Comments on: No, you are not ‘running late’, you are rude and selfish

By: Magic Mike

Magic Mike — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 03:42:58 +0000

I once had a 45 minute interview with an employer who kept me waiting for 15 minutes and then had the hide to tell me that they would extend the interview to maintain the 45 mintues and that it was more preparation time for me. I burned my chances at the job by calling them on it and telling them that I had to leave at 3:45. I was curtly told that I could leave when I wanted to. I kind of did need the job but it felt good to not let them get away with it treat it as if it was better for me and not their responsibility.

By: Magic Mike

Magic Mike — Mon, 26 Sep 2011 03:35:53 +0000

Hey great article. I alsways thought that my sister was rude and selfish for turning up late too. In her case it is a mix of coming out of a controlling relationship and not wanting to be controlled bu others so she is late – but I can work on that wiht her and let her know. For all the rest I know that when I am late iit is because I have chosen to do all the other things that have made me late (broken down cars as an exception) Pretty much much everything else I control.

By: Lisa

Lisa — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 00:54:19 +0000

The only thing I hate more than that late people are those that stall the start time in order to wait for the late people!!!

By: Amybeth Hale

Amybeth Hale — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 20:52:50 +0000

I think this certainly applies for physical meetings. Admittedly, I am not always on time but I certainly make a best effort to be at least 5 minutes early when meeting someone in person. Now, when it comes to phone meetings, I am a little torn. In my role, there are some things that come up that must be handled immediately and as such, sometimes putting out fires causes me to be late for or need to reschedule meetings at the last minute. I HATE doing it because I am well aware that other people have lives and businesses to run. But it is the nature of the beast. When I am forced to do such things, I acknowledge the inconvenience of it, state the purpose for the reschedule, and apologize. I think that’s what I appreciate more than anything – if you know you’re going to be running late, let me know. It takes five seconds to send a text or pick up a phone. I can be forgiving of that (as long as it doesn’t turn into a habit). It’s when people don’t call and/or don’t show up that my blood boils.

Now, on a more personal note, I have a mother who is habitually late for everything. She was diagnosed with fibromyalgia, and for anyone who knows someone who has it, you know that you have good and bad days. Mom was becoming one of those people who would show up an hour late for EVERYthing because it took her so long to get ready. It started irritating me as well as her friends – so since no one else would tell her (they just stewed about it and complained to everyone but her…. perhaps a topic for another post,Greg?) I had a chat with her about it. I told her it was annoying that she was late everywhere and suggested that she tack an extra hour on to her prep time to be places. Now, if she knows she must be somewhere at 4pm, she prepares as if she has to be there at 3pm. She is usually right on time now

So, I think for all the commenters here who have torn into Greg and used, IMHO, unnecessarily unkind words to make a point of being tolerant of other people’s schedules (a little hypocritical if you ask me), it kinda shows how prideful we all are and how we sometimes view being courteous of others as a weakness. It’s not impossible to prepare yourself to be where you need to be on time, and it is courteous to those who are expecting you. But it’s also not a weakness to be forgiving of extenuating circumstances. This all boils down to putting others’ needs before our own, something that none of us is very good at apparently.

By: (Anti) Social Lists 11/14/10 | WordPress and Facebook Consultant | (Anti) Social Development

Sun, 14 Nov 2010 05:03:30 +0000

[...] No, you are not ‘running late’, you are rude and selfish – While things happen and there are reasons for being late, some people are always late and it’s frustrating and a waste of time. When I have a scheduled call and it is over 10 mins late without notification for the delay, I reschedule the call. [...]

By: Artemis

Artemis — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 00:49:05 +0000

I think this kind of broad-sweeping hostility is fine if it is pointed at those who truly ARE always late. You can’t mass-generalize and get impatient with everyone who was ever late!

Having lived in SF and now LA, I’ve learned that even if you leave 30 minutes before you think you need to, you could STILL be late. West-coasters seem to be more tolerant of a few minutes tardiness (not 20+ mind you). And, I do think the under-30 crowd is far less timely and responsible, and just generally more self-centered overall (thanks to social media and everyone feeling so damn self-important!).

As for the doctor thing, I think they all over-book and don’t factor in emergencies or any buffer time. Come on! This is AMERICA, and time = money. And everyone is greedy and me first about it. Why does this not apply to doctors too? I think our entire culture is in the toilet and until capitalism is re-worked, we’re destined to treat each other horribly.

By: J

Sun, 07 Nov 2010 22:45:11 +0000

If you’re late to a meeting you called, I don’t wait more than fifteen minutes. Also, if you know you’re going to be late, don’t reschedule the meeting one minute before it starts. Why? Because I’ve been there for five minutes already.

By: PENFOLD

PENFOLD — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 16:42:21 +0000

Not being on time is (in my book) the best way to show your employer/boss that you don’t give a **** about your job!

By: ummati

ummati — Sat, 09 Oct 2010 03:16:14 +0000

I agree when we have to go there we plan a head to be late or @ least 10-15 mintues ehehe

But as you said sometimes it is inevitable, soi think the Waiters ehehe (those who are waitting) should take there stuff with them whiich they can do while they are waitting.

By: laura

laura — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 08:55:00 +0000

Oh my Goodness…..soooooo true. I am always early for everything and hate hate hate people that are late!!!!