Communication about times would get so much easier, communication about schedules would get so much easier.
Except that it wouldn’t. It would make communication about time a culture sensitive topic. Sure, the exact time of day in relation to the position of the sun might get lost with our current system, but if someone tells you “I’ve slept til 12am” at least you know it was somewhat around noon. Under your new system you’d always have to consider where someone lives.
But in a way that’s a good example for what I meant. You and me communicate time both in reference to the time of day, not a virtual time of the planet that means something else to everyone depending on location, and you easily could spot my mistake.
Is being able to communicate about stuff like that casually, where you do not mean a specific time anyway, really worth the giant pile of pain that time zones add to actual scheduling?
I mean what’s more important to you, being able drop the info about time zones when scheduling international meetings, or preserving humanities ability to communicate time respectively to the actual time of day?
I’ve lived in three countries so far and never actually had trouble scheduling anything. The concept of time of day on the other hand is pretty prevalent in my daily life.
It is easy to remember, the am/pm system works the way that doesn’t make sense (10am,11am,12pm…10pm,11pm,12am) unless you mentally substitute 0 for every 12.
The position of the sun is already not exact relative to the time. Check when the sun rises and sets for you. Very random times. The further away from the equator you are the fuckier they get.
Except that it wouldn’t. It would make communication about time a culture sensitive topic. Sure, the exact time of day in relation to the position of the sun might get lost with our current system, but if someone tells you “I’ve slept til 12am” at least you know it was somewhat around noon. Under your new system you’d always have to consider where someone lives.
erm… 12am is midnight
Ahem. Oops.
But in a way that’s a good example for what I meant. You and me communicate time both in reference to the time of day, not a virtual time of the planet that means something else to everyone depending on location, and you easily could spot my mistake.
So let’s just say I did that on purpose.
Is being able to communicate about stuff like that casually, where you do not mean a specific time anyway, really worth the giant pile of pain that time zones add to actual scheduling?
I mean what’s more important to you, being able drop the info about time zones when scheduling international meetings, or preserving humanities ability to communicate time respectively to the actual time of day?
I’ve lived in three countries so far and never actually had trouble scheduling anything. The concept of time of day on the other hand is pretty prevalent in my daily life.
I suspect the language would change for those scenarios, so maybe you would say “I slept until midday” rather than “I slept until 12pm”.
It is easy to remember, the am/pm system works the way that doesn’t make sense (10am,11am,12pm…10pm,11pm,12am) unless you mentally substitute 0 for every 12.
The position of the sun is already not exact relative to the time. Check when the sun rises and sets for you. Very random times. The further away from the equator you are the fuckier they get.