#5… If When You Looked At A Clock, Time Stopped
May 11th, 2008 by Jon
…If When You Looked At A Clock, Time Stopped, the repercussions of this would be larger than most can fathom. Time would really only stop for you, so in a way every person in the world would be in their own separate universe in which everything kept moving while theirs stopped. In a way, this would be like having the power to manipulate time just like Hiro from the show “Heroes”. The only problem is that you would have to be looking at a clock for time to be stopped. As soon as you looked away, things would resume.
Lets look at some of the pros and cons of having this happen to you…
First the pros… let’s say you were in the middle of something and needed just a few more seconds. All you would have to do is look up at a clock or down at your watch. For example, say you are taking the game winning shot in a basketball game but you only have enough time to dribble to half court. Well just look up at the clock while you make your way closer to the basket to get a better shot. Or how about you are in the middle of a huge test and you are about to run out of time but have 10 questions to go. You could quickly scan the questions then look up at the clock as you think about how to answer them. This all sounds pretty fun and useful, but lets look at the flip side.
The cons may or may not outweigh the pros, depending on the person. The first con that comes to mind is that sometimes when you are in the middle of something, time just feels like it is dragging on slow as can be. Well isn’t this when we always end up looking up at the clock to torture ourselves? Well now, you would LITERALLY be torturing yourself, because every time you take a look at that evil clock, time will completely STOP. Talk about a curse. I know I used to sit in class and look up at the clock anywhere from 10 to 20 times in just the span of an hour. I guess you would have to train yourself to only look at a clock when it is one hundred percent necessary. Another con may be that if someone somehow figured out that this was happening to you, they could mess with you whenever they wanted. Imagine if you were friends with Flava Flav. You know, the guy who wears the clocks around his neck on a chain. Just looking at the dude would stop time. You would pretty much have to break your friendship off with him or anyone else who knew about this.
Overall, this could either be considered as an ability or a curse depending on how you dealt with it. I honestly think it would be more of a curse. You may technically live longer in your world, but would you really even want to? I find that when I am looking at a clock, it is usually not in the most opportune times and I usually would like the time to move faster. Otherwise, why look?
To me, It would be scary if when you looked at a clock, time stopped.
Hmmm… I wouldn’t find time stopping when I looked at a clock scary so much as inconvinient. I would have to cover up the clocks in my living room. Though it would be nice when I’m on the computer (my computer is set up so the time shows constantly). I see what you mean about checking the time when things seem to be taking forever… but that would only be a second or two for me (I only glance at clocks).
I suppose, for me the pros would outweigh the cons — though I guess I’d have to start wearing my watch on the inside of my wrist.
This, to me, would not be scary, more like a pain it the butt. Most times when I look at a clock, I do it to manage my time.. not necessarily to make more of it. I’m not even sur eit would helpful. How much could I really get done if I have to look at the clock to make time stop? I am usually in a time crunch when driving– I’d probably crash focusing so much on the clock instead of my driving.
Since I am always behind in my schedule I found this a very interesting commentary on time. I suppose if I just did not overschedule, or if I set up priorities I would not have this problem. But I like you suggestion better. All I do is look at a clock and stop time till I can catch up with reality. What a great idea.