Unpunctual people - am I out of order?
Discussion
Running a cab company it's the bane of my life.
Everyone comes down here from a big city where there are cabs everywhere. Book a cab for midnight, and wonder why we are not still there at 0010. Because we have another job to go to, there are finite cabs in the area. The next option is for you to walk, or wait an hour and a half. But that's our fault, because we didn't come and find them. Yep, because in a wedding of 100 guests, we know exactly what you look like, never having ever seen you before, and it wouldn't be easier for you to be outside at the appointed time looking for the cab on your text, reg number and colour and our company name all over it?
Everyone comes down here from a big city where there are cabs everywhere. Book a cab for midnight, and wonder why we are not still there at 0010. Because we have another job to go to, there are finite cabs in the area. The next option is for you to walk, or wait an hour and a half. But that's our fault, because we didn't come and find them. Yep, because in a wedding of 100 guests, we know exactly what you look like, never having ever seen you before, and it wouldn't be easier for you to be outside at the appointed time looking for the cab on your text, reg number and colour and our company name all over it?
I'm the same. When I met my wife, she was late to everything; 30 minutes, an hour, sometimes more. It wound me up no end as I am always punctual and will be where I say i'm going to be either early or on time unless something happens which means i'm not physically able to be.
It's always struck me as meaning that the person who is late automatically thinks they are more important than you and simply don't value your time to the same degree as they value theirs.
I can't stand it.
It's always struck me as meaning that the person who is late automatically thinks they are more important than you and simply don't value your time to the same degree as they value theirs.
I can't stand it.
I work with the French / Spanish, on time is at least 10 mins late, it infuriates; I simply end the meeting / leave if I don't have any notice as to why they will be late (which I have no problem with).
Boss turned up 17minutes late to our weekly today, no excuse, no sorry, probably after lunch.
Boss turned up 17minutes late to our weekly today, no excuse, no sorry, probably after lunch.
I lived and worked in Paris for a couple of years, for my first meeting with my boss and also the MD of the business I turned up at his office bang on time to find him gassing over coffee with the CFO and CMO - they asked why I was there, I said we had a meeting, they just found it hilarious that I was on time. Was told for any meeting in future to rock up 15 minutes later. True Story.
But yes, I find people deliberately turning up late is out and out rudeness and they should be called out on it. Its so disrespectful to the other person. Mobile phones have just made it worse, people are lazy in that they just text and say 'late'.
I remember back in the 90s, meeting my mates for a few beers, we used to crawl a few pubs, if you were late it was up to you to go find them without a means of communication! It was amazing how punctual people were!
But yes, I find people deliberately turning up late is out and out rudeness and they should be called out on it. Its so disrespectful to the other person. Mobile phones have just made it worse, people are lazy in that they just text and say 'late'.
I remember back in the 90s, meeting my mates for a few beers, we used to crawl a few pubs, if you were late it was up to you to go find them without a means of communication! It was amazing how punctual people were!
Nezquick said:
I'm the same. When I met my wife, she was late to everything; 30 minutes, an hour, sometimes more. It wound me up no end as I am always punctual and will be where I say i'm going to be either early or on time unless something happens which means i'm not physically able to be.
It's always struck me as meaning that the person who is late automatically thinks they are more important than you and simply don't value your time to the same degree as they value theirs.
I can't stand it.
And what's she like now?It's always struck me as meaning that the person who is late automatically thinks they are more important than you and simply don't value your time to the same degree as they value theirs.
I can't stand it.
I don’t think that you’re weird, although with a party, if it was suggested, “turn up any time after 8.00 p.m.”, I’d get there at maybe 9.00 or 9.30 p.m., to give it time to get started, no one would think bad of you for that I don’t think.
Different if you’re invited for dinner, and told, “come around 7.30 p.m. for a drink, dinner will be served at 8.15 p.m.”, and you turn up at 8.25 p.m., bad news.
I have a brother-in-law who’s famous for his bad time keeping, the family call it “Steve time.”
One day we were going to a funeral, (his uncle), and he asked me for a ride to the cemetery.
I said, “I’ll pick you up at 12.00 noon, be there, the funeral’s at 12.45 p.m., I’ll call you 5 minutes before arriving.”
I called him at 11.50 a.m., “I’m just putting my tie on”, he said.
I arrived at 12.01 p.m., waited outside until 12.15 p.m., then left.
He got there as the coffin was being lowered, spitting feathers as he’d had to get a taxi, “I was there Steve, you weren’t, your fault”, I said.
Different if you’re invited for dinner, and told, “come around 7.30 p.m. for a drink, dinner will be served at 8.15 p.m.”, and you turn up at 8.25 p.m., bad news.
I have a brother-in-law who’s famous for his bad time keeping, the family call it “Steve time.”
One day we were going to a funeral, (his uncle), and he asked me for a ride to the cemetery.
I said, “I’ll pick you up at 12.00 noon, be there, the funeral’s at 12.45 p.m., I’ll call you 5 minutes before arriving.”
I called him at 11.50 a.m., “I’m just putting my tie on”, he said.
I arrived at 12.01 p.m., waited outside until 12.15 p.m., then left.
He got there as the coffin was being lowered, spitting feathers as he’d had to get a taxi, “I was there Steve, you weren’t, your fault”, I said.
I am always early ( a few minutes, not hours!) for everything, hate being late and if others are late, it winds me up no end. I think it shows a total lack of respect to be late. With the party thing posted above, I 'know' 7 doesn't mean '7' bang on and so try to e ate but it stresses me enormously. Why say '7' if you mean 8... or 9?
If a time is agreed, then ensure you're there on time. If you are late, then make sure you ring before the agreed time. If you call a few minutes after you were supposed to be there, saying that you'll be late, you're a prick. Unless of course there is a genuine reason as to why you're late, family emergency etc.
Saying there was traffic, or train issues etc. is not a reason to be late in my book. Unless the issue only arose after you began your journey.
I don't care if people are early, just not stupidly so. If you find yourself 30mins early, call ahead and see if it is ok to come over early. If it isn't, then go for a walk or something.
"Around x time" I usually aim for about 15/20mins after that. "Any time after X" is usually a party, so just whenever after that....
Saying there was traffic, or train issues etc. is not a reason to be late in my book. Unless the issue only arose after you began your journey.
I don't care if people are early, just not stupidly so. If you find yourself 30mins early, call ahead and see if it is ok to come over early. If it isn't, then go for a walk or something.
"Around x time" I usually aim for about 15/20mins after that. "Any time after X" is usually a party, so just whenever after that....
I am the same, punctuality is important to me, had some contractors come round to quote for some work one saturday, they were very late, they didnt get the chance to quote. In work meetings people who arrive after the meeting has started are excluded.
And dont get me started on people who bring food into a meeting, or take notes on a lap top and want the meeting to go at the slow pace of their typing.
And dont get me started on people who bring food into a meeting, or take notes on a lap top and want the meeting to go at the slow pace of their typing.
I'm very punctual but by the same token, appreciate some cultures aren't. So it doesn't bother me if others are late. As others have suggested, it's acceptable with others from some European countries. My Irish relatives are so laid back in this regard.
But turning up early for a party is a no no. If it's dinner, yes, turn up on time.
But turning up early for a party is a no no. If it's dinner, yes, turn up on time.
RTB said:
The golden rule of treat others how you would like to be treated in is force with punctuality.
again, I'd rather people were late to meetings with me. I just think 'cool, free time!' and get something done rather than having a silly meeting. I've read that people who are always late are just optimists... we think that we'll be able to do more per unit time than we actually can. so you realists should thank us for cheering you up.
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Yes you are a bit weird... But completely understandable. I dislike tardy people too but know that life doesn't work on a schedule, trains are late, traffic jams, so on and so forth... However if you are going to be late and have told people you're going to be there at a specific time, ring, text, email or otherwise bloody well let them know.If I'm going to be late for whatever reason, I'll let whomever I'm meeting know. It's just common courtesy.
Lord.Vader said:
I work with the French / Spanish, on time is at least 10 mins late, it infuriates; I simply end the meeting / leave if I don't have any notice as to why they will be late (which I have no problem with).
Boss turned up 17minutes late to our weekly today, no excuse, no sorry, probably after lunch.
I've worked in South East Asia, Phillippines Standard Time was 1-4 hours after the current time because that's when you could expect a Filipino to do whatever they've committed to. Boss turned up 17minutes late to our weekly today, no excuse, no sorry, probably after lunch.
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