Column: Time moves at different speeds for everyone

I’m kind of, sort of, usually, just about, most of the time, late.

This description of my punctuality is most likely, pretty much, more or less, a reflection of my laidback perception on time orientation.

Time orientation has to do with how we perceive, structure and react to time. It usually refers to monochronic time and its arch nemesis, polychronic time.

I’m aware that I live in America, by and large a monochronic culture, but I tend to have polychronic tendencies. Many of my teachers loathe this. Some of my friends make fun of me for it. But I don’t see what the rush is. Why rush to go nowhere?

Monochronic people adhere to plans religiously, take deadlines very seriously and are usually more concerned with the end product than the process. If this description sounds tedious to you, than it might be time for you to join the polychronic protest. But don’t rush, of course, as it will most likely be late.

Polychronic people change plans often and easily, and promptness is relative.

At least half the world leans toward polychronic time, including the majority of Africa, Latin America, the Philippines and even European countries such as Spain and Greece. Does our civilization really need to be around as long as the Greeks before we realize that people have personal lives that needs to be tended to?

Granted, I appreciate punctuality in certain aspects, such as in flights, trains, buses and boats. In order for a system to be consistent it must be well coordinated, but consistency is a word best applied to machines. As hard as we may try, human beings remain the most inconsistent creature on Earth. Animals with brains the sizes of my thumbnails are more consistent than I am. You can count on a rodent to do the same thing at roughly the same time every day. So why is the strict, monochronic perception of time so pervasive in our culture?

During the Industrial Revolution the theory of classical management rose to prominence because it increased the productivity and efficiency of factory workers by limiting, trimming, regulating and depersonalizing the workforce, basically turning the ideal factory worker into a machine.

America has been obsessed with the constricting powers of bureaucracy ever since. The U.S., as well as many other Western nations, likes to manage everything. Everything! Even nature. It’s great that forestry and wildlife services provide jobs and document the beautiful flora and fauna, but come on, does the wilderness really need managing? I think it was managing pretty well on its own for say, the last billion years.

Productivity and efficiency are important characteristics, but valuing them above all else is ridiculous, not to mention hypocritical. American culture is all about urgent distractions. “Save the Dolphins NOW!” “Sale ends NOW!” “Get your free upgrade NOW!” Well OK! But, I’ve got classes to attend and tests to take and family to take care of. How am I expected to look good, be successful, develop meaningful relationships, stay updated on world events AND get eight hours of sleep a night without running at least 10 minutes behind schedule at all times?

The fabric of the “classical management” work ethic that made America one of the richest nations in the world is unraveling. We are forced to deal with an overload of distractions at every moment. Rampant advertising is constantly trying to distract us just enough to insert more messages. In a sense, it’s becoming more difficult to be a machine–unless the new goal is to be a machine that consumes instead of produces.

The answer is not to abandon punctuality, but to be more compassionate. I’ve been told (by my teachers) that my tardiness is really annoying, and I don’t disagree. I am criticized because my polychronic time orientation is not advantageous to my education, yet these criticisms are what inspired this article.

We live in a demanding world. We share many of the same obstacles and distractions, so instead of being insulted when someone is late, maybe we should be sympathetic.

Opinions expressed in editorial and opinion articles are the views of individual NIC students. These views do not necessarily  reflect the opinions of the Sentinel, North Idaho College, or any other organizations or groups there-in. North Idaho College is not responsible for the accuracy of statements or opinions shared.