Being asked to check the time

Problem Of Motivation

I'm talking about a situation where neither person has a watch. How to you feel when someone shouts from one room to another to ask you to look up at the clock to tell them the time?

I remember when I used to work in a factory, this lady would often come by and ask "what's the time?" because she wouldn't want to go and check herself. Now I was standing in such a place that I would only have to lean a bit in order to look through a gap in order to see the time, where as she would've had to walk around. I still didn't like it. It made me feel like I was just the ask time boy. Eventually I stuck it to her when she'd ask. I'd just say "I don't know, why don't you go check"

Atoms for Peace

Isn't that what mobile phones are for?

Junkyard Tom

I will give you several million dollars for the movie rights to this gripping tale.

Silent Running

Problem Of Motivation wrote: »

I'm talking about a situation where neither person has a watch. How to you feel when someone shouts from one room to another to ask you to look up at the clock to tell them the time?

I remember when I used to work in a factory, this lady would often come by and ask "what's the time?" because she wouldn't want to go and check herself. Now I was standing in such a place that I would only have to lean a bit in order to look through a gap in order to see the time, where as she would've had to walk around. I still didn't like it. It made me feel like I was just the ask time boy. Eventually I stuck it to her when she'd ask. I'd just say "I don't know, why don't you go check"

Simple answer. Tell her that it's just coming up to 3. Even though it's actually 3:35.

Problem Of Motivation

Atoms for Peace wrote: »

Isn't that what mobile phones are for?

I know. It doesn't happen too often anymore.

But for example, in my case of being in a factory you can understand why I wouldn't have one.

Force Carrier

Response: "bout half past"
Other: Half past what?
Response: That's right.

Problem Of Motivation

Silent Running wrote: »

Simple answer. Tell her that it's just coming up to 3. Even though it's actually 3:35.

That would work quite well, but only if I already had a good idea of the actual time.

NewbridgeIR

Just say "yeah - my arse, your face"

Graces7

If you ask someone who you have seen just check the time what time it is? most ly they will not remember

Silent Running

NewbridgeIR wrote: »

Just say "yeah - my arse, your face"

Isn't that when someone is looking for a match?

Silent Running

Problem Of Motivation wrote: »

That would work quite well, but only if I already had a good idea of the actual time.

You don't actually need to know the right time... wing it.

yabadabado

The standard reply is: ten to

NewbridgeIR

Silent Running wrote: »

Isn't that when someone is looking for a match?

Originally, yes. But you can adapt it as an answer for a number of different questions.

Black Swan

Harmless. Do so automatically without real thought. To do otherwise might waste conscious time. Of course, if a person does this repetitively, it would be a bother. Reminds me of the "Are we there yet?" cliche.

Different variation... Once-upon-a-time I was at a bus stop without mobile and my watch battery had just failed. There was no clock within sight. I politely asked someone for the time, and they looked at me with disdain, stepped a few paces away, as if I was going to ask them for money next.

Silent Running

NewbridgeIR wrote: »

Originally, yes. But you can adapt it as an answer for a number of different questions.

Ah right... so if you're stopped at a checkpoint and the Garda asks for your licence. That kind of scenario?

NickNickleby

Problem Of Motivation wrote: »

I'm talking about a situation where neither person has a watch. How to you feel when someone shouts from one room to another to ask you to look up at the clock to tell them the time?

I remember when I used to work in a factory, this lady would often come by and ask "what's the time?" because she wouldn't want to go and check herself. Now I was standing in such a place that I would only have to lean a bit in order to look through a gap in order to see the time, where as she would've had to walk around. I still didn't like it. It made me feel like I was just the ask time boy. Eventually I stuck it to her when she'd ask. I'd just say "I don't know, why don't you go check"

If only you'd stayed, by now you would have been a time lord, with your multi-coloured knitted scarf, big hat and light rain coat. And a big mop of curly hair on ye. With your K9 and some pretty young one hanging on your every word, getting into phone boxes with you. Some people, honestly, don't know they're born!

NewbridgeIR

Silent Running wrote: »

Ah right... so if you're stopped at a checkpoint and the Garda asks for your licence. That kind of scenario?

Wouldn't be a wise move. The Gardai don't like smart answers.

Better to use it as a stock response to annoying questions like "do you have a match / a light / the time / change for a hostel" etc.

"What time is it?" *looks at wrist* "Five hairs past my arm"

OP, it's a miracle you manage to get through the day.

freshpopcorn

OP just listen to the radio all the time. They often say the time on that.

mrcheez

Atoms for Peace wrote: »

Isn't that what mobile phones are for?

Nah that's what Alexa is for

Wheety

If I need to know the time, I just post on Boards and check the time on the post

Humphrey Menton

yabadabado wrote: »

The standard reply is: ten to

I tend to go with 'Half'.

BalcombeSt4

Problem Of Motivation wrote: »

I'm talking about a situation where neither person has a watch. How to you feel when someone shouts from one room to another to ask you to look up at the clock to tell them the time?

I remember when I used to work in a factory, this lady would often come by and ask "what's the time?" because she wouldn't want to go and check herself. Now I was standing in such a place that I would only have to lean a bit in order to look through a gap in order to see the time, where as she would've had to walk around. I still didn't like it. It made me feel like I was just the ask time boy. Eventually I stuck it to her when she'd ask. I'd just say "I don't know, why don't you go check"

Can't you just press the "sky" button or what ever TV system you have to check time? Or look at your iPod, Desktop or Laptop? I mean we still have clocks but nobody has checked the actual time on them in about 20 years, there more to brighten up the rooms that have to much blood on the wall.

EmmetSpiceland

Candie wrote: »

"What time is it?" *looks at wrist* "Five hairs past my arm"

OP, it's a miracle you manage to get through the day.

It’s “time” you got a watch!!

Westernyelp

OP. You need to get some help around social interactions. It will make things easier.

All the OP's difficult scenarios seem to involve women. Does it only grate when a woman asks you a favor/for the time/to pick up milk/wishes you well in an interview?

You think far too much about minor social interactions. Sometimes it's not about putting you in your place and just about finding out what time it is from the person nearest the clock.

RhubarbCrumble

"Do you have the right time on you there?"

I'm unlikely to be walking around with the wrong time ......

Sam Quentin

Just say:: it's 2 hairs past a freckle..and laugh like a crazy man 😆

bonzodog2

Tell them its Hammer Time (running joke with me and 2 grandkids)

Cee-Jay-Cee

Problem Of Motivation wrote: »

I'm talking about a situation where neither person has a watch. How to you feel when someone shouts from one room to another to ask you to look up at the clock to tell them the time?

I remember when I used to work in a factory, this lady would often come by and ask "what's the time?" because she wouldn't want to go and check herself. Now I was standing in such a place that I would only have to lean a bit in order to look through a gap in order to see the time, where as she would've had to walk around. I still didn't like it. It made me feel like I was just the ask time boy. Eventually I stuck it to her when she'd ask. I'd just say "I don't know, why don't you go check"

Cool story Time Boy.

YFlyer

Silent Running wrote: »

Isn't that when someone is looking for a match?

Half past kiss my arse.

Problem Of Motivation

Problem Of Motivation wrote: »

I remember when I used to work in a factory, this lady would often come by and ask "what's the time?"

Yeah, I've been working in factories for years. A martyr to the auld repetitive strain I am.

Anyway, "what's the time?" is code for, 'Want to shag at lunchtime?'

I presume she eventually gave up and asked a real man.

Problem Of Motivation

NewbridgeIR wrote: »

"yeah - my arse, your face"

Depends on your gender and how sexy you are!

Problem Of Motivation

NewbridgeIR wrote: »

"change for a hostel" etc.

I've never been asked that? You mean people looking for money to stay in a hostel?

kneemos

Here's a whale that sounds like a Dublin taxi driver.


https://youtu.be/VNz01X8XlmA

Sheridan81

Next time it happens, pick up a guitar, start tap-dancing and sing Bill Haley's Rock Around The Clock. "One, two, three o clock, four o clock, rock" etc. Get some midgets to perform a choreographed dance around you while you strum. Make sure someone is on hand to record it; so you can post it on youtube later and become an internet sensation.

Yer Da sells Avon

Problem Of Motivation wrote: »

How to you feel when someone shouts from one room to another to ask you to look up at the clock to tell them the time?

Livid.

My hands are shaking right now just thinking about it.

Captain Red Beard

Junkyard Tom wrote: »

I will give you several million dollars for the movie rights to this gripping tale.

I'll give double whatever this peasant offers.

colm_mcm

Didn’t even have to think who the most likely author of a thread like this would be.

Cee-Jay-Cee

Cee-Jay-Cee wrote: »

Cool story Time Boy.

He prefers ‘ask time boy’

Car99

It's cowboy time , 10 to 10

Autecher

Problem Of Motivation wrote: »

I'm talking about a situation where neither person has a watch. How to you feel when someone shouts from one room to another to ask you to look up at the clock to tell them the time?

I remember when I used to work in a factory, this lady would often come by and ask "what's the time?" because she wouldn't want to go and check herself. Now I was standing in such a place that I would only have to lean a bit in order to look through a gap in order to see the time, where as she would've had to walk around. I still didn't like it. It made me feel like I was just the ask time boy. Eventually I stuck it to her when she'd ask. I'd just say "I don't know, why don't you go check"

Shagging someone is an odd response to them asking you what time it is.

prinzeugen

Some undesirable folks used to ask people in public places "what time is it on your phone?" So people would take their phone out to check and then it would get robbed.

Happened to me in Temple Bar about 10 years ago. Was smart enough to reply "same time as my watch" before telling him the time from my watch.

People don't ask me about time anymore as they can't understand the Scottish term "the back O' XX O' clock". Drives work colleagues nuts.

Its taken my OH 15 years to work out that if I say I will be home at the back O' 11.30 it means I will be home between 11.30 and 11.40.

Mr_Muffin

Time is a man made invention that is used to control us. I don't believe in it.

Problem Of Motivation

Candie wrote: »

All the OP's difficult scenarios seem to involve women. Does it only grate when a woman asks you a favor/for the time/to pick up milk/wishes you well in an interview?

I don't remember that one!

Bobblehats

Problem Of Motivation wrote: »

I'm talking about a situation where neither person has a watch.

There’s a man who’s been going onstage with a big clock around his neck for the past 30 odd years asking “do you know what time it is?” and he’s a millionaire for it. Go figure.

fitriv uyda

just posting to check the time

Wheety

Here's a nice song about time

the beer revolu

I used to work with a guy who was always asking the time from others. Constantly.
One day it occurred to me that he just couldn't be arsed taking his phone out to check and would rather someone else do it. Response from then on was, "check your own phone".

Same guy would also always ask for a light because it was easier than searching his pockets for his own lighter. As often as not, your lighter went straight into his pocket.