20. Time is not a fixed object. The idea of time in any given culture is largely a product created by beliefs, traditions, and values. In some cases, time is thought of as formless and is based on what is going on at the moment, rather than as a planned object. Others regard time as a machine:a real thing which is fixed, which can be divided into schedules (日程安排)and can be wasted.
Similarly, cultures are also likely to think of the passing of time in different ways as well. A society can be moved towards a specific (特定化的) understanding of history. Many cultures, such as British, Native American, Greek, French, Japanese, and some other Asian cultures, take the past, cultural history, and traditions as having the most importance, and use them as a guide in making present-day decisions. Some cultures see the present moment as the most important. Tradition holds little importance, and planning for the future is not the most important thing, but rather the present time is more valued, and these kinds of lifestyles are relaxed. Other societies can be future-oriented (关注未来的), and place an additional focus on planning and forward movement, and the present activities are treated as a bridge to this future goal. This is the common agreement in the United States.
How a person thinks of time can be understood in the way they work together with others. Someone with a focus on the future will hold schedules and times to be very important, as they are necessary for moving on to the next step. However, someone who lives more in the present may consider a certain meeting time as not fixed. In Italy and in many Arab countries, it is normal for people to be 30 minutes late for a meeting. It is different in the United States or Britain, for example, where lateness is accepted only up to 5 or 10 minutes.
The concept (概念) of time, and its flexibility (灵活多变), meaning, and even the nature of its existence (存在) is something which is deeply laid in the base of any culture. It is very important when entering into an agreement with someone, whether socially, or in a business setting, to realize that they may have a different idea about the importance of deadlines and schedules. No one can be right or wrong in their own way, but still people can be accidentally insulted (冒犯) as a result of a misunderstanding.