to hear the speaker start 10 minutes late as everyone else files in loudly and takes a while to find a seat.
They show up on time to the dance, and try to have fun for 2 hours until enough people show up to constitute "critical mass" for retaining those who wander in. They are always part of the critical mass but have trouble convincing other people to stick around so there will be something going on.
Not that there's anything wrong with these behaviors; I've decided it must just be a biological adaptation. The late ones just suck our chronometric blood as a survival tactic. Right.
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Um, what about those of us who wear a watch, have many clocks, and try to be on time for things . . . but don't always quite manage?
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I don't wear a watch. There are clocks on walls at home, school and work. If I'm out and about, like at a mall, I don't want to be reminded when I'm supposed to go home. I don't want to have to beat a clock to get to the next thing I need to do. I don't want to look at my wrist to determine if its time to eat or not, my stomach can do that (otherwise, if its after 12:30 pm, I'm eating, regardless if I'm hungry or not). If I show up late to a party or a dance or something, I can still enjoy it, rather than be there longer than needed (for example, school dances lasting 3 hours. Honestly, who needs to be there 3 hours when you can be doing a day activity instead or enjoying your dinner). I'm considerate enough that, if needing to catch a bus, there are plenty of stores, and other people around to ask the time. Movies, you can show up really early to and walk around the mall, or show up 5 or 10 minutes late and only miss the previews. Sure, I'm going to be walking in front of people if late, but what are they missing, really?
I'm happy not wearing a watch.
Posts: 9754 | Registered: Jul 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
If you can still function and do things on time without a watch, you're part of the host. The host is the part that makes sure things happen on many levels - not just chronometric.
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
If you can still function without the use of a watch, and still slack off with the use of a watch, then obviously, it is not the lack of watch that makes one this parasite you are talking about.
Posts: 9754 | Registered: Jul 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
I think you're right, T. It's the lack of caring about the time. But we shall define this as "non-watch-wearing" for semantical purposes and so as to not make me look like an ass.
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
What I want to know is, who are these people for whom busses and parties wait? Cuz when I'm late, I miss the bus (usually by like a minute) or the best part of the speech or whatever.
Posts: 32919 | Registered: Mar 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
The late people usually have to be in a mass for their tactics to work. You know - like viruses. And they usually are.
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
Dont wear a watch, never have, and I'm chronically early for everything......I think it's discourteous to be late, and that has nothing to do with whether you wear a watch or not. Posts: 90 | Registered: Aug 2002
| IP: Logged |
posted
hmm . . . if late people are parasitic, why do early people need them at their parties so?
Sounds like the early people are parasoitic, because they can't have a party until the late people arrive.
-o-
People would also be less inclined to be late if stuff started on time. As it is, why arrive on time to a lecture, and then sit and wait? I hate to arrive at a doctor's office for a 10:30 appointment and wait until noon to be seen. Why didn't they tell me the real time to show up, instead of a pretend time?
Posts: 1112 | Registered: Jan 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
The watchless aren't the majority of the late crowd, I don't think. No -- the reason they're parasitic is because they award themselves the right to ask other people what time it is. Kind of like smokers who don't carry a lighter (granted this was more common in Europe).
Posts: 1839 | Registered: May 1999
| IP: Logged |
I'm one of the lucky few that can guess what hour of the day it is and usually get it right, given a 5 minute spread.
Posts: 14554 | Registered: Dec 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
I usually wear a watch, except to the gym or biking, because I don't want to damage/lose it or get it all sweaty.
But I'm chronically inconsistent. That is, I can be late, I can be early. I can miss something entirely by convincing myself it is Tuesday instead of Monday, therefore the kids don't have to go to Choi Kwang Do.
I imagine my erratic schedule would frustrate any burglars trying to 'case the joint'.
posted
Like Rolf Singer and others here, I don't wear a wristwatch and am chronically early everywhere anyway.
Since my last watch quit, I have found I don't really need one. The time is on the computer screen (that I have to look at all day at work), the time is on my cell phone; the time in on clocks on the wall, on my truck dashboard, etc. etc. We already have the time available in more places than we really need.
posted
Amen, Farmgirl. I'm a cellphone and PDA carrier, have clock on the dashboard and computer, one by the bed, one on the VCR, Cable-Box, and TV. I stopped wearing a watch because of the redundancy issue, too.
Now if I could just get all of them to sync up with the Universal Atomic clock . . .
Posts: 6394 | Registered: Dec 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
No, we already discussed that the name non-watch-wearers is merely used to classify a diverse group of individuals with or without the watch. It's a metaphorical watch that they're not wearing.
Plus, changing the title would make me look like an ass.
Posts: 8504 | Registered: Aug 1999
| IP: Logged |
posted
I married in to a particularly virulent strain that are not merely chronically late, they are "time adjusters". They set their clocks 9 minutes fast because it's supposed to help them be on time, but instead they start disregarding all clocks. If they want you to be on time, they lie about the start time of an event, and because they have lied, they can no longer remember the real start time. They are the reason Jesus has not returned yet.
Posts: 11017 | Registered: Apr 2003
| IP: Logged |
posted
I hate watches. They make my wrist sweaty. When I need to be on time, I use the wall clocks and my car clocks. I also can tell what time it is by my biological clock pretty well. When I want to take my class outside, I clip a little clock on my clipboard.
Posts: 3141 | Registered: Apr 2000
| IP: Logged |
posted
I think I own a watch. I never wear it. I'm on time for things that start at a specific time, but I've missed parties completely by not watching the time. I've missed PLANES by not watching the time. I've missed planes by entire DAYS by not paying attention to schedules.
I am encouraged in this by (1) only needing to arrive at work by 9:30, and my body wakes up by 7:00 everyday regardless. Mornings are never rushed. (2) Having a cell phone for people to call if I am late, which lights a fire, and (3) clocks everywhere on the off chance I need to be somewhere on time.
Annie, I'm sorry. If it helps, the airport/plane thing is somewhat annoying to me.
posted
Every doctor I have ever known has worn a watch, but I have yet to meet a medical professional who actually runs on time, watch or no. The day it happens I'll be watching the skies 'cause alien invasion and other such long shots can't be far off.
As a side issue, my doctor kept me waiting for 40 minutes today and once she deigned to see me, proceeded to print out my prescription form (incorrectly as it happens which I had to point out and get her to change), tick the "make this one pay full price" box, and hurry me out the door in less than 2 minutes. And had the cheek to charge me $45 for the privilege of her company. GRRRR. I almost felt tempted to invent a complaint of some sort to get my moneys worth.
Posts: 90 | Registered: Aug 2002
| IP: Logged |
Printer-friendly view of this topic
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Evil]](graemlins/evil.gif)
