# Are you a chronically late kind of person? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 10, 2014, 11:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951 "2014-10-10T11:23:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/81 "2015-01-31T12:52:34Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > Good lord almighty, nobody posted anything even close to that. > Are you reading the same thread everyone else is posting to? > Do you have a cite from this thread that even comes within a mile close to illustrating what alternate universe you are talking about here? > > OTOH n/m. Crack up away with your bad self. :rolleyes: I got where she was coming from and also agree. Sure she exaggerated for comic effect. That’s pretty common here. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 12:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/82 "2015-01-31T12:58:11Z")
> [@saje](#): > > (You can choose multiple options) You forgot “I used to be chronically late but I got over it.” When I was a teen/young 20 being chronically late was a problem for me. Now, I am punctual to slightly early. At a certain point in my life I realized the chronic lateness was hurting me and I fixed the problem. It was difficult initially, but now being on time is a habit I’m glad I acquired. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/83 "2015-01-31T13:56:00Z")
You guys are a little bit late in replying… ---
**Author:** ![monstro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ba9def/32.png) [@monstro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monstro)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/84 "2015-01-31T15:12:06Z")
I am very punctual for appointments that I keep on a regular basis. But if I’m meeting someone at a location I’ve never been before, I’ll usually be a little late. Even when I add some extra “cushion” for my drive time. Almost always, the cause for this is a combination of getting lost and traffic snares. I’m usually quite anxious and guilt-ridden once I arrive to my destination. But I don’t have to deal with this very often. So on the whole, I am a punctual person. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/85 "2015-01-31T17:32:49Z")
I’m a project manager at work. So I am never late or early. I show up exactly at the time I mean to.😃 ---
**Author:** ![lorene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/65b543/32.png) [@lorene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lorene)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/86 "2015-01-31T21:49:30Z")
> [@jsgoddess](#): > > When people are chronically late, that means they have not prioritized being on time. When people are chronically early, that means they have overprioritized being on time. The former affects others. The latter just tends to affect us. Therefore, the latter looks better, but is not necessarily healthy. I know you said “tends”, and this is definitely outside of that tendency: > [@kopek](#): > > I’m chronically early. My hunting buddy used to tell me to pick him up at 7:30 even though he actually wanted to leave at 7. I’d pull up around 6:45 and all was right with the world. I’m someone who prioritizes punctuality, but 45 minutes early is every bit as inconsiderate as late, if you are arriving at someone’s house (as opposed to a public place where you can entertain yourself). ---
**Author:** ![wonky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wonky/32/393_2.png) [@wonky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wonky)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/87 "2015-01-31T22:06:13Z")
> [@lorene](#): > > I’m someone who prioritizes punctuality, but 45 minutes early is every bit as inconsiderate as late, if you are arriving at someone’s house (as opposed to a public place where you can entertain yourself). Absolutely. My desire to be early (so as not to be late) can’t create obligations in someone else or put them out I’m allowed to waste my own time and be an inconvenience to myself, not to you. ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [January 31, 2015, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/88 "2015-01-31T23:02:22Z")
A person who is always late is making the statement that your time has no value to him/her. ---
**Author:** ![Honey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/honey/32/5074_2.png) [@Honey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Honey)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/89 "2015-02-01T17:25:53Z")
> [@Hilary\_Algar](#): > > I have almost always been on time or early for the important things. I used to be late for work almost every day, but **I took on a New Year’s resolution this past May** and have been to work on time or early since then almost every day. I know, I know, a job should generally be considered an important thing and I’m very lucky to still have mine after perpetual lateness for 17 years. > > I am so proud of myself :smack: Bolding mine. Your New Year’s resolution was even late. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/90 "2015-02-01T20:29:05Z")
I’m shaming my car pool mate to not be late. He was chronically late every day until I started passively aggressively pointing it out whenever I could. He’s still late by a few minutes 50% of the time, but much better than he used to be. The prick. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2015, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/91 "2015-02-01T23:11:21Z")
I’m on time when I need to be. I’m not an early type at all. I’m only early if it’s something that I’ll miss if not early enough, like a show with interesting things in the lobby to see before hand, or a flight where I have to account for getting through security without missing boarding. Otherwise I’m pretty much give or take 5 minutes. ---
**Author:** ![stillownedbysetters](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/41988e/32.png) [@stillownedbysetters](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stillownedbysetters)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/92 "2015-02-02T16:49:21Z")
I don’t really stress over being late, but I do make an effort to be prompt. I was taught that being late was a mark of disrespect, that the wasting of another person’s time was disrespectful. It does matter to me when other people are habitually late. Once, maybe even twice, I can cope with, but beyond that I start to resent it. I tell the people who have worked for me straight out that no matter what else they do, they need to be on time if they want to be a success with me. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/93 "2015-02-02T18:34:49Z")
> [@stillownedbysetters](#): > > I don’t really stress over being late, but I do make an effort to be prompt. I was taught that being late was a mark of disrespect, that the wasting of another person’s time was disrespectful. It does matter to me when other people are habitually late. Once, maybe even twice, I can cope with, but beyond that I start to resent it. > > I tell the people who have worked for me straight out that no matter what else they do, they need to be on time if they want to be a success with me. Yup. I’ve followed these threads on the SDMB about on-time and late. And I have a [sub]little[/sub] bit more… compassion for those that can’t seem to read a clock and plan. Yep, shit happens, but for those that I have known that have been chronically late, they never seem to have a good reason. “Time got away from me”. Um, no. ---
**Author:** ![overlyverbose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/9dc877/32.png) [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/94 "2015-02-02T18:39:25Z")
I was chronically punctual until I had kids. They run on their own time. That’s not to say that I don’t get them to hustle, but thing are more likely to go catastrophically wrong than they were when it was just me and my husband (read: meltdown on the way out the door makes it more difficult to stuff kids in a coat). ---
**Author:** ![Drunky\_Smurf](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drunky_smurf/32/449_2.png) [@Drunky\_Smurf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drunky_Smurf)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/95 "2015-02-02T19:06:29Z")
> [@erysichthon](#): > > You stop getting awards for that kind of stuff after elementary school. Piffle. I still keep a board up next to the front door and give myself gold stars for things like chores and not being late. It helps to keep me motivated. > [@PlainJain](#): > > I got where she was coming from and also agree. Sure she exaggerated for comic effect. That’s pretty common here. This is not a topic for jokes. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/96 "2015-02-02T19:26:57Z")
I show up at exactly the time I mean to. ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2015, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/97 "2015-02-02T22:42:18Z")
Being late stresses me out. Being on time can stress me out, so I’m always early for everything. Years ago, we were friends with a family who was habitually late–_very late_ for everything. Once we threw a dinner party and they were invited and the invitation specifically said that the party started at X o’clock, and dinner was to be served at Y o’clock. They arrived TWO HOURS after dinner started (and by then, dinner was over). Food was put away, people were making moves to leave, and here they came, knocking on the door. They once invited us to a play–they had the tickets and we were to meet at the theater. We waited…and waited…and waited. The doors to the theater close, the house lights go down, and still, they’re not there. Twenty minutes after the play started, we decided to leave because obviously we’ve missed the beginning of the play. They texted us _thirty five minutes after the play began_, letting us know they were there, and where were we? I was so pissed, but damned if I was going to head back to the theater. (Who wants to see a play that they missed the first Act or two???) To me, being late, especially when someone is waiting, is just inconsiderate. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/98 "2015-02-03T00:34:23Z")
> [@phall0106](#): > > Being late stresses me out. Being on time can stress me out, so I’m always early for everything. > > Years ago, we were friends with a family who was habitually late–_very late_ for everything. Once we threw a dinner party and they were invited and the invitation specifically said that the party started at X o’clock, and dinner was to be served at Y o’clock. They arrived TWO HOURS after dinner started (and by then, dinner was over). Food was put away, people were making moves to leave, and here they came, knocking on the door. > > They once invited us to a play–they had the tickets and we were to meet at the theater. We waited…and waited…and waited. The doors to the theater close, the house lights go down, and still, they’re not there. Twenty minutes after the play started, we decided to leave because obviously we’ve missed the beginning of the play. They texted us _thirty five minutes after the play began_, letting us know they were there, and where were we? I was so pissed, but damned if I was going to head back to the theater. (Who wants to see a play that they missed the first Act or two???) > > To me, being late, especially when someone is waiting, is just inconsiderate. I really need to know what happened at the dinner after-party. Please tell me they didn’t get any food! There’s someone like me who can run a few minutes late, then there are people like these, who are just assholes. ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/99 "2015-02-03T01:03:45Z")
People who are constantly late should be beaten with a sack of oranges. I always strive to be at least ten minutes early. Usually more. I think chronic lateness is rude and/or some passive/aggressive control trip. ---
**Author:** ![phall0106](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/phall0106/32/5934_2.png) [@phall0106](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phall0106)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2015, 1:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951/100 "2015-02-03T01:29:34Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I really need to know what happened at the dinner after-party. Please tell me they didn’t get any food! > > There’s someone like me who can run a few minutes late, then there are people like these, who are just assholes. Oh, hell, no. They were offered a couple of drinks and “Gosh, sorry you couldn’t make it for dinner!” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-a-chronically-late-kind-of-person/700951.md?page=4)