A MATTER OF TIME

Which would you prefer a watch/clock that runs slow or one that is completely stopped?

The popular educated “thinking-man’s” reply is that a watch/clock that is completely stopped is preferred over one that runs slow because it will be accurate twice a day. I’ll assume that you agree.

That is true, it will give the exact time twice a day -- whereas the one running slow will never be accurate.

Does that make it a better timepiece?

Of course not! Not even close! Think about it!

The sole purpose of a timepiece is to provide an indication of time. The educated answer given says that they prefer an instrument that is 100% correct far less than 1% of the time, over one that is say 90% correct 100% of the time.

That is what they SAY they prefer, but what do they choose in reality?

If you ask three people the time you will get three different answers, all of which are probably wrong.

TIME is not an accurate science. All clocks are different. Some run fast, some slow. There is virtually no way to tell which is displaying the correct time. Actually, Correct Time is a myth.

Time is dependent upon what we choose to be the indicator. Usually that is the sun. But did time start when we made our first calendar?
The Chinese say we don’t even know what year it is. The truth is we have no idea what time it is. All we know is the time that passed since we started recording it.

The Chinese year is different than ours. We say it is 2010. That is way off. What happened to those BC years?

The point being nobody knows the real time. Therefore, a clock that runs slow -- is just another clock that runs slow. However we are getting an IDEA of the time, near enough to run our lives, 24 hours of every day.

Can we make use of it? Sure! If the clock is five minutes slow we leave five minutes early. If it’s fast, just the opposite, leave late. We can set a schedule using the lapse we’re aware of.

The other timepiece is USELESS!

You will NEVER have the slightest idea of what time it is – Not a Clue!
Sure twice a day it will be completely accurate, BUT YOU WON’T KNOW when that happens.

Let us test my theory. You take the watch completely stopped and I’ll take the one that runs slow. We’ll do lunch! You name the time and place. Try to be punctual using only your watch. I’ll be a little late.

Let’s go another way. I’m willing to wager my weekly paycheck, (which is well into double figures,) that you yourself do not believe your own answer.

High pathetical situation...You’re showing off your fancy watch as you walk down the street. You drop the watch and it stops running. You take it to a jeweler - it can’t be fixed. Do you keep wearing it because it will show the “exactly time” two fractions of a second a day?

If you answered “Yes”, you probably can’t read this anyway so the entire matter is futile.

By George