Having a literal countdown timer - usually for a bomb - is a standard trope in action thrillers. But any kind of deadline will do.
I count...
...seconds the hero is underwater
...seconds until the bomb is going to explode
...number of bullets fired from a 6-round revolver
...etc
I already know I'm kind of atypical with most aspects of my life but your advice is as helpful as telling an introvert to just go out and socialize more. Please be aware that words like yours rub salt in an open wound. I'd be fucking normal if I could help it.
I too often find myself counting time and bullets. Stuff like that doesn't always arise in a vacuum, for me it was being exposed to movies that toed the line enough in most aspect that completely if iring certain things (like time or bullet counts) took me out of the film because it was so egregious, and then once you start seeing those things, it's hard not to be aware of them.
But, like I said above, those directors that go the extra mile to make everything line up provide that little extra bit of joy, just like little plot loose ends being nearly resolved when lesser directors wouldn't care to address them.
No matter what personality type you are, please don't talk to people like this on HN. Thanks. To ask someone to be aware of the effect of their words moments after being gratuitously rude to them, to jump on strangers because they don't already somehow know you and your needs, seems unreasonable. The GP's comment seemed perfectly mild and reasonable to me.
Many films have the heroes outrun an explosion.
To the uninitiated, do not follow that link unless you don't have anything else you need to do today. It is famous for destroying days of productivity.
But yeah, tvtropes usually leads me down a wiki walk as well whenever posted.