Do you automatically know how to convert the time to military hours?

[GoldenHours]

At work we always have to refer to military time/a 24 hour clock. I often see people having to count with their fingers to what the time is (e.g. counting that 8pm is 20:00). Similarly, with months I see people having to count with their fingers what number month it is when writing the date (e.g. counting to see that August is the 8th month).

Do you know the time in 24 hours and the number of the months off-by-heart or do you have to count it?

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Yes, know both times and months without thinking about it. I have never heard the phrase "military hours" before though.

My 4 year old knows the 24 hour clock.

@Unfashionable

After contributing to this thread, I have just looked at my phone and iPad and seen that I have the time set to the 24h clock on both. I never even noticed that before. As I said, it’s just automatic.

I have just checked mine and they at are also set to the 24 hour clock. Hadn't ever even thought about it tbh!

I get a head block with US date format - i.e. today being 08.27.2021 not 27.08.2021. I really have to think about it, especially if the day of the month is

Yes. I always use the 24hr clock. Less likely for error that way.
I nearly know the phonetic alphabet. I have a pad from tiger with the list on the cover.

Will never forget being at the Grand Canyon and setting them hotel digital clock to wake us up super early for our sunrise canyon tour. (Days before mobile phones.)Except it was an American clock that didn’t use 24 hour clock, instead it had a little dot that went against “am” or “pm”. We had no idea and set it for 5:30. Turns out that was 5:30 pm and we missed the tour completely.

I have 24hr clock set as the time on my devices, and don’t think about month numbers for more than a second, the American way of writing the date confuses me and I have to focus when looking at it to try to figure it out.

Can't believe no one has mentioned the bit in Spinal Tap where the band is trying to decipher "military time"

I have everything set on the 24 hour clock and is second nature. I'm really surprised so many people don't automatically know it - genuinely didn't realise this was a thing.

I guess you’re American as it’s only on tv shows and films do they refer to it as military time. I imagine most Europeans don’t have issues with it. Occasionally if tired or not paying attention I’ll mess it up but I know it off by heart.

I like that in some countries some basic things like 24 hour clock or using a gear stick aren’t just expected standard knowledge but specialised knowledge.

Sorry I used the term military time in the title just for the sake of brevity.

This is among several of my colleagues who are all graduates, I was surprised too. I know both automatically as well so was surprised by it too.

However, I don't know the phonetic alphabet at all. I should definitely learn it to avoid the awkwardness in phone conversations when I say something stupid like "G for giants"

@Unfashionable

After contributing to this thread, I have just looked at my phone and iPad and seen that I have the time set to the 24h clock on both. I never even noticed that before. As I said, it’s just automatic.

Same. Hadn't even noticed that really.

Never heard of military time! I know it as a 24hr clock and I know it well and use it in my jobs for 20yrs+ yrs.

’military’ ?

Surely you mean the 24 hour clock!

I worked with the forces for 22 years and never heard it referred to as that.

I don't know the phonetic alphabet though and if I'm spelling something out over the phone always hear myself saying ridiculous things like Sylvia Python Elephant Loganberry Lumbering Igloo Noddy Goblin.

Yes, I know both by heart, without thinking.

My US colleagues struggle with the 24 hour clock. They don't use it and call it military time, if they do. They are also not so great with time zones, but that's ok and understandable.

I don’t know the phonetic alphabet. I mean obviously I know quite a few of them and if I thought really hard I might be able to come upon them all but it would take some work and it’s definitely not automatic.

In fact I’ve decided to set myself a test tomorrow!

@Classica

I don't know the phonetic alphabet though and if I'm spelling something out over the phone always hear myself saying ridiculous things like Sylvia Python Elephant Loganberry Lumbering Igloo Noddy Goblin.

That’s very similar to what I might do

Of course. All adults should be able to do this without even thinking about it.

I have an IQ of a billionty billion (literally top 1%) but I can't remember April or July without umming. ADHD and my squirrel brain won't let me.

I bet I can do lots of things the PP can't do!

I know the phonetic alphabet!

It's not weird not to know it if it's not used.

We use it so we know it.

No more complicated than that!

Is you use the phoneric alphabet s lot Nd have to talk quickly its surprising easy to end up saying y for wanky.

Know by heart. DS7 does as well.

I’ve got a shit memory but that’s just ingrained now. I would never have to think to convert it.

It’s like counting in 2’s or 5’s, you just reel it off without having to consciously think

I've known how to do that since I was about 8! Now I just know it without having to think. However how I learnt it, was to just take 2 off the second number 🤷🏼‍♀️

Hilarious that you call it "military time!" It's the 24 hour clock