Thursday's Thought - Time & Distance... How It Unites Us
Have been thinking recently about how divided society is and ways I can feel more connected to the people on this planet. All of whom I share more in common with than I have differences with.
One way I thought was kind of unique to our community as enthusiasts, is using time to convey distance.
In pretty much everywhere but the USA, the standard measurement for travelling is the kilometer, while we Yanks think the idiosyncratic mile is the best way to do the job. Units of 10 really is superior and more accurate.
While that sort of works within each sphere of the respective measurements, it's still not perfect because X number of km or miles depending on where you live can have vastly different travel times.
No, the best way to describe travel across the urban/rural or metric/English worlds is time; and we use it quite frequently -whether intentionally or not- here on the Crunch.
Whenever we moan about shipping our watches back to the manufacturer, we talk about how long the service will take in weeks or months. Whenever we talk about how far or close the nearest AD is, we usually convey that distance not in kilometers or miles, but usually in minutes and/or hours. If we do use the distance measurements, we frequently will add the time measurements in as well.
We all generally understand what a 30 minute or 6 hour trip is; whether that is by car or train or airplane. It doesn't matter if that 30 minute trip was a 2 mile trip full of traffic or a 25 mile trip of mostly open highway; 30 minutes is 30 minutes.
I believe most of us subconsciously use time instead of the distances to better explain or relate to our fellow humans; to feel closer or more similar to others.
In a world full of division, let's all continue to look for the ways we are similar or the things others do to assist us instead of always noticing the ways we are not alike or the things others do to make our lives more difficult.
Anyway, random, probably half-baked thought on my mind today.
What do you think about it?
Long time watch appreciator, 2022 inductee into the obsession. Originator (or perpetrator depending on your point of view) of #WhimsicalWednesday, #MacroMay & #MacroMonday Omega Speedmaster simp. Like...
The joke in Canada is that we measure distances in time, so I 100% agree with your idea.
A 40km trip on a divided highway at 120km/h is vastly different from a 40km trip along a winding logging road that has a speed limit of 60km/h.
I know Toronto is ~5 hours from Ottawa, Montreal is ~2 hours, and home is ~14 hours... Specific distances don't matter as much for planning as time does.
You’re right about using time as a measure of distance. I just worked on a project with wayfinding signage on a multi-use pathway in which the time conveys the distance based mode of travel you’re using (4 mins 🚶, 1 min 🚲)
Fundamentally, speed = distance/time so they’re inter-related and dependent on each other to make sense of the whole.
The metric system is better in my opinion too and I'm fortunate to have a master watchmaker close by. Good topic that's deep
I also use time rather than distance, in UK there are areas with poor roads so distance doesn't mean anything.
MIL is an hour away, 50mins if we get a good run, 90mins+ with bank holiday traffic. I've just looked up that it's 52 miles. My son is 22 mins away, in an emergency I can do it in under 16, on a weekend it's about 26. Again I've had to look up the distance, 13 miles.
What it tells me is that I love using the chrono function, and the satnav is never right in its predictions.
Yes, same here. Time is a far more useful method of measuring a journey.
Solid points. And yes out here in the southwest, no one really talks about the distance it takes to get to a place with a Walmart, just how long it takes lol.
On the miles vs meters thing. For anything to do with work, it's meters. (Safe separation distance, net explosive weight, distance to target, land nav, etc).
Anything to do with physical exercise, or speed it's miles/mph lol. It's funny how my brain just switches. I've been to and lived many places with the metric system, and I still look at folks like an idiot when they talk about speed in km/h. 😂
We are for most time travelers! You are very right about this!
Also very right about the metric system. I hope that USA will make the switch eventually. Came from a fun week traveling to Cape cod and my Canadian brain was struggling with miles and also gallons and weights.
Thanks for this!
In those countries that span a continent time is the preferred measure. In the West, where the towns are few, the roads straight, and the speed limit is notional, it makes much more sense to say something is "an hour and twenty minutes" away. In my brief time living in Manhattan, I seem to remember distances being measured in "blocks." That was not helpful.
As an aside, for any Canadians or Europeans waiting for the United States to adopt the metric system, you will not see the day in your lifetime. That ship passed. The big push was in the the early 1970's. America's contrarian streak stopped it dead in its tracks. "You mean Big Gov'ment wants us to adopt some Utopian made-up French Revolution system that isn't 'merican? You keep your funny European measurements and low temperatures, sorry 30 degrees isn't hot. Buying two wrench or socket sets is the price of freedom."
Parsecs will work for me or fractions thereof :) good article:)
Solid points. And yes out here in the southwest, no one really talks about the distance it takes to get to a place with a Walmart, just how long it takes lol.
On the miles vs meters thing. For anything to do with work, it's meters. (Safe separation distance, net explosive weight, distance to target, land nav, etc).
Anything to do with physical exercise, or speed it's miles/mph lol. It's funny how my brain just switches. I've been to and lived many places with the metric system, and I still look at folks like an idiot when they talk about speed in km/h. 😂
I was bought up as a kid with the imperial system and in 6th Grade in Australia ( I am 62 ) so for me I am comfortable with 25.4 mm being an inch and 305mm being a foot etc . When someone says they ate 5’4” or 6’2” I can picture that still better in my mind but weight in kilos is more accurate to pounds ?!? Go figure …
I was bought up as a kid with the imperial system and in 6th Grade in Australia ( I am 62 ) so for me I am comfortable with 25.4 mm being an inch and 305mm being a foot etc . When someone says they ate 5’4” or 6’2” I can picture that still better in my mind but weight in kilos is more accurate to pounds ?!? Go figure …
Conformist.
Parsecs will work for me or fractions thereof :) good article:)
Good one and thank you
I also use time rather than distance, in UK there are areas with poor roads so distance doesn't mean anything.
MIL is an hour away, 50mins if we get a good run, 90mins+ with bank holiday traffic. I've just looked up that it's 52 miles. My son is 22 mins away, in an emergency I can do it in under 16, on a weekend it's about 26. Again I've had to look up the distance, 13 miles.
What it tells me is that I love using the chrono function, and the satnav is never right in its predictions.
Beat the satnav! Always a fun game!
In those countries that span a continent time is the preferred measure. In the West, where the towns are few, the roads straight, and the speed limit is notional, it makes much more sense to say something is "an hour and twenty minutes" away. In my brief time living in Manhattan, I seem to remember distances being measured in "blocks." That was not helpful.
As an aside, for any Canadians or Europeans waiting for the United States to adopt the metric system, you will not see the day in your lifetime. That ship passed. The big push was in the the early 1970's. America's contrarian streak stopped it dead in its tracks. "You mean Big Gov'ment wants us to adopt some Utopian made-up French Revolution system that isn't 'merican? You keep your funny European measurements and low temperatures, sorry 30 degrees isn't hot. Buying two wrench or socket sets is the price of freedom."
Canada is a weird mix of Metric and Imperial, I dive in km and km/h, but know my height in feet and inches, and my weight in pounds.
Essentially, if it's a long distance we use km, if it's a short distance we might use either.
As a former military member the way the military handled time was interesting. Everything was done in "Zulu Time" basically Grenwich time. This enabled everything to be coordianted without the time zone error. There was usually a "Zulu Time' Clock clearly visible where needed and some people had GMT watches for this purpose as well.
Zulu Time kept everyone on the same page, globally.
My brother, that was great. I feel 20 minutes closer to you already 🤣
My brother, that was great. I feel 20 minutes closer to you already 🤣
Haha! 🍻
Daummm I am floored just thinking about what you just said. Totally totally agree with the fundamental concepts you brought up!
I'm always in search of my tribe. Los Angeles is so geographically brutal for maintaining relationships that I often find myself getting on a plane to see the friends I do have. That juice has been worth the squeeze.