The chronically late have their reasons, but the price can be high

Seattle Post-Intelligencer ^ | November 18, 2003 | KRISTIN DIZON

[Neanderthal]

"or Hawaii, known for its relaxed "Hawaiian" or "island" time.

In Chicago I learned about "CP time." LOL.

[Unassuaged]

We have a lot of that in D.C. !

[Fledermaus]

Sounds like they need to be victimized, blame it on everyone else, and demand government benefits and protection!

[Ronzo]

Actually, I think punctuallity is more of the abberation than is tardiness. There are many cultures, especially in Africa, Asia and South America, where being "on-time" is nearly meaningless. The only place on earth I know where being punctual is super important is northern Europe, and most Anglo countries, like USA, UK, Australia, etc... But even in these places punctuallity means different things in different contexts.

As for me, sadly I'm one of those people who are habitually late, but not to everything. Why? I have no idea. I just blame it on Bill Clinton.

[sandpit]

My chronically late aunt used to drive me crazy. She doesn't fit into any of those categories. Just couldn't stop talking long enough to get out the door on time. Found out a few years she is bi-polar and probably always has been.


My habitual earliness gets on my husband's nerves. I'm tapping my foot at him rushing him out the door 30 minutes or more early. He doesn't have a problem with lateness, I have a problem with earliness. I get to work 45 minutes early for no reason, go to the doctor 30 minutes early, etc.

[sarcasm]

I'm always early for work. I find that I can accomplish more between 6:30 and 9:00 than between 9 and 5 - nobody around to bother me.

[PurVirgo]

=) I'm the same way. My boyfriend doesn't see the point of timeliness (except to his job)

I hate being late. I don't go to class if it's more than 15 minutes. I'll be there about 20 minutes or so early.

[FairWitness]

Bump - for later reference - too busy to read right now!

[Jemian]

This is indeed my husband. I call it, "chronomically challenged." It drives me crazy and I realize I often pay a penalty for his lateness. I am threatening to schedule his funeral for the top of an hour but actually bring in his body about 24 minutes later. Why not? It is a major characteristic of his life.

It especially makes me mad when I'm blamed for his lateness.

[Glenn]

"If you get a bunch of early people in a room and ask them how they feel about late people, the fur will fly."

You bet. I hate people who arrive "fashionably late" to a business meeting. They don't care I've three meetings scheduled back to back and must get all I can get done in the time alloted for the one they saunter into.

I usually tap my watch and put it up to my ear when they enter the room. They get the point.

[Ronin]

Amen. I feel extremely rude when I am late for an appointment so when it happens (seldom does) I apologize sincerely.

There is no secret to being punctual. If you know where you need to go, you know how long it takes to get there, you can be on time or close enough to it where it is not remarkable.

And if you can't make it, you can call. Everyone has a cell phone these days. If I get a call that tells me my appointment is going to be 15 minutes late I can spend that 15 minutes in a more productive way than standing around with my thumb up my butt.

[meowmeow]

Being habitually late is just another form of selfishness. It's all about me...!

[Siouxz]

LOL! I'm just the opposite. If I'm not 10-15 minutes early for something, I feel like I'm late. I guess I'm a "hurry up and wait" kind of person.

[Skooz]

bump for my wife.

[Carolina]

If I'm not 10-15 minutes early for something, I feel like I'm late. I guess I'm a "hurry up and wait" kind of person.

Same here. I like getting to an appointment early which gives me a chance to organize my Palm. LOL! My husband is more relaxed about time and hates that all our clocks in the house are 10 minutes ahead. In the car, it's 12 minutes. But it's gotten him to things earlier than is his wont.

We have 2 kids who are punctual (the middle ones) and 2 kids who are less conscious of time (the oldest and youngest).

[mewzilla]

It's not poor time management, it's pure selfishness.

[Kozak]

The only place on earth I know where being punctual is super important is northern Europe, and most Anglo countries, like USA, UK, Australia, etc...

In other words the productive industrious prosperous part.

Cooincidence? Suuureeeeee......

[AppyPappy]

Or that we are slaves to the clock.

[Skwidd]

I'm just the opposite. If I'm not 10-15 minutes early for something, I feel like I'm late.

I'm the same way, early all the time. Maybe we should form our own group--"Chronic Earlybirds Anonymous." The meeting will start at 6 PM, but I'll reserve the meeting hall for 5:30 so we don't have to stand outside the door like a bunch of dorks for half an hour.