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by CydeWeys 4009 days ago
Leap seconds only date back to 1972. Computer systems, and especially the concept of time in computer systems, are older than that. Time smearing does appear to me to be the best way to compromise between the two worlds. Adopting a 61-second minute full out isn't making any compromises, and not only will it confuse computer systems (including those outside your control that you interoperate with, even if you somehow manage to get yours working perfectly with it), it will confuse PEOPLE.

Even if you waved a magic wand and made all computer systems in the world compatible with 61-second minutes, it'd still cause problems because people aren't going to know what to do with it. Imagine what happens when a non-technically-savvy person comes across a time that looks like 23:59:60.5 on something at their work. They'll immediately think that's some kind of error.