View source for Unnecessary Time Precision

{{trope}}
{{quote|'''Rincewind:''' Exactly how long have you been a barbarian hero?
'''Nijel the Destroyer:''' Er. What year is this?
'''Rincewind:''' Out on the road, then? Lost track of time? I know how it is. This is the year of the Hyena.
'''Nijel:''' Oh, in that case about...about three days.|''Sourcery'', Terry Pratchett}}

Alice asks Bob how long something has been going on. Bob asks Alice what time/day it is, and Alice tells him.

Bob's response then reveals that whatever information Alice gave him is irrelevant.

Not to be confused with [[Ludicrous Precision]].

{{examples}}
== Film ==
* ''[[The Little Rascals]]'' movie:
{{quote|'''Butch:''' When's the last time we beat you up?
'''Alfalfa:''' Well, let's see...today's the 10th...30 days hath September, April, June and November...it's not a leap year...yesterday. }}
* ''[[Scrooged]]'': "Listen, I know I haven't talked to you in... *checks watch* ...about 10 or 15 years, but..."
* In Woody Allen's ''[[Love and Death]]'':
{{quote|'''Countess Alexandrovna:''' How long has it been since you've made love to a woman?
'''Boris:''' What's today? Monday, Tuesday...two years. }}

== Literature ==
* [[Terry Pratchett]] uses this trope regularly.
** In addition to the quote from ''[[Discworld|Sourcery]]''...
** In ''[[Discworld|Interesting Times]]'', Rincewind asks Cohen the Barbarian how old he is. What century is it? Ninety to 95 years.
** In ''[[Discworld|Night Watch]]'', Vimes asks when Dibbler Enterprises, Est. was established. What year is it? Tuesday.

== Live-Action Television ==
* ''[[Two and A Half Men]]''
{{quote|'''Alan:''' How about this: When was the last time you called her just to see how she was doing?
'''Charlie:''' Uh, whoo. What's today, Sunday? Then never. }}
* ''[[Friends]]'', "The One With The Thumb":
{{quote|'''Joey:''' So when do we get to meet the guy?
'''Monica:''' Let's see, today's Monday... never. }}

== Radio ==
* ''[[Adventures in Odyssey]]'' "Aloha Oy!"
{{quote|'''Donna:''' How many years have you lived in Hawaii Mr. Iowa?
'''Don Iowa:''' Oh the islands we don't measure time in years but in full moons.
'''Donna:''' Okay, how many full moons have you lived here?
'''Don Iowa:''' Hm, about three years worth. }}

== Web Original ==
* ''[[Red vs. Blue]]'':
{{quote|'''Washington:''' How long have you been here?
'''Church:''' How long? Um... What day is today?
'''Washington:''' Today is Tuesday.
'''Church:''' I've been here 14 months. }}
* ''[[Llamas with Hats]]''
** While not technically time-based, this conversation rings of it:
{{quote|'''Paul:''' ...Where are all the other lifeboats, Carl?
'''Carl:''' Well, judging by the trajectory of the moon and the stars, I'd say... somewhere at the bottom of the ocean. I bit lots of holes in them. }}

== Western Animation ==
* ''[[Frisky Dingo]]'', Second season:
{{quote|'''Interviewer:''' Well, it's been a year now-
'''Xander:''' A Year?! It's really been a whole year? What's today?
'''Interviewer:''' Thursday.
'''Xander:''' Oh my God, it has been a year.  }}

{{Needs More Examples}}

{{reflist}}
[[Category:Comedy Tropes]]
[[Category:Unnecessary Time Precision]]
[[Category:Example as a Thesis]]