# Bus Driver: Sorry, I Don't Understand MilitaryTime **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [January 18, 2007, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496 "2007-01-18T19:52:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/21 "2007-01-18T22:15:20Z")
[QUOTE=Common Tater] Did her inability to tell time interfere with your travels, though? Were you actually refused?? I imagine I would have tried awfully hard not to laugh and tell her to call the cops. [/QUOTE] No, she let us on. She wasn’t even rude or anything, just stoopid. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/22 "2007-01-18T22:24:43Z")
[QUOTE=Hogwash] If you really want to screw with people using time-telling devices, get one of [these bad boys](http://www.thinkgeek.com/homeoffice/lights/59e0/). [/QUOTE] I think one of those was used in “The Odd Couple” when Felix redecorated the apartment. ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/23 "2007-01-18T22:37:18Z")
[QUOTE=Gangster Octopus] You do realize there are only 31 days in October, right? [/QUOTE] Hogwash was making a little joke about October 43rd. Everyone on this board knows that there is no such thing as “October.” ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/24 "2007-01-18T23:02:06Z")
[QUOTE=GorillaMan] But they manage to get jobs working in transport? And don’t figure it out on the job? And aren’t embarassed by the fact when confronted with their inabilities in their job? [/QUOTE] Well, all the bus timetables here are am/pm style. Presumably that’s how the bus system is managed overall. So clearly drivers who don’t know/don’t care about the 24 hour clock can do their jobs efficiently and their lack of knowledge isn’t an “inability in the job”. Perhaps it’s the same in Portland. ---
**Author:** ![Common\_Tater](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/common_tater/32/13846_2.png) [@Common\_Tater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Common_Tater)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/25 "2007-01-18T23:13:58Z")
Y’know, this gives me an idea - the next time someone points at their wrist and asks me “do you know what time it is”, instead of saying “Yes.” I’m gonna use .mil time. (I’ve had my coffee, just feeling snarky t’day I guess.) ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/26 "2007-01-18T23:21:11Z")
[QUOTE=zamboniracer] Hogwash was making a little joke about October 43rd. Everyone on this board knows that there is no such thing as “October.” [/QUOTE] Yes, it’s Hexidecimalember. ---
**Author:** ![rayh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@rayh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rayh)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2007, 11:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/27 "2007-01-18T23:36:07Z")
[What time is it, Eccles?](http://www.hexmaster.com/goonscripts/what_time_is_it.html) ---
**Author:** ![dwc1970](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a183cd/32.png) [@dwc1970](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dwc1970)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/28 "2007-01-19T00:00:01Z")
[QUOTE=Common Tater] Y’know, this gives me an idea - the next time someone points at their wrist and asks me “do you know what time it is”, instead of saying “Yes.” I’m gonna use .mil time. (I’ve had my coffee, just feeling snarky t’day I guess.) [/QUOTE] When people ask me, “Do you know what time it is?” I just tell them “yes” and leave it at that. They didn’t ask me what the time was, based on how they phrased their question, they just wanted to know if I happen to know what the time is. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/29 "2007-01-19T00:19:26Z")
[QUOTE=Hogwash] Perhaps I need to construct my sarcastic off-the-cuff remarks with greater forethought in future. [/QUOTE] We are all interested in the future for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives. And remember, my friend, future events such as these will affect you…in the future. ---
**Author:** ![tomndebb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b9e5f3/32.png) [@tomndebb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tomndebb)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/30 "2007-01-19T00:25:26Z")
When anyone asks me if I know what time it is, I tell them 25 or 6 to four. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/31 "2007-01-19T00:35:29Z")
Ignorant apelike thug: “Hey you! What time is it?” Doper (smirking): “Time you got a watch!” **Smack!** Doper: “Please Sir, it’s 21.04.” **Smack!** Doper: “I mean, it’s 9.04 pm.” ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/32 "2007-01-19T00:43:43Z")
Wouldn’t it have been 0504 Zulu? Or doesn’t the military use GMT any more? ---
**Author:** ![Antonius\_Block](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/51bf81/32.png) [@Antonius\_Block](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antonius_Block)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/33 "2007-01-19T00:47:36Z")
[QUOTE=Stranger On A Train] [Metric time](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metric_time) (in computing, anyway) is measured in strict multiples of seconds from some arbitrary starting point (in Unix, 01 January 1970). [/QUOTE] There’s also [Decimal Time](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decimal_Time), introduced during the French Revolution at the same time as the [French Republican Calendar](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Republican_Calendar). Happy 29 [Nivôse](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niv%C3%B4se)[sup]\*[/sup], everybody! Go and find a mercury thermometer to hug! [[sup]\*[/sup]I _think_ that today _could_ alternatively be 27 Nivôse (lead) or 28 Nivôse (zinc).] ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/34 "2007-01-19T00:49:50Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb] When anyone asks me if I know what time it is, I tell them 25 or 6 to four. [/QUOTE] But, but… your not in Chicago. My Wife gave me a new watch for christmas. It had a third hand you could set to another timezone in .mil time. It was fine 'cept for two things. I really don’t need to know what time it is in another time zone, I don’t know anyone overseas. And, the hand for the 24 hour time was just a little bit shorter than the regular hour hand. Same style too. You always had to do a double take. I ended up exchanging it. ---
**Author:** ![Giraffe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/giraffe/32/129_2.png) [@Giraffe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giraffe)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/35 "2007-01-19T01:04:05Z")
[QUOTE=jjimm] Prepare a card, and the next time you hear this, hand it to the person: **IF H\>12 THEN H=H-12** (Helps pick up chicks, too!) [/QUOTE] Sure, if you want to mack on the grannies. The young, nubile set requires something more like: int h = Clock-\>hour(); if (h \> 12) { return h%12; } If they look confused, tell them you’ll “text” them the full source. Then wink and give them the double finger guns. Smooth! ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/36 "2007-01-19T01:18:55Z")
[QUOTE=tomndebb] When anyone asks me if I know what time it is, I tell them 25 or 6 to four. [/QUOTE] Yeah, but does anybody ever really know what time it is? Does anybody really care? ---
**Author:** ![Seven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Seven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seven)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 1:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/37 "2007-01-19T01:19:54Z")
[QUOTE=Gangster Octopus] You do realize there are only 31 days in October, right? [/QUOTE] Only once every five years - leap year and all. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Carrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f0a364/32.png) [@Captain\_Carrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Carrot)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/38 "2007-01-19T01:21:16Z")
More like: h=clock.hour() return (h-1)%12+1 (h\<12 (h-1)%12+1=h; h=12 (h-1)%12+1=12; h\>12 (h-1)%12+1=h%12; h=24 (h-1)%12+1=12) ---
**Author:** ![drewbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drewbert/32/15890_2.png) [@drewbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewbert)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/39 "2007-01-19T01:39:48Z")
[QUOTE=zamboniracer] Everyone on this board knows that there is no such thing as “October.” [/QUOTE] Lousy Smarch weather… ---
**Author:** ![Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/278dde/32.png) [@Runs\_With\_Scissors](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Runs_With_Scissors)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2007, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496/40 "2007-01-19T01:49:41Z")
Maybe it’s like this in every city, but Portland bus drivers are either total Nazis or total sweethearts. Not a lotta in-between. I imagine several pittings could have come out of this snow storm…followed by a bunch of blank stares from people in the Midwest and Northeast 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bus-driver-sorry-i-dont-understand-militarytime/388496.md?page=3)