# How come you know the U.S. Time Zones? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 3, 2010, 10:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-you-know-the-u-s-time-zones/538131 "2010-05-03T10:01:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-you-know-the-u-s-time-zones/538131/21 "2010-05-03T18:13:33Z")
> [@Xema](#): > > Yet she’s never actually spoken on the phone to someone outside her own timezone? How could she? They wouldn’t pick up for another hour or two. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-you-know-the-u-s-time-zones/538131/22 "2010-05-03T19:20:05Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > Actually, she’s some kind of technician in a hospital. :eek: And she’s in her 50s. Come on. She’s either pulling your leg or she’s mentally challenged. ---
**Author:** ![Perciful](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b38774/32.png) [@Perciful](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Perciful)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-you-know-the-u-s-time-zones/538131/23 "2010-05-04T12:46:50Z")
I learned by Tv programs being in different time zones and my Dad’s brothers calling late by our standard from the west coast. It would be 11pm at our house but only 7pm in California. ---
**Author:** ![Kyla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/eada6e/32.png) [@Kyla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyla)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-you-know-the-u-s-time-zones/538131/24 "2010-05-04T15:22:28Z")
> [@Perciful](#): > > I learned by Tv programs being in different time zones and my Dad’s brothers calling late by our standard from the west coast. It would be 11pm at our house but only 7pm in California. Where the heck did you live to have that time difference? ---
**Author:** ![tdn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/94ad74/32.png) [@tdn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tdn)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-you-know-the-u-s-time-zones/538131/25 "2010-05-04T15:29:02Z")
While I’m pretty sure I got my info from wathcing TV, I have distinct memories of driving from New York to Kansas every year starting at around the age of eight. Crossing into Illinois, my parents dutifully set their watches back by an hour. I’m sure I asked why, and I’m sure they made me understand. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Greenjeans](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mr.greenjeans/32/551_2.png) [@Mr.Greenjeans](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Greenjeans)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-you-know-the-u-s-time-zones/538131/26 "2010-05-04T15:41:15Z")
When I was young (2nd grade or so), my friends and I would get our jollies by calling directory assistance for the 808 area code in Hawaii and asking them what time it was. At the time, of course, directory assistance was free and an actual person answered the call. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2010, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-you-know-the-u-s-time-zones/538131/27 "2010-05-04T17:21:58Z")
I don’t know the US Time Zones. I know the Canadian ones from working at national companies. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-come-you-know-the-u-s-time-zones/538131.md?page=1)