Hi,

As I think was pointed out a few times in different threads, it gets very confusing when people do not use proper standards for time conversions. There is a sticky posted in the "Preludes" section, which gives some very helpful ways to post times in an OOC fashion.

I have noticed two events recently posted that use(d) a GMT offset, and are probably not correct. (i.e. using EST / GMT -5, which is actually right now EDT / GMT -4 ... by posting a time in "EST", when you actually mean "EDT", you're now offsetting an event by one hour and people might miss it) I came an hour late for one event because I used the proper time conversion, but the person meant an hour earlier.

I think, as was posted, it's best to post *all times* in GMT ... and to be aware that the GMT offset for your timezone may change depending on the time of the year, so you'd best be sure you know what the *correct* GMT time is by checking that sticky.

Godspeed, Delron

I usually use this site when setting a time for an event: http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/

I have yet to miss an event because of misinterpreting the scheduled time for it, but I admit it's a PITA to figure them out sometimes.

I agree. Everyone should have some idea where they lie in respect to GMT, so it's a common baseline we can all work with.

I really hate seeing times given in EST or EDT or whatever.

I'm going to have to say, if a standard timezone is to be decided upon, let it be UTC instead of GMT. The only difference between the two is how they handle DST.

With that said, a standard really should not be a necessity, provided that people make sure the conversion is right. Keep in mind, EST to us Europeans is no different than GMT to many Americans.

Finally, if you spot a wrong conversion you should of course inform the person responsible so the error might be corrected. :)

My two cents.

From that link about UTC: "GMT is in the same time zone as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)"

I don't see any difference between them. There are DST changes for some areas that use GMT, but they change to be other abbreviations (no longer GMT). That's why EST is GMT -5 and EDT is GMT -4. GMT is a constant, as far as I can tell. If you can show me otherwise, I'm happy to be corrected. :)

Snoteye With that said, a standard really should not be a necessity, provided that people make sure the conversion is right. Keep in mind, EST to us Europeans is no different than GMT to many Americans.

Snoteye Finally, if you spot a wrong conversion you should of course inform the person responsible so the error might be corrected. :)

I just think a standard would make it easier for us all, whatever that standard is. (along with the fact that people should be checking what the correct time is for that standard any time they want to post an event, so as not to mistakenly post a time that is wrong)

BTW, if someone says an event is at "6 p.m. GMT", when they mean "5 p.m. GMT", there's no way to know this is wrong. :) (until after the event) The first example I mentioned, I did notice beforehand, only because they posted an update that the event would be happening in a certain number of hours from the time of their post, and I noted that was off by 1 hour from what it should be.

Godspeed, Delron

Delron Reynn From that link about UTC: "GMT is in the same time zone as Coordinated Universal Time (UTC)"

I don't see any difference between them. There are DST changes for some areas that use GMT, but they change to be other abbreviations (no longer GMT). That's why EST is GMT -5 and EDT is GMT -4. GMT is a constant, as far as I can tell. If you can show me otherwise, I'm happy to be corrected. :)

Delron Reynn Done in both cases... the first person ignored my PM (apparently, which is why I arrived late for the event), and the second person has yet to read / reply to it. :)

I found this:

http://science.nasa.gov/Realtime/Rocket_Sci/clocks/time-gmt.html

UTC and GMT are actually the same thing. UTC was adopted as the new abbreviation. When people say UTC or GMT, they mean the same thing. However, for arguement's sake, we can use UTC as the standard then. :)

Godspeed, Delron

AFAIK, the GMT off-set is fixed, the UTC off-set isn't. I'm in GMT+1 right now, but UTC+2. By November I'll be back in UTC+1, but remain in GMT+1 as well. That's the difference.

Snoteye AFAIK, the GMT off-set is fixed, the UTC off-set isn't. I'm in GMT+1 right now, but UTC+2. By November I'll be back in UTC+1, but remain in GMT+1 as well. That's the difference.

From what I read / AFAIK, GMT and UTC are synonymous, although UTC is the more recent abbreviation that is accepted worldwide. Where does it say you are in GMT +1 but UTC +2? I doubt that's actually true.

Godspeed, Delron

Okay, I stand corrected. Blame the time zone maps for always going by standard time. :)

But no matter, we're kind of derailing the thread.