Would you prefer your clock to be slow or fast?
By kalav56
@kalav56 (11464)
India
July 4, 2012 2:47am CST
I know that it is expected of a clock to show the exact time. In case the exact time is not shown, would you prefer it if the clock is slightly fast or slightly slow? [Of course all of us would prefer to get it repaired 
and see the exact time and that is beside the point].
I am reminded of my school days when my mother used to set the time on the wall clock slightly fast; this would make her hurry us all up saying “Hey! It is high time .Get ready fast!” and I would feel thrilled if it were fast and the extra ten minutes or so would give me such relief.
Even now, I like the clock to be fast.
Apart from the compulsion to see the exact time, what would be your preference if the clock were to be either slow or fast? And why would it be so? I feel that it may be indicative of some characteristic in us.
Please do share your views.
and see the exact time and that is beside the point].
I am reminded of my school days when my mother used to set the time on the wall clock slightly fast; this would make her hurry us all up saying “Hey! It is high time .Get ready fast!” and I would feel thrilled if it were fast and the extra ten minutes or so would give me such relief.
Even now, I like the clock to be fast.
Apart from the compulsion to see the exact time, what would be your preference if the clock were to be either slow or fast? And why would it be so? I feel that it may be indicative of some characteristic in us.
Please do share your views.2 people like this
18 responses
@jennyze (7029)
• Indonesia
6 Jul 12
Just as you said, most of us would want to see the clock shows the ecaxt time of the day and night. Should there be a dysfunction on the clock, I would rather have it faster so I don't miss any appointment. But I would try to repair it so that I would have the exact time.
1 person likes this
@allknowing (130212)
• India
5 Jul 12
I think only the slow coaches would want their clock to be set slower than normal so that they can tell the world that it is not yet time up to complete what they were supposed to! The feeling that one still has time is some kind of consolation though false!
I like my watch to run on time
I like my watch to run on time1 person likes this
@allknowing (130212)
• India
8 Jul 12
Sometimes a clock going fast does come in handy specially when one does not know it is fast and gets worried that it will be late for an appointment when someone in the house will say that the clock is fast and that there is still time to keep the appointment
1 person likes this
@Lauraleigh99 (4718)
• United States
6 Jul 12
I have my clock at home set ahead by about 8 minutes. I don't like to be late! That way when I look at the clock and leave when that clock shows the time I should be somewhere I am early :) I think it makes me feel better to wait to the last minute to leave. Sounds weird but it works
@lkbooi (16070)
• Malaysia
6 Jul 12
Hi kalav56, I always set all the clocks in my house 5 minutes fast. My supervisor in my part time office set the wall clock there 5 minutes earlier as well I don't set the clock to be slow for I may be late. I'm happy with the time to be 5 minutes fast, so I could get every thing ready before reaching the real time. 5 minutes time is just enough for me.
May be it seems like psychological console only. But I like it, at least I have got extra 5 minutes to get ready It's more relaxing to have a little spare time. I dislike to attend appointment late or early. I don't mind the opposite side arrive a few minutes late or early.
Happy posting
I don't set the clock to be slow for I may be late. I'm happy with the time to be 5 minutes fast, so I could get every thing ready before reaching the real time. 5 minutes time is just enough for me.
May be it seems like psychological console only. But I like it, at least I have got extra 5 minutes to get ready It's more relaxing to have a little spare time. I dislike to attend appointment late or early. I don't mind the opposite side arrive a few minutes late or early.
Happy posting 1 person likes this
@roshigo58 (4859)
• Pune, India
4 Jul 12
i do agree with your mother. Generally it is noticed whenever we are going out for any function, drama,movie or just outing, we should be in time. But we are bound to late due to the ladies in the house because of their late hour make up. So i use to keep our wall clock half an hour fast so that they are ready within time.
1 person likes this
@sishy7 (27169)
• Australia
5 Jul 12
Wouldn't you think half an hour faster is a bit too much? It would be too obvious, then will give the effect to those who are always late that they still have lots of time. Consequently, they will take their time to start preparing themselves thinking that there are still plenty of time to do so which could end up with them finishing at the very last minute or even late. If it was just 5 or 10 minutes faster, they may know that they still have time but not that much. So they will still be hurrying themselves up so that they will not be late.
1 person likes this
@Kashidanga1971 (1354)
• Bangladesh
4 Jul 12
I set my clock five minutes fast but set the right time in my office clock.
1 person likes this
@myfb2009 (8296)
• Malaysia
5 Jul 12
Kalav, i would always prefer my clock to be 10 - 15 minutes faster than the correct time. It is to make sure that i can reach my destination without being late. I even encouraged my son to learn to wake-up early to avoid being late for school. Being late to reach office or the place where we are going is not a good idea. I learned from my parents are being late for school and work is not a good attitude. I like to be an early person when i have any appointment.
@thesids (22180)
• Bhubaneswar, India
4 Jul 12
Dear Kalav
As long as I am aware of my watch running late or fast, I do know it doesnt make a difference - though at times I sleep more or even get lazier.
If someone else did that change for me on my watch, I would opt for that change to be fast. At least I will wake up a little early.
My brother in law (cousin) has always set his watches 30 minutes fast but still gets delayed most of the time.
As long as I am aware of my watch running late or fast, I do know it doesnt make a difference - though at times I sleep more or even get lazier.
If someone else did that change for me on my watch, I would opt for that change to be fast. At least I will wake up a little early.
My brother in law (cousin) has always set his watches 30 minutes fast but still gets delayed most of the time.
@viju0410 (2286)
• India
6 Jul 12
Hi kalav,
The time is exact but i do set the alarm well before time. i.e. like your mother, i too need to send off both my children to school at 6.35 am so the alarm is usually set for 5 or 5.10 but then we love to be in bed (this is my negative point) even after the alarm rings.. However i know i can't delay much so its a matter of 10 min. Otherwise the mobile has the exact time but again husband has set the watch at home 10 min. faster.
Yes, even i too like it to be fast.
However i know i can't delay much so its a matter of 10 min. Otherwise the mobile has the exact time but again husband has set the watch at home 10 min. faster.
Yes, even i too like it to be fast. 
@Buchi_bulla (8298)
• India
3 Aug 12
My preference is to keep it 10 minutes fast and I follow that. It expedites our activity and it is a great relief to know that still time is there when it shows the time is up, though we know that the watch is fast. It is usually the mental condition to many and I see many people keeping their watch or wall clock a bit faster, which varies from 5 minutes to 10 minutes.
@sajeevking (5073)
• Mumbai, India
7 Jul 12
I like to keep all my clock and watch at the prefect time
It really doesn't matter when you know that the the clock is 5 minutes ahead we would say ok still 5 minutes are remaining so waste that time
it only help when we don't know that the clock is fast usually i my mom used to do this in my exam days secretly and i used to reach at my exam hall well before the time
@redvakaurvaki (4216)
• Indonesia
8 Jul 12
I always have my clock fasten 15 minutes for the same reason your mother used. by fasten my clock, I can reduce the possibility to come late to the office. when I was at school, I also fasten my clock, so this is one of favourite habit so far
@512771751 (1096)
• China
21 Jul 12
The same as you, I always make my clock a little fast. I am afraid I would be late for something and I always make my clock to be 5 minutes fast, then I will have much time to prepare for other things. I think it is a good habit.
