I basically just cannot write something like: "I'll let you know at 20:30" etc. I know it's not used often, but can people really just not understand it?
2006-07-31 17:18:55 · 17 answers · asked by presidentrichardnixon 3 in Social Science ➔ Other - Social Science
I'd prefer to use 24 hour time, but I always have to think of whether the person to whom I am communicating will understand it.
2006-07-31 17:25:09 · update #1
This is not a American thing. it is global.
I was in the Military for 27 years, so a 24 hr clock is very familiar.
I also have served around the globe, and it is rare to have a civilian use 20:30 to tell me 8:30pm or anyone except a sailor to give time in bells, ("I'll wake you at 8 bells")
So, you should not be surprised at the general population not using a 24hour time statement. Or not wanting to.
I really found the whole statement a bit disingenuous.
Yours:; Grumpy
2006-07-31 17:33:31 · answer #1 · answered by Grumpy 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
it is really simple for me and I'm not military... there is no confusing am's and pm's. 1:00 am is 100 hours.. 2:00 am is 200 hours.. 3:00 am is 300 hours.. etc... now when you get up to 1:00 pm then that is 1300 hours 2:00pm is 1400 hours.. 3:00pm is 1500 hours 4:00 pm is 1600 hours... 5:00 pm is 1700 hours 6:00 pm is 1800 hours... and by the time you get to mid night that will be 2400 hours... where do you think that a quarter past or a quarter til come in the picture.. or half past a certain time. Military time is more accurate to figure out everything like pay checks or ...like someone tell you to meet them at 6:00 well is that six in the morning or six at night... When someone ask you to meet them at 1800 hours that is six oclock at night. When some one ask you to meet them in the morning at 6:00 then that will be 600 hours.... It is based on a 24 hour day... starting at 1:00 am... then 15 minutes after the hours is 25 minutes in Military time. 30 minutes would be 50 and 45 minutes would be 75 that is how it comes up with the 100 segments of the military time..
now are you really confused....
2006-07-31 17:41:01 · answer #2 · answered by Autumns Destany 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talk about a complainer! You have me beat by a mile! Many Americans could care less because most of our society wants everything NOW & hearing AM or PM tells us what we need to know without any doubt as to the time. We tend to be a "shift" oriented society when it comes to work & when we hear or see 24 hour time, we associate it with the Military or Law Enforcement Agencies. Many of us in the U.S. have come from families with ties to these agencies & we were taught at an early age to NEVER use this timetable OUTSIDE of the "circle". I suppose you could say it is a "safety issue" with many of us!
2006-08-01 12:54:31 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's not that just Ameriacans can't understand or don't understand it, but it's a worldwide inability of all & one, or say ignorance to give it a try. I personally feel it should B made compulsary, when everyone knows that 24 hrs make a day, to make it more popular, & make use of it habitually often. As far as Americans R concerned, they R used to make everything short, due to, lack of time/as they R either more busier than others or pretends to, lazyness, ignorance etc. Practicing 24 hrs. time is the best logically I guess.
2006-07-31 17:40:46 · answer #4 · answered by JD 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
The 24 hour clock is barely utilized in a handful of worldwide places. i think of maximum American human beings ought to be certain the 24 hour clock, in spite of what the media says maximum human beings are extraordinarily clever.
2016-12-14 17:16:45 · answer #5 · answered by ? 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am an American and I think it is easy, but most people here have no concept of it as per your first answer. The reason for this is that they are lazy and do not care to learn the simplicity of it.
2006-07-31 17:25:26 · answer #6 · answered by manw/thegoldengun 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think its true that ALL Americans don't understand it. Everyone who is ever in our military has to use it. One of my daughters prefers it. I speak another language and in that language I have to think on a 24 hour clock.
I think a lot of Americans don't understand it because they don't need to. ; )
2006-07-31 17:24:00 · answer #7 · answered by tantiemeg 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not only Aemricans but a lot of people around the world have the same problem. Mainly due to a lack of usage.
2006-07-31 17:24:20 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Because they have problems converting it to 25-hour time during Daylight Savings Time.
2006-07-31 17:33:29 · answer #9 · answered by Jim T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
May be you talked to an American who is from defence..i.e army, navy or the airforce...they read the 24 hour time...
2006-07-31 17:23:05 · answer #10 · answered by Deep 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋