# Mastering the Art of Timing

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mastering-the-art-of-timing/353460>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [April 20, 2006, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mastering-the-art-of-timing/353460 "2006-04-20T14:42:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Diamonds02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Diamonds02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diamonds02)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mastering-the-art-of-timing/353460/1 "2006-04-20T14:42:07Z")

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How do you master the art of timing? Meaning saying/doing the right thing at the right time?

I’ve ALWAYS had trouble with this skill.

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**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mastering-the-art-of-timing/353460/2 "2006-04-20T14:58:56Z")

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Probably taking a moment to verify what you want to say is going to be better in the long run if you don’t have the “natural flow.” Perhaps?

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**Author:** ![Rigamarole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/77aa72/32.png) [@Rigamarole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rigamarole)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mastering-the-art-of-timing/353460/3 "2006-04-20T15:21:31Z")

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Experience.

Ain’t no other way.

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**Author:** ![Diamonds02](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Diamonds02](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diamonds02)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mastering-the-art-of-timing/353460/4 "2006-04-20T15:34:12Z")

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> [@Sage Rat](#):
>
> Probably taking a moment to verify what you want to say is going to be better in the long run if you don’t have the “natural flow.” Perhaps?

But, to think ahead, you will still have to consider timing.

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**Author:** ![Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac8455/32.png) [@Bippy\_the\_Beardless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bippy_the_Beardless)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mastering-the-art-of-timing/353460/5 "2006-04-20T17:06:59Z")

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Practice.

Oh and being able to make light of it when you balls up. Say your thing, guage the other persons reaction. If it failed look cross eyed, say ‘did I just say that, what a tool’ slap self on forehead and then carry on.

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**Author:** ![Carnacki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b5e925/32.png) [@Carnacki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Carnacki)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mastering-the-art-of-timing/353460/6 "2006-04-20T19:59:40Z")

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> [@Diamonds02](#):
>
> How do you master the art of timing? Meaning saying/doing the right thing at the right time?
> 
> I’ve ALWAYS had trouble with this skill.

I can’t answer this right now - you should’ve asked yesterday.

Or two days from now.

–KidScruffy

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**Author:** ![blinkingblinking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@blinkingblinking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blinkingblinking)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mastering-the-art-of-timing/353460/7 "2006-04-20T20:26:34Z")

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I believe the joke about William Shatner goes

"The secret of pause acting is…

…to pause."