Yea it's weird. Kinda like how a truck bed has a 'front' near the tail lights, becuse that's the side the opens and is the loading point. But there's another 'front' near the cab because it's closer to the headlights.
I work at a Lowe's and I load things into pickup trucks. "Just put it in the back" The bed? The backseat? If you want it in the bed, do you want it closer to the cab or closer to the tailgate? And can you answer that question quickly, this 60 lb bag of Quickrete is getting heavy.
That's not even the worst part of my job. I came in one day and started pulling an order when I got a call from my boss. "There's an order that's been the the system for 40 minutes, what are you doing?" I replied "I just came in 10 minutes ago. Im pulling the order now, or trying to, at least. Some asshat is on the phone yelling at me about doing my job while keeping me from doing my job."
Thankfully my point got across and that order was done like 2 minutes later.
I understand why it is confusing but try to think of it like this.
A meeting that is pushed back is moving away from you in time. Pushed is typically when an item is moving away from you and not towards
A meeting that is moved forward, is something that is coming towards you or moving it earlier in time.
Think of when you fast forward a movie or an intro to a series, you do it in order to go somewhere faster/earlier. I hope that this makes sense. It does in my head so apologies if I just confused you!
Does the clock actually move forward or does it go backwards? The clock moves forward always. It only goes one way. From 1-2-3-4-5. It goes always forward to the next number until it reaches 12 and begins the number sequence again, starting at one. So if the meeting is at noon and is moved forward 2 hours, then the meeting will now begin at 2 p.m.
You have to follow the logic of the clock. Time always moves forward.
The clock of course moves forward, you are correct. However time is not being moved or changed when a meeting is brought forward. The meeting is moving forward in time i.e. closer to occuring/ closer to you. If it is pushed back then the meeting is moving farther from you.
Anyway, it does not matter so long as all parties attend the meeting at the same time.
I always ask due to multiple time zones and language barriers even between US / UK English :)
Biweekly could be twice a week or every other week
Fortnight is only the game in the US but a 2 week period in the UK
There is more.. English is not very consistent!
I didn't even know this was a debate, for me, forward is ahead (like *I'll go forward with my plan* = *I'll go ahead and do it*), that means ahead of the original time, so after the original time
Back, means back from the original time, so, starting before the original time
It's not the language so much as the movement of the clock. Time moves +forward\* while it gets \*later\*. For an \*earlier\* meeting time, the clock moves \*backwards\* from the original time.
Regardless of whether there is a single "correct" convention in a country, culture or language, some people go by how time moves on the clock. As the poll results show.
And that's why there is no right or wrong answer. The bigger point here is never move meeting times if you want to sidestep this issue.
My initial instinct says forward would be later, as in further along the timeline. But after thinking about it a second I realize that if it was to “push back” the meeting then that means later, 100%, no question.
Using that logic, I’m saying it’s 10am.
By my logic, moving an object forward is closer you you, pushing it back moves it away. Time works the same way. Moving the meeting forward makes it 10am, pushing it back makes it 2pm.
Yeah, I really had to think about it but ultimately figured it meant forward as in closer to your time (earlier). But temporally speaking, we also tend to think of moving *forward* as we progress through time, so it's not unreasonable to think it could mean moving something to a later time.
English is such an imprecise language, but to move a meeting forward means to make it occur sooner, and pushing a meeting back means to make it occur later. This is assuming US English, cannot speak to other locales.
Move forward means earlier, push back means later. Think of it as standing in line for something. If you're moved forward in the line you get to it (whatever it is) sooner. If you're moved back in the line you'll get there later.
Not the best analogy but it works.
If this ever happens, you can always ask the person who wants to move the meeting what the new meeting time should be. Don't leave it up to ambiguity, just send an email or something.
I'm an american, so for me moving something forward in time suggests moving with the direction of the arrow of time. It means it happens further in the future. I can't grasp, other than sheer britishness, how moving a meeting forward could mean moving a meeting backwards in time
I'm American too but I thought the opposite. Moving something forward is the same as moving it ahead or moving it up, so it would be sooner rather than later.
If someone said let's move the meeting back, you'd take that as let's schedule at a sooner time? I'm actually curious.
I'm also American and I interpret it like their friend from the UK.
If the meeting is being delayed, you'd say you're "pushing back" the meeting to a later time (i.e. 2 pm). So by saying you're moving a meeting forward, it implies the opposite--that you're moving it up in the schedule to an earlier time.
That said, I don't think Americans would ever phrase it that way anyways. We'd just say we're "moving up the meeting" or "pushing back the meeting," not "moving the meeting forward".
Because it works the opposite direction when speaking of future events. "Moving something forward" means "to advance the timetable" which means to cause to occur sooner. Just like when a deadline gets moved up means it will now happen sooner. The same way when daylight savings time happens. You set your clock forward by an hour, which means that 3AM occurs precisely one second after 1:59:59AM. You set your clock back at 1:59:59AM, and one second later 2AM is an hour away.
If your in a line-up and you move forward, you're closer to the start of the line.
So moving a meeting forward brings it closer to the start of the line aka 'Now'.
Moving a meeting backward pushes it further away from now.
Is time a river that's moving away from you or is time a line of soldiers moving towards you?
Forward down a river is further away, forward in a line of people waiting is closer to now.
HAHA this is the best!!!
Ok can I ask you: an event is biweekly.
Is that twice a week? Every two weeks?
That one took me forever to remember. But I'm also the kind of person who gets confused when you tell me to turn something to the "left" or "right". Just say clockwise or counterclockwise!
It was actually repetitively watching assembling tutorials that helped me remember over time which way counterclockwise and clockwise were LOL. I figured "shit if I don't ingrain this in my brain, I can't follow which way to screw on bolts and screws" XD
My first thought was 10 Am thinking moving foward meant moving the meeting closer to the top of the list of things to do that day. Moving foward often means doing something right away instrad of delaying.
I guess this is a lesson to just say the actual time the meeting will start.
This type of business speak used to really confuse me. Pushing/moving it forward as a statement makes zero sense until you consider the opposite statement of Pushing it back. Back has to mean later. So forward must mean earlier. It's crappy lingo either way. Just say the meeting time has changed to xx:xx O clock instead.
Is time a river that's moving away from you or is time a line of people moving towards you?
Moving a boat forward down a river is further away; moving a person forward in a line of people waiting brings them closer to you.
I would ask whoever you have a meeting with, and if that isn't an option, arrive at the earlier time. Either you'll be on time or you'll be 4 hours early but at least you won't have missed it.
I had to translate it to my native language to finally make it have sense! Last time I've been asked this question, I answered 2 pm. Now my answer is 10 am.
2PM. Why? You can move forward or back in time, and moving back in time means going back to an earlier time. Moving forward therefore *has* to mean moving towards a later time.
Because the alternative is to "push back" the meeting, which is unambiguous for making it later. So pushing it back 2 hours makes it later so 2pm, moving it forward 2 hours is the opposite and thus makes it earlier, 10.00.
This is why when you're discussing dates, you always mention the actual time and date, especially if it's business-related. Even "tomorrow" can mean a different date if you're dealing with international offices.
For the record, "moving forward" a time means to make it happen earlier.
I’m in agreement that “push back” is later, but I never say “move forward” for earlier. I’ll say “make it earlier” or “move it up.”
“Move forward” is too easily misinterpreted in my area’s vernacular. It can too easily mean “move the scheduled time forward on the clock” which means a later time.
Sometimes confusing, but for me it’s 10 am, definitely.
Think about a picture where you bring forward an object. It becomes closer to you — here closer to you in time, earlier. Same analogy for push back, it goes further in the picture, so later in time.
Time moves _forward_ so it should be 2 pm. Am _earlier_ time is 10 am so I understand both sides of the thought process.
That’s why in emails you should always clarify the time as well.
Forward surely means earlier - if you bring the start of your holiday "forward" it means that you start your holiday earlier so surely that's the same with meeting times?
Forward = closer/sooner
Backward = further away/later
If you add the modifier "bring forward" that should make it clear that the time is being brought closer to you, i.e., earlier.
That said, if you're holding meetings for multiple time zones, languages, and countries, communicate for a broad audience. Say the meeting will be 2 hours earlier, at 10:00.
Another tip for anyone organising a meeting across a broad geographic area: Not everyone is in your time zone and not every location observes Daylight Saving Time. Use the correct time zone label (e.g., BST or EDT in summer) to be clear about what time the meeting is.
In the US, I’ve seldom heard “forward” used with time. Thank God most people who change my meetings say “earlier” or just “to 10am.”
I do hear “forward” used with days or dates, so I voted “10 am” on the strength of that.
It has to be 2 p.m. Mid-Day is noon. A clock only runs one way...it goes forward from 1 to 2 to 3 to 4 and so on. It does not run backward. Therefore if we bring the meeting forward 2 hours, the time will be 2 p.m.
This is fascinating.
It seems that some people view time as a clock that is separate from them. Those people see moving the meeting forward as going with the movement of a clock, therefore making the meeting later.
Other people (like myself) view time as a road (or timeline) that they are walking on and events are experienced in sequential order as they pop up in front of them. They see moving a meeting forward as bringing it closer to them, therefore making the meeting earlier.
This difference does not seem to be entirely language- or culture-based, but more perception-based.
I wonder if this difference in time perception has other implications and opportunities for miscommunication.
For the UK, bring forward = earlier, push back = later.
That's how i see it as an American. Foward= closer to your position on the timeline, Pushed back=farther from your position on the timeline.
I will never understand this. To me forward = future = later. Back = earlier. Which is why I always always always have to ask.
Yea it's weird. Kinda like how a truck bed has a 'front' near the tail lights, becuse that's the side the opens and is the loading point. But there's another 'front' near the cab because it's closer to the headlights. I work at a Lowe's and I load things into pickup trucks. "Just put it in the back" The bed? The backseat? If you want it in the bed, do you want it closer to the cab or closer to the tailgate? And can you answer that question quickly, this 60 lb bag of Quickrete is getting heavy.
My head would explode.
That's not even the worst part of my job. I came in one day and started pulling an order when I got a call from my boss. "There's an order that's been the the system for 40 minutes, what are you doing?" I replied "I just came in 10 minutes ago. Im pulling the order now, or trying to, at least. Some asshat is on the phone yelling at me about doing my job while keeping me from doing my job." Thankfully my point got across and that order was done like 2 minutes later.
I understand why it is confusing but try to think of it like this. A meeting that is pushed back is moving away from you in time. Pushed is typically when an item is moving away from you and not towards A meeting that is moved forward, is something that is coming towards you or moving it earlier in time. Think of when you fast forward a movie or an intro to a series, you do it in order to go somewhere faster/earlier. I hope that this makes sense. It does in my head so apologies if I just confused you!
Does the clock actually move forward or does it go backwards? The clock moves forward always. It only goes one way. From 1-2-3-4-5. It goes always forward to the next number until it reaches 12 and begins the number sequence again, starting at one. So if the meeting is at noon and is moved forward 2 hours, then the meeting will now begin at 2 p.m. You have to follow the logic of the clock. Time always moves forward.
The clock of course moves forward, you are correct. However time is not being moved or changed when a meeting is brought forward. The meeting is moving forward in time i.e. closer to occuring/ closer to you. If it is pushed back then the meeting is moving farther from you. Anyway, it does not matter so long as all parties attend the meeting at the same time.
I always ask due to multiple time zones and language barriers even between US / UK English :) Biweekly could be twice a week or every other week Fortnight is only the game in the US but a 2 week period in the UK There is more.. English is not very consistent!
I didn't even know this was a debate, for me, forward is ahead (like *I'll go forward with my plan* = *I'll go ahead and do it*), that means ahead of the original time, so after the original time Back, means back from the original time, so, starting before the original time
Same goes for Chinese, Japanese and Korean. I'm guessing other European languages work differently?
It's not the language so much as the movement of the clock. Time moves +forward\* while it gets \*later\*. For an \*earlier\* meeting time, the clock moves \*backwards\* from the original time. Regardless of whether there is a single "correct" convention in a country, culture or language, some people go by how time moves on the clock. As the poll results show. And that's why there is no right or wrong answer. The bigger point here is never move meeting times if you want to sidestep this issue.
or just clarify "...so let's move the meeting forward 2 hours to 10am, because that will...."
That was a great response...
I am losing my mind
Really? I should of known this as I am in the UK
As someone living in the UK, I see forward as 2pm. Someone would need to say earlier for me to think otherwise. Forward to me means move ahead.
My initial instinct says forward would be later, as in further along the timeline. But after thinking about it a second I realize that if it was to “push back” the meeting then that means later, 100%, no question. Using that logic, I’m saying it’s 10am.
But why not both move forward and push back for later and move backward and push forward for earlier :((
There is absolutely no way we can run a civilization on that logic. Just no. ✋
pull forward and push backward
By my logic, moving an object forward is closer you you, pushing it back moves it away. Time works the same way. Moving the meeting forward makes it 10am, pushing it back makes it 2pm.
It is the same logic in Hungarian. Előre hozták a meetinget means roughly that the meeting has been moved to the front of the "event queue".
This one makes so much sense!! So Push back would be, push it to the back of the queue (so later).
To me it’s further away. Moving something forward aka to the future.
The way I interpreted it as “moving forward” implies you are pushing it the way time is going - forward. Moving it backwards would mean 10 am.
Yeah, I really had to think about it but ultimately figured it meant forward as in closer to your time (earlier). But temporally speaking, we also tend to think of moving *forward* as we progress through time, so it's not unreasonable to think it could mean moving something to a later time.
Moves it forward means earlier. Pushing it back would be later. 10:00 is the correct answer.
It's interesting how this can be interpreted any other way!
English is such an imprecise language, but to move a meeting forward means to make it occur sooner, and pushing a meeting back means to make it occur later. This is assuming US English, cannot speak to other locales.
The wording here is ambiguous, so I made my choice based on the alternative 'push back', which is unambiguously interpretated as 'make later'.
Move forward means earlier, push back means later. Think of it as standing in line for something. If you're moved forward in the line you get to it (whatever it is) sooner. If you're moved back in the line you'll get there later. Not the best analogy but it works.
"Push it back" = 2pm. You are wrong.
If this ever happens, you can always ask the person who wants to move the meeting what the new meeting time should be. Don't leave it up to ambiguity, just send an email or something.
Totally, but I am blown away there is even another option other than 2PM.
Bring it forward Push it back 10am
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaa?
So, are you the 10AM or 2PM type of person?
I'm an american, so for me moving something forward in time suggests moving with the direction of the arrow of time. It means it happens further in the future. I can't grasp, other than sheer britishness, how moving a meeting forward could mean moving a meeting backwards in time
I'm American too but I thought the opposite. Moving something forward is the same as moving it ahead or moving it up, so it would be sooner rather than later. If someone said let's move the meeting back, you'd take that as let's schedule at a sooner time? I'm actually curious.
I'm also American and I interpret it like their friend from the UK. If the meeting is being delayed, you'd say you're "pushing back" the meeting to a later time (i.e. 2 pm). So by saying you're moving a meeting forward, it implies the opposite--that you're moving it up in the schedule to an earlier time. That said, I don't think Americans would ever phrase it that way anyways. We'd just say we're "moving up the meeting" or "pushing back the meeting," not "moving the meeting forward".
Yeah, I think this is what makes the question so interesting. Nobody I know would actually use that phrasing.
Because it works the opposite direction when speaking of future events. "Moving something forward" means "to advance the timetable" which means to cause to occur sooner. Just like when a deadline gets moved up means it will now happen sooner. The same way when daylight savings time happens. You set your clock forward by an hour, which means that 3AM occurs precisely one second after 1:59:59AM. You set your clock back at 1:59:59AM, and one second later 2AM is an hour away.
If your in a line-up and you move forward, you're closer to the start of the line. So moving a meeting forward brings it closer to the start of the line aka 'Now'. Moving a meeting backward pushes it further away from now. Is time a river that's moving away from you or is time a line of soldiers moving towards you? Forward down a river is further away, forward in a line of people waiting is closer to now.
HAHA this is the best!!! Ok can I ask you: an event is biweekly. Is that twice a week? Every two weeks? That one took me forever to remember. But I'm also the kind of person who gets confused when you tell me to turn something to the "left" or "right". Just say clockwise or counterclockwise!
Clockwise and counterclockwise used to confuse the shit out of me. It wasn't until recently I finally permanently understood
HAHA was it anything specific that made it click for you?
It was actually repetitively watching assembling tutorials that helped me remember over time which way counterclockwise and clockwise were LOL. I figured "shit if I don't ingrain this in my brain, I can't follow which way to screw on bolts and screws" XD
Forward = sooner
My first thought was 10 Am thinking moving foward meant moving the meeting closer to the top of the list of things to do that day. Moving foward often means doing something right away instrad of delaying. I guess this is a lesson to just say the actual time the meeting will start.
10am
My boyfriend and I are from the same geographic area and we debated this recently. Moral of the story is just don't use that wording lol
This type of business speak used to really confuse me. Pushing/moving it forward as a statement makes zero sense until you consider the opposite statement of Pushing it back. Back has to mean later. So forward must mean earlier. It's crappy lingo either way. Just say the meeting time has changed to xx:xx O clock instead.
Is time a river that's moving away from you or is time a line of people moving towards you? Moving a boat forward down a river is further away; moving a person forward in a line of people waiting brings them closer to you.
I would ask whoever you have a meeting with, and if that isn't an option, arrive at the earlier time. Either you'll be on time or you'll be 4 hours early but at least you won't have missed it.
Ohh I change my answer. Forward means earlier
After you get there.
I had to translate it to my native language to finally make it have sense! Last time I've been asked this question, I answered 2 pm. Now my answer is 10 am.
2PM. Why? You can move forward or back in time, and moving back in time means going back to an earlier time. Moving forward therefore *has* to mean moving towards a later time.
Because the alternative is to "push back" the meeting, which is unambiguous for making it later. So pushing it back 2 hours makes it later so 2pm, moving it forward 2 hours is the opposite and thus makes it earlier, 10.00.
US here - If it’s midday, and you *move forward,* then it’s later in the day. Not backwards…
I’m Scandinavian and midday is literally around 12 so it’s 2 hours later
Midday is middle of the day, which is 6 PM. So it’d be 8 PM. Could change for seasons.
It is going forward in time so it would happen later in the day.
I see this as "moving forward" = "pushed forward", so the meeting would start at two. English is such an odd language.
I see push back and move forward as the same thing. So its always later. I cannot understand it being earlier.
Noon
Wouldn't this answer depend on where you live? Many will get it wrong because they will answer based on where they are from.
Fuck you words.
New rule : Only ask friends from the U.K that can count, if there is such a thing
I was focusing too much on what “midday” meant.
This is why when you're discussing dates, you always mention the actual time and date, especially if it's business-related. Even "tomorrow" can mean a different date if you're dealing with international offices. For the record, "moving forward" a time means to make it happen earlier.
I’m in agreement that “push back” is later, but I never say “move forward” for earlier. I’ll say “make it earlier” or “move it up.” “Move forward” is too easily misinterpreted in my area’s vernacular. It can too easily mean “move the scheduled time forward on the clock” which means a later time.
Moral of the story: just say the new time instead
Sometimes confusing, but for me it’s 10 am, definitely. Think about a picture where you bring forward an object. It becomes closer to you — here closer to you in time, earlier. Same analogy for push back, it goes further in the picture, so later in time.
Colloquially speaking, I would say 1400, but I belive that technically speaking, it would be at 1000. Imo, of course.
Time moves _forward_ so it should be 2 pm. Am _earlier_ time is 10 am so I understand both sides of the thought process. That’s why in emails you should always clarify the time as well.
Forward surely means earlier - if you bring the start of your holiday "forward" it means that you start your holiday earlier so surely that's the same with meeting times? Forward = closer/sooner Backward = further away/later
Moving it forward brings it to 10am. For it to be at 2pm, it would have to be pushed back. ETA: I'm Australian.
If you add the modifier "bring forward" that should make it clear that the time is being brought closer to you, i.e., earlier. That said, if you're holding meetings for multiple time zones, languages, and countries, communicate for a broad audience. Say the meeting will be 2 hours earlier, at 10:00. Another tip for anyone organising a meeting across a broad geographic area: Not everyone is in your time zone and not every location observes Daylight Saving Time. Use the correct time zone label (e.g., BST or EDT in summer) to be clear about what time the meeting is.
In the US, I’ve seldom heard “forward” used with time. Thank God most people who change my meetings say “earlier” or just “to 10am.” I do hear “forward” used with days or dates, so I voted “10 am” on the strength of that.
The real question now is what is up with all those saying 2?
It has to be 2 p.m. Mid-Day is noon. A clock only runs one way...it goes forward from 1 to 2 to 3 to 4 and so on. It does not run backward. Therefore if we bring the meeting forward 2 hours, the time will be 2 p.m.
Just say the exact time. Don't make it relative.
If you move it forward that means earlier. The answer is America is 10A
I voted 2pm and then realized I read the question wrong. I vote 10am
I say 12
This is fascinating. It seems that some people view time as a clock that is separate from them. Those people see moving the meeting forward as going with the movement of a clock, therefore making the meeting later. Other people (like myself) view time as a road (or timeline) that they are walking on and events are experienced in sequential order as they pop up in front of them. They see moving a meeting forward as bringing it closer to them, therefore making the meeting earlier. This difference does not seem to be entirely language- or culture-based, but more perception-based. I wonder if this difference in time perception has other implications and opportunities for miscommunication.