In which I'm pondering punctuality
Ay me, as Juliet would say. I am pondering punctuality today because I am fuming at someone else's lateness. It's a third offense, and that's the ballgame because I simply won't hire her again. (Being almost an hour late for a job is bad enough, but failing to apologize and then offering incomparably insane excuses when you're asked about it is just silly.) But it has got me to wondering about our attitudes toward time.
I am punctual. I may shave it a little close at times because I loathe waiting, but I do not do late. I was brought up to believe that being respectful of other people's time is just the right thing to do. That isn't to say that I don't understand the occasional emergency, but I honestly do not comprehend habitual tardiness. To me, it smacks of selfishness to inflict your own time-management issues on other people, although the chronically late never seem to understand this. The few times friends have arrived late to a restaurant for a meal, they are tremendously put out to find me in the middle of my entree. (Sorry, but if you don't call, I'm eating without you. I may or may not save you part of the bread basket.) I think after a reasonable delay, I'm allowed to order food rather than gnaw my own arm off just because you couldn't get your hair to behave.
Anyway, lateness is a particular peeve as you can tell, and one for which I have a very low threshold of tolerance. What about you? Are you a latecomer? Or are you punctual?
I am punctual. I may shave it a little close at times because I loathe waiting, but I do not do late. I was brought up to believe that being respectful of other people's time is just the right thing to do. That isn't to say that I don't understand the occasional emergency, but I honestly do not comprehend habitual tardiness. To me, it smacks of selfishness to inflict your own time-management issues on other people, although the chronically late never seem to understand this. The few times friends have arrived late to a restaurant for a meal, they are tremendously put out to find me in the middle of my entree. (Sorry, but if you don't call, I'm eating without you. I may or may not save you part of the bread basket.) I think after a reasonable delay, I'm allowed to order food rather than gnaw my own arm off just because you couldn't get your hair to behave.
Anyway, lateness is a particular peeve as you can tell, and one for which I have a very low threshold of tolerance. What about you? Are you a latecomer? Or are you punctual?
Comments
I am usually horribly early,
I am usually horribly early, as I have a terrible gnawing fear of being late! This comes from my mother, I know. When I was little, she would set all the clocks in the house half an hour fast, and she would take me shopping at such an early hour that we arrived before the store's staff!Much of my childhood was spent waiting for things to open, or sitting outside people's houses in cars, or walking around the block several times so that we wouldn't be early.I hate waiting for things, too, but my fear of being late for things still makes me arrive everywhere far too early.I have made skulking an art form!
This is such a relief to
This is such a relief to read. So often I worry that I'm not laid back enough when it comes to others being late...but it is really rude! Especially when you need to be somewhere else on time, and another's lateness causes you to be late as well! I hate waiting around more than anything. Great post!
I am sorry Deanna, I am
I am sorry Deanna, I am usually on Island time, but I do try to call and work and I do mean work to be no more than a few mintes late!However I don't blame you for eating without someone or firing someone for habitual tardiness.
I hate when people use the
I hate when people use the excuse of "kids" for everything. Sometimes I think people just have kids so that when they complain they get a nod of sympathy ... But that's another issue entirely!I can't stand when people are habitually late.
I loathe people who are late.
I loathe people who are late. I always arrive early (as my daddy taught me) and people who are habitually late generally do not last long on my social list.
A "no-show" with no notice &
A "no-show" with no notice & no followup communication is worse!
I'm a punctual person. If
I'm a punctual person. If I'm even a few minutes late for something, I feel as if I've failed. And I HATE waiting for tardy people.My dad's wife was (probably still is; I haven't seen her since my dad died) one of those people who are chronically late and had been fired from more than one job because she was always at least an hour late. She had absolutely no concept of time.
Punctuality is the politeness
Punctuality is the politeness of princes and everyone else! Firmly stated. Those who are late usually whine which is also annoying, no?
I'm always late too. For
I'm always late too. For EVERYTHING. But I always call and I don't mind if people get started without me. It's not that I wasn't raised right - my mom was the punctuality nazi - but I happen to be a rebel.
I HATE being late and I
I HATE being late and I REALLY REALLY REALLY HATE having to wait. I totally agree that it's rude. I also have a freind who is late for EVERYTHING. She says it's because she had to get her kids ready !!! My advice to her is START GETTING READY EARLIER!!!
Could NOT agree more!
Could NOT agree more! Although I've never had the cojones to order without someone. HA! Maybe I should try that.
I am always late. *hangs head
I am always late. *hangs head in shame*
I am always on time. I hate
I am always on time. I hate waiting so I try never to get anywhere more than 5-10 minutes early, since I know that most of the time I could arrive 5 minutes late and still beat the other person.It's refreshing to read the comments on this post and know that I am not the only person who believes one should arrive on time. I have to say that often I feel like the only one who's never late. Between family, friends, and coworkers, I feel like I am always waiting for someone to show up.
I would rather be an hour
I would rather be an hour early than two minutes late!
Must be something in my
Must be something in my genetic make-up. But all my life, even if I'm trying to be exactly on time or maybe a few minutes late, I still get there early.
I'm never early and I'm never
I'm never early and I'm never late, I'm always right on time. I will not wait for anyone. If they don't show up on time, I leave, or if they show up late (without calling)I tell them they will have to reschedule. Then it never happens again. I really, really hate waiting.
Cannot STAND people being
Cannot STAND people being late. One of my friends always is and has only just, after 20 odd years of friendship, worked out why I am so annoyed when she turns up half an hour after the time we were meant to meet. The plus side is, she often feels so guilty that if we are meeting for lunch, she'll pay for mine to say sorry. Doesn't stop her continuing to be late however!
My problem isn't tardiness.
My problem isn't tardiness. My father and step-mother consistently show up hours early for a visit. If we ask them to come over for 5:00 they think nothing of showing up at 2:00 or 3:00 before we're even showered. It's tres annoying!
I was raised with the rule
I was raised with the rule that if you aren't 15 minutes early then you are LATE! It has served me well, both professionally and personally.You stick to it!
I'm punctual but no one else
I'm punctual but no one else in my family is. I usually add like 20 minutes to the time they say or tell them to come 20 minutes earlier than I need them. The most annoying one was when they were supposed to drive me to my wedding (in the SUV I had rented for them). I had to get a ride from someone else so I could meet the makeup artist on time. Also related pet peeve: people who ask for favors at the very last minute. Like asking for a ride to the airport a few hours before they have to go. Unfortunately I can't fire my brother.
My dear. You are a woman
My dear. You are a woman after my own heart. I detest being late and I detest even more being made to wait. I prefer to be early. I do not like to have people waiting for me. I'd much rather wait for them. And not calling to say you'll be late is just bad manners. In my opinion. Especially in this age of cell phones.So, here's to you my puntcual friend. You go girl!
Oh boy--I am so with you on
Oh boy--I am so with you on that! Especially when it comes to being late for dinner. Mark is more patient than I am and always willing to wait. But me? Oh no--so sorry but being late for anything is just plain unacceptable unless there's a really good reason. So I completely get what you're saying.Nina