Are you a punctual person?

MilesMorales1

I get so irritated by people that are late. I can't remember the last time I was late for anything, I tend to aim to be 30 minutes early for everything, so I'm never late as a result. People being late sends a message that 'l don't value your time and my time is more important than yours'. So **** those guys.

The_Valeyard

I would have replied sooner, but I got delayed.

Tigger

You wouldn't like me op

tayto lover

I hate being late and hate people being late to meet me too.

Fleawuss

Did I miss anything?

Turtyturd

Better to be an hour early than a minute late.

MilesMorales1

Turtyturd wrote: »

Better to be an hour early than a minute late.

This is true.

Lia_lia

Yes, I am very punctual. Always way too early for everything. I have a few friends who are constantly late, used to do my head in but now I am used to it!

briany

The problem with being early is that you're usually left feeling like a bit of a lemon waiting for everyone else to arrive. I think this might be part of the problem. Most people would rather not be the first one there, and because there's no cultural consensus to be on-time, there's no real way to convince people to act otherwise (outside of some sort of coercion, I suppose).

heldel00

Better MilesMorales be late than be the late MilesMorales!

(My dad used to say this to me when I'd be hurrying out the door to go somewhere. Used to drive me effin mad!)

The_Valeyard

Turtyturd wrote: »

Better to be an hour early than a minute late.

Got to be a sex joke in there somewhere......

Ted_YNWA

I thought you were supposed to be posting this at 7?

Ted_YNWA

heldel00 wrote: »

Better MilesMorales be late than be the late MilesMorales!

(My dad used to say this to me when I'd be hurrying out the door to go somewhere. Used to drive me effin mad!)

If my dad was talking to other people while I was leaving I'd be mad too.

MilesMorales1

Ted_YNWA wrote: »

If my dad was talking to other people while I was leaving I'd be mad too.

I was only popping in for a cuppa. Early of course

Ted_YNWA

MilesMorales1 wrote: »

I was only popping in for a cuppa. Early of course

I hope you were on time.

Hate when people are late.

Have been tempted to leave if someone doesn't show up within 5/10 minutes but never follow through on it.

Robsweezie

Fashionably late is the way

cantdecide

I'm not late for anything important or formal but for anything else if there's any degree of flexibility I'm a disaster. I drove my ex mad last year because I would aspire to be on time for stuff but I was inevitably late for almost everything.

I genuinely hated being that way but in a nutshell, I was trying and failing to juggle full time work and first year of a degree course so was walking around in a bit of a haze all the time so something had to give. Like I said... ex

To Elland Back

Very punctual

Definitely. Always early, sometimes up to 30 minutes beforehand. I prefer to do my waiting on the other side.

mickstupp

I think being late is fundamentally disrespectful.

pq0n1ct4ve8zf5

I'm not great honestly. I'm not mega late, but for casual social engagements or whatever I'd often be 5-15 minutes late. Mind you it doesn't really bother me if that happens to me, either, so it's not like I think my time is more important than other people's, I'm just grand with sitting by myself with my phone and a coffee/pint whatever and I suppose I assume everyone else is too. Not safe to assume though, I guess.

My mother is absolutely terrible though. Everyone in the family gives her start times about 45 minutes early, then she'll only be slightly late. Never misses flights or trains, never late to work, never late to doctor's appointments. But if she and my father are supposed to be at their friend's house which is ten minutes drive away at eight, she'll see nothing wrong with sitting down to have a bite to eat at half seven, wandering upstairs to get dressed at ten to, and then coming downstairs and start sorting laundry or something. It's HEADWRECKING

Ted_YNWA

It just screams attention seeking to me.

4ensic15

Sean Lemass is quoted as saying "The man who is on time in Ireland wastes an awful lot of it!"

Medusa22

I'm usually on time but I can sometimes be 5-10 minutes late, but I'm typically Irish and I don't consider that to be really late :P

SMJSF

Lateness drives me INSANE!!! I'm usually somewhere 20-30 minutes early, and if I'm meeting someone, if their even 2 minutes late, my bloody pressure starts to rise!

I dunno if it's just me, but when there's a plan to leave somewhere at a certain time, just say 11am, I will be ready, waiting by the door and taping my foot being impatient at 10.50am! And I expect to be at the other side of the door and on the road by 11.01am.

I was 4 weeks early, maybe I was born impatient!

FrStone

Never early, never get people who then up to the pub on time...

I'm often late for work, i'd never come early for a doctors appointment, sure you would only be waiting for ages.

To be honest I never feel like I should change it either. It suits me not to be waiting around like a tool for everyone else.

Ted_YNWA

FrStone wrote: »

Never early, never get people who then up to the pub on time...

I'm often late for work, i'd never come early for a doctors appointment, sure you would only be waiting for ages.

To be honest I never feel like I should change it either. It suits me not to be waiting around like a tool for everyone else.

But yet it is ok for people to be "waiting around like a tool" for you.

FrStone

Ted_YNWA wrote: »

But yet it is ok for people to be "waiting around like a tool" for you.

They can leave of they don't like it.. If I'm the first the pub I've no problem having a pint in my own.

I think your would have to be a fool to turn up to a doctors appointment on time, sure you will always be waiting...

DivingDuck

I'm never late for official engagements, but I've become more relaxed about casual ones as I've gotten older.

I used to always turn up 15-20 minutes early for everything, but many years of standing around for 30-40 minutes when everyone else was then 15-20 minutes late battered it out of me. Now I just say something along the lines of "I'll be there around 7.30", make sure to let people know if I'll be a few minutes late so they're not standing around waiting, and then call when I arrive. In those circumstances, anywhere between 7.15 and 7.45 is okay in my book.

Mobile communication has diminished the need for absolute punctuality in casual meetings, in my view. If you're meeting someone to do something scheduled (like with a table or ticket booking or you're being collected), it's rude, but if it's just for a casual lunch grab or pints or something, I don't think it's so important. They can go in and sit down, or go for a wander, and you can make contact when you've arrived.

I know I'm no longer bothered if people are late (so long as they let me know they're behind schedule), since I no longer have to standing around outside in the cold and wet looking like I've been stood up because I'd never find them again if I left the "meeting spot".

That said, people who are late to scheduled events (if a friend is cooking for you, it's still a scheduled event) or time-sensitive events (like airport check-in) still drive me bonkers.

Ted_YNWA

I can understand the doctors scenario.

Depends on the situation on how annoying it is / justifiable.

A lot of the problems are down to the fact that all it takes is a quick text/call to say "I'm running late ..."

theteal

MilesMorales1 wrote: »

I get so irritated by people that are late. I can't remember the last time I was late for anything, I tend to aim to be 30 minutes early for everything, so I'm never late as a result. People being late sends a message that 'l don't value your time and my time is more important than yours'. So **** those guys.

That's a good chunk of time sitting in the pub on your todd.

Anyway, yes I'm always on time. I've got to the stage where I don't wait for people who are late anymore - one of the lads got a fright as we drove away from his house without him (heading to the airport) having waited there the guts of 5 mins (which would make it 5 mins later than the agreed time!). You'd think a €30 taxi fare would teach him a lesson. . . .nope

AppleBottle

I like to be early for things. It really bothers me when you arrange something and people are late for it.

donegaLroad

I used to be the first person there ahead of everyone else, then I realised that I was given an incorrect kick off time for an event because colleagues expected that I would be late.. it took me a while to realise this.

The Randy Riverbeast

I'll let you know at 9am tomorrow.

Ruu

Yes, have lost many friends because of their lateness. Drives me dotty so am often early.

LETHAL LADY

If I have to be anywhere like work, an important appointment, or other **** I'll plan ahead the night before. It's a habit I've inherited from my father (he's totally neurotic about timekeeping). Unfortunately the folks I live with don't think the same and **** up all my plans.

The King of Moo

First!

Azalea

People being five to ten minutes' late doesn't annoy me, but after that, I think they should ring or send a message. That said, I don't see the point in being half an hour early for informal stuff. Just be on time or thereabouts.

MilesMorales1

Last night I was going out with some chums, and we said we'd meet at 8.30. I was there for 8.24 on the dot, and they didn't show up till 8.41. In addition, they had a car, I was walking, same distance for both of us. Rude people I tell you.

Peregrine

I'm starting a new trend. It's called being 'fashionably early'.

MilesMorales1

Peregrine wrote: »

I'm starting a new trend. It's called 'fashionably early'.

I have read your newsletter and would like a subscription

niley

In my opinion, being too early is as bad as being too late. Being punctual means being there/doing something at the right time, not too early or late. For instance it drives me mad when someone arrives at my house 30 minutes before the agreed time, when I'm not finished hiding all the trash around the place. That said, people who are late should be thrown out with the trash too.

biko

Thread needs poll

I'm nearly always on time. To be late means to waste the other person's time, and is kinda rude.

Satts

I used to be good on time until my OH and DC came along.
Now despite my best efforts to help them, we are always late for everything.

operagust

I consider that I am punctual guy...but anyway I have a question:As I am not from Ireland, should I expect punctuality from Irish colleagues?

G_R

Satts wrote: »

I used to be good on time until my OH and DC came along.
Now despite my best efforts to help them, we are always late for everything.

While OH is pretty well known, not everyone, including myself, knows what DC means. Can you do me a favour and stick to the full words please?

Cheers.

MilesMorales1

operagust wrote: »

I consider that I am punctual guy...but anyway I have a question:As I am not from Ireland, should I expect punctuality from Irish colleagues?

In my experience, no.

The Randy Riverbeast

The Randy Riverbeast wrote: »

I'll let you know at 9am tomorrow.

No, I'm not.

I can be if I know it will be putting people out, I'm not that bad. I might be late to a gathering of friends but I wouldn't be late if there would be someone sitting there waiting for me.

Peregrine

MilesMorales1 wrote: »

I have read your newsletter and would like a subscription

Excellent. I'll send out a copy two weeks before it's due

I'm always punctual. I never leave people waiting, I think it's rude. I might be a few minutes late to a gathering if they're indoors somewhere, but I'll always text in advance if I'm going to be even a few minutes late. I can't remember the last time that's happened though.

MilesMorales1

Peregrine wrote: »

Excellent. I'll send out a copy two weeks before it's due

I'll set up the payment plan for 3 weeks before if thats not too late?