Have you ever found yourself in an inconvenient position due to your infatuation to your watch?
So here’s a story I wanna share. I was going to a relative’s house 2 months ago. Whilst being there, I didn’t play with my phone and I engaged with everyone.
However, I was wearing my watch and (as I always do) check my watch every 10-15 minutes due to my love to watch dials (I was wearing my pepsi Seiko 5kx SRPD53).
Noticing that, my relative asked me “are you going somewhere?” And I dismissed the question by laughing and saying “no just checking the time”. As a matter of fact, I did not check the time. I was simply, admiring the watch.
Sometimes I feel like a weirdo loving watches like that.
But then again, here I am writing this post in an app specifically for watch people
I have a corporate career and run an IT Consulting Firm to feed my watch addiction.
Sad that it is less weird to have your head in your phone the whole time
Sad that it is less weird to have your head in your phone the whole time
Additionally, playing and fiddling with smartwatches is way less weird 😂
They are the weirdos.
We are all weird in someway or another.
I say Own it.
I get called weird, and I don’t care and I double down and tell them about the watch. Eventually they realize social bullying of anything that is different doesn’t work and just accept it. 🙏
Frequently checking your watch sends the exact same social signals as pulling out your phone. It tells people you're bored, and not really paying attention to them.
Before smart phones this was the signal to others that you were not interested.
Frequently checking your watch sends the exact same social signals as pulling out your phone. It tells people you're bored, and not really paying attention to them.
Before smart phones this was the signal to others that you were not interested.
100% could not have said it any better.
It's meant this since the dawn of pocket and wrist watches.
Sooo passive-aggressive.
You should have said.
“Just timing your next nasty comment “
Would finding oneself with one's neck between their wife's clenched hands count as an inconvenient position? Hypothetical scenario
Sooo passive-aggressive.
You should have said.
“Just timing your next nasty comment “
You are aware that sending social signals that you are bored is even more passive aggressive right?
I’ve known relatives that are far more weird.
Far more. 😳🤪🤣
Ohhh ... I love that watch... Dreaming about buy that watch someday ❤️
Sad that it is less weird to have your head in your phone the whole time
You are aware that sending social signals that you are bored is even more passive aggressive right?
Huh?
Huh?
Looking at your watch frequently is a social signal to others that you are bored and not interested in the conversation. It's exactly the same as pulling out your phone and scrolling.
The family member calling out the behaviour was being less "passive aggressive" than the guy who kept looking at his watch.
I get you! We’re weirdos, and that’s that. I can even just stare at my watch, rapt, and watch the minute hand move! I mean, honestly!
🤫
And to be completely honest with you, I also stare at my Casio. Even the lower end ones.
I wonder if one day we’ll have an equivalent for Screen-on-Time feature but for the time we stare at our watches
We think you are perfectly normal
I know! But then, normal is a relative term 😂
What if you ARE bored? If the conversation that’s happening is boring, it’s perfectly ok to find something more interesting. This is not a job interview, it’s family/friends etc.
Also checked the beauty of a watch, painting, sculpture while at a gathering is perfectly acceptable. Again, checking the time constantly and quickly is not the same as staring at a beautiful watch.
Then you need to accept that you are acting in a disrespectful way, and accept that people will treat you accordingly.
You're free to act as you like, but that doesn't mean there aren't consequences for your actions. If you're ok with being seen as disrespectful, giv'er.
I guess this is also a reminder that we have to be aware of perceptions every bit as much as our real intentions. You may not intend to come off looking like you are making a beeline to the door, you are simply enjoying your watch dial, we all get it. I would recommend one of two possible behaviors: save your dial gazing for your own time so that you can be mindfully in the present when talking with people, or else take a preemptive approach and bring them into your gazing with you. But just as we don’t want to be constantly reminded how wonderful your in-laws dog/cat/garden/new remodeling/car/anything really is, one time is enough in talking about your watch. Any more than that is bordering on being psychopath. In other words a WatchCrunch subscriber lol! (Guilty as charged! 😏)
In addition, talking just one time about your watch with a given person but then doing so for each of your thirty watches might also be perceived in the same manner: psychopath! 😏
Then you need to accept that you are acting in a disrespectful way, and accept that people will treat you accordingly.
You're free to act as you like, but that doesn't mean there aren't consequences for your actions. If you're ok with being seen as disrespectful, giv'er.
So being bored* at a family event if they are taking about social media, celebrities, influencers is disrespectful. And you must always pay attention and cannot be fascinated or distracted by anything else that interest you?
I’m afraid I’ll have to disagree that is disrespectful. To me, context and the situation matters. Like if they are actively taking to you etc. Each to their own I guess.
I hate that feeling when I do genuinely need to check the time when someone is talking to me. There should be a disclaimer signal or something for this.
I hate that feeling when I do genuinely need to check the time when someone is talking to me. There should be a disclaimer signal or something for this.
I just apologize for being rude and simply admit to needing to know the exact time, works better if you do not get up to leave immediately. Sometimes I will suggest that in fact I am checking the time for the other person’s benefit, that my time is fine.
Looking at your watch frequently is a social signal to others that you are bored and not interested in the conversation. It's exactly the same as pulling out your phone and scrolling.
The family member calling out the behaviour was being less "passive aggressive" than the guy who kept looking at his watch.
Ok
I am weary of checking the time when I'm around people, as I also love a good dial. I counteract this by instead taking the watch off, winding it, holding it to my ear, putting it back on and continuing. It's surprisingly less awkward than you'd think.
Ok
I don't make the social norms, but I am aware of them... Some people maybe aren't.
Whether or not you agree with them, they exist and shape the way people interact with you.
It is unfortunate that checking the time has socially become a sign of looking to get out of a situation. Since it has though, if someone asked me that question I would just let them know that I really enjoy the dial of the watch I am wearing haha. I might even comment how I enjoy what the lighting in their home does to the dial. That way you can bring them in on the joke so to say, and make sure they do not feel unappreciated.
It sounds like you handled it very well. When in doubt, a genuine smile and a confident answer go a long way in the face of a potentially tense interaction.
Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."
It is unfortunate that checking the time has socially become a sign of looking to get out of a situation. Since it has though, if someone asked me that question I would just let them know that I really enjoy the dial of the watch I am wearing haha. I might even comment how I enjoy what the lighting in their home does to the dial. That way you can bring them in on the joke so to say, and make sure they do not feel unappreciated.
It sounds like you handled it very well. When in doubt, a genuine smile and a confident answer go a long way in the face of a potentially tense interaction.
Proverbs 15:1 "A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."
Totally agree with you. I tend to soften my words even when I am being direct. Solid advice my friend
I am weary of checking the time when I'm around people, as I also love a good dial. I counteract this by instead taking the watch off, winding it, holding it to my ear, putting it back on and continuing. It's surprisingly less awkward than you'd think.
I do that as well. I also fidget with my dive watch dial and time random things. Gives me an excuse to check my watch when I’m “setting something”
Ok we must admit that we here are particularly crazy in our passion for these small, useless and very expensive metal objects haha However people must also understand that personally when I look at my watch, 90% of the time it is not to tell the time 😅