“Money Buys Time”: Woman Posts Eye-Opening “We Don’t All Have The Same 24 Hours” Tweet That’s Gone Viral
Time is a mysterious thing. Sure, we understand it as a measure of existence or process, but there is an entire school of thought (and related school of thoughts) dedicated to studying it, whether in a scientific or existential way.
One thing’s for certain, though—not everyone has the same experience of time. To some, it goes by fast, while to others it’s a drag. Some are faster to get things done while others always take more time. And it all depends on the activity… and the amount of necessary activities… and the context in which these activities are performed… and a bunch of other things, in fact, as pointed out by one Twitter user, thus making it unfair to expect the same results within the same time frame when there are just too many factors involved.
There’s a saying “we all have the same 24 hours,” meant to make us think how we could use our time effectively
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So, Shailja Patel, author of the book Migritude and research associate at the Five College Women’s Studies Research Center, went to Twitter to explain how we all have the same 24 hours, except it’s not really the same.
You see, some use public transport, while others get around using more personal means—her example used private jets. Food is also an essential part of life, and some prepare it themselves, but then there’s all the cleanup afterwards, especially if there’s also a kid involved. Well, people who can afford staff to do that don’t have to worry about it and hence have more time in the day.
But, this Twitter user pointed out that not everyone’s hours are the same in her now viral Tweet thread
Image credits: shailjapatel
Patel continues to say that it’s all effectively based on money—money buys time in that sense. If you can afford a private means of transport or you can afford to pay someone else to do certain things, then you’re effectively buying yourself more time to do things in order to achieve greater results.
Patel ultimately goes to say that “we all have the same 24 hours” is a toxic tool that can be used to shame people for not trying their best, eliminating the hard work of teams of people behind rich people, and ultimately shutting down any questions about privilege, capital, and safety nets. And this creates unfairness.
This stirred a bit of a debate among the respondents on Twitter
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So, the tweets have stirred a bit of a discussion. For the most part, people agreed with this. Some shared just how much more they would be able to do given a better financial situation, especially when it comes to household chores and food preparation.
A handful of people pointed out that things like disability should also be considered in the equation. After all, what might take an hour for a healthy person may take someone else three hours (or significantly more) as well as a lot of effort to get things done.
Some were surely playing the devil’s advocate, but others were agreeing and even adding to the argument
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Others, however, argued that these same rich people may have had to work hard to get where they are, and how they made the best and most effective use of their 24 hours that were just as difficult. Some added that it all still has a huge choice factor—dedication and determination—that can greatly alter the amount of hours we have available to us in the long run.
The tweets got quite a bit of attention, garnering almost 200k likes and nearly 70k retweets
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The tweet thread managed to get quite a bit of attention, garnering over 192,000 likes with nearly 70,000 retweets. What is your take on this—do you agree with Patel’s claim that not all of us have the same 24 hours? Let us know what you think in the comment section below!
I was happy to see someone brought up how it affects those with disabilities. My chronic health issues are challenging, to say the least. It takes me at least two hours to get ready to go out anywhere. My time out is even limited, because I can't stand for too long. Being physically challenged has taught me so much, and most people that are part of my life have no idea just how hard it is for me to do normal things that others take for granted. The hardest thing for me is that time goes on for me, and I feel like I never truly accomplished anything significant due to my health issues. I want to do so much with my life, but am unable to do very little due to pain and fatigue. But I can control my attitude, which I try to keep as positive as much as possible. I am still grateful for the time I have on this earth regardless of how hard it can get. Time can be such a precious commodity. Especially for those suffering from a life threatening illness. Your priorities change.
Same here. I once flipped out at a woman who parked diagonally across TWO disabled bays, so her husband could avoid walking to pay for parking. Her “defence” was that the engine was running (like that makes the car incorporeal?) and that there were other disabled bays further round the multi-storey car park. Trying to explain how this extra few minutes unnecessary searching for a space can be so costly to someone with disabilities or chronic illness, whist utterly furious at her selfish, dismissive, entitled attitude was too much. I’d already endured a shopping trip of people tripping over the wheelchair whist gazing at their phones, bashing me with their shopping bags, too narrow shops with products I can’t reach, staffed by people who assume disabled=brainless and talk to me like a particularly dim 5 year old. This bitch was the final straw. I LOST it! But ofc, even standing up for ourselves costs us energy, and I paid for days :(
Load More Replies...No billionaire started out at 0. you can not work hard to make it rich. YOu have to pay people and exploit them.
Full name: you do realize that the middle class is shrinking rapidly...
Load More Replies...We as American's generally believe the American dream that hard work and innovation will bring success. I challenge anyone to prove this is true. How do you define and measure hard work? How do you keep track of it on a day to day basis? How do you measure innovation? Many people work endless hours for years and continue to struggle financially. So often our fate is determined by factors beyond our control.
The American Dream is a rose tinted fantasy from the 50s, that people are clinging to even though it can no longer really exist because the world has moved on, it's become culturally ingrained like pledging allegiance and no one can rip it from them.
Load More Replies...Don't know who said it but I love to repeat it: "the hardest working person on the planet is most likely living in poverty". We all work hard, and the lowest paid workers usually work the absolute hardest. Some professions just pay so much more than others. That doesn't mean that they've "earned" their money and that we shouldn't criticise the system that got them to that point. We live in a world where a celebrity or a business person can make millions every year and a teacher has to work several jobs just to stay alive. That's injustice. That means that the system is broken. I also really wish that people would stop defending the 1%. They don't care about you, they just wanna make more money.
As a student with 2 jobs I can tell you I have 2-3 hours per day to actually do what I want XP
I completely relate. When I went to nursing school, I lived alone, paying everything myself. Including my education. I also worked two jobs(50 hrs a week) while going to school full time. I had to schedule time for everything I did, every single week I was in school. Laundry, shopping for food, etc. Graduated second in my class with perfect attendance for school and work. It's damn hard, and you often feel alone in your struggle. Keep going, and be proud of yourself for striving to change your life. It may be hard now, but it will pay off. Take good care of your body too, because its alot of stress with the demand of such a schedule you have taken on. You are a wonderful example of what someone can do if they put their mind to it. As long as you are healthy.
Load More Replies...If you assume that the goal of your 24 hours is money... And nothing but money... so you have time to spend money... .... Yeah, no, I can't even find a way to fit that into my brain.
money equals quality of life It's not the money per se it's the quality of life that goes along with it
Load More Replies...Has anyone here watched the show "rich house, poor house"? It is really worth a watch
That show really does show some eye-opening stuff, and usually everyone learns some sort of lesson from the experience.
Load More Replies...This reminds me about a chapter from Ivanka Trump's book about “working moms“. In her priority list grocery shopping was at the very bottom under “unnecessary“ or something. If you have servants to do it, you must think the fridge just magically refills!
Time is also relative. 3 hours at my mother's just hanging out would feel like 3 days. 3 hours at home in my comfies with my cats feels like 30 minutes. Also, I'd swear computer time goes 10x faster than actual time. When I'm working on a program or doing computer repair, 3 hours can feel like 15 minutes. Same with sleep, 10 hours can feel like 10 minutes. It's all relative.
Shailja Patel makes a point about the wealthy having access to time in way that the rest of don't, but she makes a lot of assumptions. For example, she assumes that people don't want to spend any of their daily 24 hours cooking, cleaning or caring for their children. These activities may be either drudgery or incredibly fulfilling, depending on one's attitude. There is also an assumption that people "should" be doing what she thinks they "should" be doing. I may choose to let my dishes pile up in the sink while I binge Netflix or take a nap. Or I may choose to be productive n some way. In either case, I am using my time as I choose. Finally, there is an assumption that the affluent have it "better" than the rest of us. My limited experiences interacting with rich people have made me believe the opposite is true. I find the rich to be shallow, self-centered and obsessed with displays of their wealth and power. I prefer my working class life.
While I appreciate your point, I don't think Patel is the one making these assumptions - the original quote is. The implication of the quote is that everyone can be as 'successful' (by society's standards) because we all have the same number of seconds in the day. Whether or not Patel believes that pursuing financial success is important, or whether or not people enjoy doing their own cooking is irrelevant. All she's doing is pointing out that while yes technically we all have 24 hours per day, not everyone is equally free to use them as they like.
Load More Replies...I consider this idea of people making bad choices to be somewhat disingenuous because that’s not what the discussion was about. The discussion isn’t “let’s not have empathy for people because they made bad choices in life”. The discussion is actually no matter what choices you made in life, you do not possess the same 24 hours as someone who can buy other people’s time and use it for themselves. Regardless of the choices that got made, a single mother with 3 kids doesn’t have the same 24 hours at her disposal as a rich woman with none! A disabled black man doesn’t even get the same time or even life opportunities to engage in 24 hours of mischief as Donald trump. The discussion was if you have money, you can buy other people’s time, not whether or not people without that time need empathy!
I am a word wonk, I use idioms that are long out of use because I like them. "We all have the same 24 hours" is not one I have heard before today, or if I have, it did not stick. I'd appreciate any comments that help me understand where it's regionally popular, and thank you in advance.
I learned about the concept of "poverty of spirit" from a family who had immigrated from Africa. I never understood it until now. Also, I spied with my little eye the slip in of "this is why we need to be a socialist country" in there too. Patel tries to front as a thoughtful person who compels intelligent debate, but she really does not care one bit about how you spend your 24 hours.
More anti capitalism shite. He of cour wrote this via the successful use of market capital. Of course not all 24 hours are the same. Yours is spent venting about the tools that enable you to vent.
Lots of great points here. I had to shake my head at the person who suggested that everyone should just work hard to succeed. Hmmmm. If it were that easy, we'd all be successful. White privilege is real.
Einstein spent his 24hs studying and working. He then could afford paying people to do the things many people who didn't sacrifice like him can't. I agree about disable people, but it's not people without disabilities' fault. You wanted to have kids and now you don't have time? Your life, your choices.
You say that, but someone above is basically saying it's not true. The "American Dream" is based on the idea that you can work your way up from "the mail room to CEO". People are freaking out over a tax plan even though they will never have enough income to qualify to pay that tax.
Load More Replies...Well uncontrolled capitalism is the root of 90% of America's problems
Load More Replies...Where, in this entire article was communism mentioned as “appealing” or “good”? Can’t find it? Thought so.
Load More Replies...I was happy to see someone brought up how it affects those with disabilities. My chronic health issues are challenging, to say the least. It takes me at least two hours to get ready to go out anywhere. My time out is even limited, because I can't stand for too long. Being physically challenged has taught me so much, and most people that are part of my life have no idea just how hard it is for me to do normal things that others take for granted. The hardest thing for me is that time goes on for me, and I feel like I never truly accomplished anything significant due to my health issues. I want to do so much with my life, but am unable to do very little due to pain and fatigue. But I can control my attitude, which I try to keep as positive as much as possible. I am still grateful for the time I have on this earth regardless of how hard it can get. Time can be such a precious commodity. Especially for those suffering from a life threatening illness. Your priorities change.
Same here. I once flipped out at a woman who parked diagonally across TWO disabled bays, so her husband could avoid walking to pay for parking. Her “defence” was that the engine was running (like that makes the car incorporeal?) and that there were other disabled bays further round the multi-storey car park. Trying to explain how this extra few minutes unnecessary searching for a space can be so costly to someone with disabilities or chronic illness, whist utterly furious at her selfish, dismissive, entitled attitude was too much. I’d already endured a shopping trip of people tripping over the wheelchair whist gazing at their phones, bashing me with their shopping bags, too narrow shops with products I can’t reach, staffed by people who assume disabled=brainless and talk to me like a particularly dim 5 year old. This bitch was the final straw. I LOST it! But ofc, even standing up for ourselves costs us energy, and I paid for days :(
Load More Replies...No billionaire started out at 0. you can not work hard to make it rich. YOu have to pay people and exploit them.
Full name: you do realize that the middle class is shrinking rapidly...
Load More Replies...We as American's generally believe the American dream that hard work and innovation will bring success. I challenge anyone to prove this is true. How do you define and measure hard work? How do you keep track of it on a day to day basis? How do you measure innovation? Many people work endless hours for years and continue to struggle financially. So often our fate is determined by factors beyond our control.
The American Dream is a rose tinted fantasy from the 50s, that people are clinging to even though it can no longer really exist because the world has moved on, it's become culturally ingrained like pledging allegiance and no one can rip it from them.
Load More Replies...Don't know who said it but I love to repeat it: "the hardest working person on the planet is most likely living in poverty". We all work hard, and the lowest paid workers usually work the absolute hardest. Some professions just pay so much more than others. That doesn't mean that they've "earned" their money and that we shouldn't criticise the system that got them to that point. We live in a world where a celebrity or a business person can make millions every year and a teacher has to work several jobs just to stay alive. That's injustice. That means that the system is broken. I also really wish that people would stop defending the 1%. They don't care about you, they just wanna make more money.
As a student with 2 jobs I can tell you I have 2-3 hours per day to actually do what I want XP
I completely relate. When I went to nursing school, I lived alone, paying everything myself. Including my education. I also worked two jobs(50 hrs a week) while going to school full time. I had to schedule time for everything I did, every single week I was in school. Laundry, shopping for food, etc. Graduated second in my class with perfect attendance for school and work. It's damn hard, and you often feel alone in your struggle. Keep going, and be proud of yourself for striving to change your life. It may be hard now, but it will pay off. Take good care of your body too, because its alot of stress with the demand of such a schedule you have taken on. You are a wonderful example of what someone can do if they put their mind to it. As long as you are healthy.
Load More Replies...If you assume that the goal of your 24 hours is money... And nothing but money... so you have time to spend money... .... Yeah, no, I can't even find a way to fit that into my brain.
money equals quality of life It's not the money per se it's the quality of life that goes along with it
Load More Replies...Has anyone here watched the show "rich house, poor house"? It is really worth a watch
That show really does show some eye-opening stuff, and usually everyone learns some sort of lesson from the experience.
Load More Replies...This reminds me about a chapter from Ivanka Trump's book about “working moms“. In her priority list grocery shopping was at the very bottom under “unnecessary“ or something. If you have servants to do it, you must think the fridge just magically refills!
Time is also relative. 3 hours at my mother's just hanging out would feel like 3 days. 3 hours at home in my comfies with my cats feels like 30 minutes. Also, I'd swear computer time goes 10x faster than actual time. When I'm working on a program or doing computer repair, 3 hours can feel like 15 minutes. Same with sleep, 10 hours can feel like 10 minutes. It's all relative.
Shailja Patel makes a point about the wealthy having access to time in way that the rest of don't, but she makes a lot of assumptions. For example, she assumes that people don't want to spend any of their daily 24 hours cooking, cleaning or caring for their children. These activities may be either drudgery or incredibly fulfilling, depending on one's attitude. There is also an assumption that people "should" be doing what she thinks they "should" be doing. I may choose to let my dishes pile up in the sink while I binge Netflix or take a nap. Or I may choose to be productive n some way. In either case, I am using my time as I choose. Finally, there is an assumption that the affluent have it "better" than the rest of us. My limited experiences interacting with rich people have made me believe the opposite is true. I find the rich to be shallow, self-centered and obsessed with displays of their wealth and power. I prefer my working class life.
While I appreciate your point, I don't think Patel is the one making these assumptions - the original quote is. The implication of the quote is that everyone can be as 'successful' (by society's standards) because we all have the same number of seconds in the day. Whether or not Patel believes that pursuing financial success is important, or whether or not people enjoy doing their own cooking is irrelevant. All she's doing is pointing out that while yes technically we all have 24 hours per day, not everyone is equally free to use them as they like.
Load More Replies...I consider this idea of people making bad choices to be somewhat disingenuous because that’s not what the discussion was about. The discussion isn’t “let’s not have empathy for people because they made bad choices in life”. The discussion is actually no matter what choices you made in life, you do not possess the same 24 hours as someone who can buy other people’s time and use it for themselves. Regardless of the choices that got made, a single mother with 3 kids doesn’t have the same 24 hours at her disposal as a rich woman with none! A disabled black man doesn’t even get the same time or even life opportunities to engage in 24 hours of mischief as Donald trump. The discussion was if you have money, you can buy other people’s time, not whether or not people without that time need empathy!
I am a word wonk, I use idioms that are long out of use because I like them. "We all have the same 24 hours" is not one I have heard before today, or if I have, it did not stick. I'd appreciate any comments that help me understand where it's regionally popular, and thank you in advance.
I learned about the concept of "poverty of spirit" from a family who had immigrated from Africa. I never understood it until now. Also, I spied with my little eye the slip in of "this is why we need to be a socialist country" in there too. Patel tries to front as a thoughtful person who compels intelligent debate, but she really does not care one bit about how you spend your 24 hours.
More anti capitalism shite. He of cour wrote this via the successful use of market capital. Of course not all 24 hours are the same. Yours is spent venting about the tools that enable you to vent.
Lots of great points here. I had to shake my head at the person who suggested that everyone should just work hard to succeed. Hmmmm. If it were that easy, we'd all be successful. White privilege is real.
Einstein spent his 24hs studying and working. He then could afford paying people to do the things many people who didn't sacrifice like him can't. I agree about disable people, but it's not people without disabilities' fault. You wanted to have kids and now you don't have time? Your life, your choices.
You say that, but someone above is basically saying it's not true. The "American Dream" is based on the idea that you can work your way up from "the mail room to CEO". People are freaking out over a tax plan even though they will never have enough income to qualify to pay that tax.
Load More Replies...Well uncontrolled capitalism is the root of 90% of America's problems
Load More Replies...Where, in this entire article was communism mentioned as “appealing” or “good”? Can’t find it? Thought so.
Load More Replies...
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