Back in 5 Minutes
"What is wrong with saying "back in 4.5 minutes" or "back in 7 mins and 35 secs"? ....I am beseeching all shop owners, and everyone else, to put up signs that say back in 4 mins and 59 seconds" I was recently walking from the Mothership to my other place of work when I walked past this clothing alterations shop which had a sign "back in 5 minutes". I said to my co-worker (hi Nic!) "why do all signs like these say 5 minutes?". This got both of us thinking as to why 5 minutes is taken as an acceptable period of absence? For some reason 5 minutes has gained huge notoriety as being an acceptable piece of time to be away. My question is why? What is wrong with saying "back in 4.5 minutes" or "back in 7 mins and 35 secs"? We all know that, in reality, people will be away for longer than 5 minutes. If someone has gone to the bank they will definitely not be back in 5 minutes! Having worked for a bank many moons ago (a...