Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

That's an argument for getting rid of clocks altogether, as clock time is a social fiction. Our modern notion of global time wasn't invented until railroads and long-distance communications made it necessary.

Before that people relied on local solar time, where noon is whenever the sun is highest at the town hall. That's also socially constructed, just for a smaller social unit.

The only natural order of things for individuals is daylight where one is. In which case, one doesn't really need a clock at all, just the various natural markers like twilight, sunrise, and noon.

Of course, the whole notion of individualism is a relatively recent modern invention. Naturally humans are eusocial primates who live in close groups. So if you're after truly natural, "morning" is when your troop leaders get up and "evening" is when they start to bed down, and it's a thumping for you if you're noisy at the wrong time.

Alternatively, we could admit that modern society exists and isn't going away and work together come up with some useful global definition of social time that works reasonably well for all concerned.



That only works until you have to synchronize time with someone else. If you can afford a private jet with pilots that live inside it at all times in case you want to go, then no problem. For the rest of us we depend on larger airplanes that take a few hundred people at a time (and are a lot more environmentally friendly). Likewise for trains. Or classes in school.


I'm not sure what to make of this comment. It sounds contrary in tone, but it seems like we both agree "modern society exists and isn't going away" and that we must "come up with some useful global definition of social time".


So, questions over gender roles are pushing society towards gender-neutral bathrooms (aka individual stalls).

Maybe questions over work-times should push society over better sound-proofing in living habitats, and permanent (i.e. at all times) noise limits in residential zones?




Consider applying for YC's Summer 2026 batch! Applications are open till May 4

Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: