You almost never see a clock at the mall
Modern malls and casinos are often designed with few or no visible clocks, a tactic widely believed to keep people inside longer by disrupting their sense of time, akin to “infinite scroll” in apps. Commenters debate how effective such environmental nudges really are, pointing to shaky behavioral research, fMRI study limitations, and the replication crisis, while others argue that subtle cues like music tempo and store layout do measurably influence spending and attention. The conversation broadens into observations that public clocks are disappearing in general now that phones and watches are ubiquitous, raising questions about how much these design choices still matter in an era when most people carry their own timekeepers.
Presence (and Absence) of Clocks
- Many commenters say public clocks are rarer now; when present they’re often broken or stuck at a single time.
- Others report malls that prominently feature large, elaborate clocks (e.g., water clocks, clock towers, artistic installations), so the article’s claim is seen as time‑ and location‑dependent.
- Airports and railway stations are cited as paradoxical: people strongly care about time, yet standalone, obvious clocks feel scarce; time is often only a small part of larger displays.
Watch Stores and Display Practices
- Several note that clocks and watches in shops are commonly stopped and set to ~10:10 for aesthetic/marketing reasons (e.g., “smiling” clock face).
- Practical reasons are offered: avoiding visible disagreement between many low‑end clocks, and avoiding the labor of keeping batteries fresh.
- Some push back that receiving a dead watch at purchase would damage trust.
Behavioral Manipulation, Free Will, and Evidence
- Some connect clock removal to broader “infinite scroll” / casino‑style engagement tricks.
- There is strong skepticism toward claims that minor environmental cues (lighting, layout, clocks) dramatically override free will; others insist marketing effects are empirically real.
- The popular behavioral‑economics book mentioned in the thread is noted as partially undermined by the replication crisis, especially around priming.
- fMRI‑based shopping studies are widely criticized as low‑ecological‑validity and statistically fragile; some call much of this research “thin soup.”
Store Music and Shopper Behavior
- A classic supermarket study (slow vs. fast music) is summarized: slower music correlated with slower movement and higher sales in one specific store over nine weeks.
- Commenters question generalizability (demographics, affluence, manager preferences) but acknowledge the study itself tried to define “slow/fast” empirically and cautioned about overgeneralization.
- In practice, many stores reportedly just use radio or playlists chosen for staff sanity; licensing and seasonal music complicate things.
Casinos, Airports, and Other Timeless Spaces
- Casinos are affirmed as clock‑ and window‑free by design; some people find this disturbing, others find it intriguingly immersive.
- Anecdotes describe being inside casinos for days with no natural light, reinforcing the “timeless bubble” comparison to malls.
- Airports are framed as quasi‑malls with captive audiences; one commenter speculates (controversially) this relates to stopover pricing, which others dispute based on cost and ownership structure.
Personal Strategies and Reactions
- Some shoppers and travelers rely on phones or wristwatches and feel largely immune to such environmental nudges, focusing on lists and quick exits.
- Others actively enjoy settings where time fades (casinos, parties) and even avoid putting clocks in social spaces to preserve that mood.
- A few programmers note that hiding on‑screen clocks can help maintain a “flow” state, analogous to the mall/casino tactics.