I'll See You Around 4:20... I Think...
This post contains lethal doses of sarcasm if read irresponsibly.
From a philosophical perspective, this provides invaluable insight into the pragmatic and utilitarian concept of making plans. When we say, “I’ll see you at 4:00,” in many contexts, that means “about 4:00.” But 4:23 almost never means “about 4:23.” It bears similarities to significant figures, but unlike in scientific notation, the level of specificity is not conveyed explicitly in the number.
However, when the freedom of concepts such as “early” and “late” are presented to the other, due to human nature, most may exploit the other and choose the option of “late.” By making use of 4:23, dictation demands discipline, hence, this text increases the chances of being on time. This begs the question, should we trust fellow men to agree on loose tools, or should we choose tyranny for the sake of order?
I will offer an empirical suggestion. If you tell a friend to meet at a preordained destination at 4:23, 5:55, or, hell, even 6:37, they most likely will still arrive late and -ish. There are contexts, like certain workplaces, where 4:00 means 4:00, and there is no space for interpretation. When you gather with friends, fear and time pressure are usually (hopefully) not as persistent, and someone’s on-time arrival is contingent on specific personality aspects.
We should value loose tools and celebrate not getting everything done. We should cherish our time and our relationships. We should also not despair or fret over inconsistencies, for there is still ambiguity in the statement, “I’ll see you at 4:00.” Is 4:00 a moment (4:00 and 0.00 seconds) or a range (from the end of 3:59 until the beginning of 4:01)?
If one is frustrated with a notoriously late arriver, do not become another tyrant. Communicate your feelings and seek a solution without rigid dictation. Some relationships will not flourish under such constraints; that’s because we are used to this kind of order.
Anyway, about those 600 unread messages. When I said I’d read them and respond, I caught a glimpse of your text in the preview and formulated a retort in my mind. When I would actually send a response is a subjective interpretation of intent versus action...