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Original poster

Does anyone else really hate being late?

48 replies

WaterBird · 06/12/2018 23:49

Very loosely inspired by the "irrational things that annoy you" thread.
Growing up, at many of the schools I have attended, you just could never be late. You'd get detention or a severe or embarrassing (amusing for everyone else) telling-off.
Maybe it's because of this, but I hate being late. If there's a chance that starting something else could potentially cause me to be late then I just don't do it.
Of course, I still am late sometimes...

OP posts:

FrenchSchnoodle · 06/12/2018 23:54

I hate being late. I feel v rude and almost panic if I'm late and can't contact the person I'm meeting to let them know. I think it stems from always being late as a child i.e. because our family took so long to get out of the house!

I now love being early and will regularly arrive 30 mins to an hour early and people watch, read or explore the area if it's new to me.

FrenchSchnoodle · 06/12/2018 23:56

Oh and relying on the tube and buses doesn't help so I'll always add extra time to a journey anyway .. I think that's kinda normal.

Athena51 · 06/12/2018 23:59

I have a pathological dread of being late. I put it down to my dad who used to chase us out of the house 20 minutes ahead of time to catch the bus fretting that we would miss it. We lived literally 2 minutes walk from the bus stop. Bless him

I hate being late. I think people who are always late are incredibly rude. It just smacks of thinking that your time is less valuable than theirs if they can't be arsed to show up on time.

I'll stop now as I'm in danger of going full-on rant...

Original poster

WaterBird · 07/12/2018 00:02

@FrenchSnoodle
Agree with leaving the house late growing up. That was never my parents' intention, and their subsequent anxiety about us being late was not needed.
Do you also find it upsetting when your friends or family members are late? Drives me insane.

OP posts:

Leeds2 · 07/12/2018 00:03

I hate being late.

I am often 20/30 mins early to a venue, so that I know I will be there on time. On the odd occasion that I am 5 mins late, my friend don't mind because they know that I will have made every effort to be there on time.

Sweepington · 07/12/2018 00:04

I have one friend who consistently texts me “now leaving” when I have already arrived at the place we are supposed to be meeting at the correct time. Drives me bananas!

Original poster

WaterBird · 07/12/2018 00:05

Glad it's not just me!

OP posts:

Ezzie29 · 07/12/2018 00:07

I hate it! I would far rather spend a bit of time wandering round or passing time on my phone because I’m early than being even a few minutes late. If I’m on time, I feel late.
I do make sure I don’t impose on people tho if I’m early and I’m supposed to go to their house! That would drive me mad if someone did it to me.
It’s weird because I’m quite a chaotic, disorganised person, I’m definitely the sort of person you would expect to be late to stuff, but I never am.

FrenchSchnoodle · 07/12/2018 00:09

Yes waterbird I find it incredibly rude when friends are late for no real reason. It actually makes me both angry and upset although I don't show it (unless they're really late).

FrenchSchnoodle · 07/12/2018 00:10

Sweep we have the same friend!

BoswellandForshort · 07/12/2018 00:39

Same French My mum is always late, and I was often late for school. The shame of walking into a packed classroom and having to explain why I was late when it wasn’t my fault

I drive my family and friends mad because I’m always ridiculously early for things. But I don’t want to put people out by turning up too early, so if it’s something like visiting someone’s home or office, I just wander around until it’s the time we agreed on.

Bigonesmallone3 · 07/12/2018 00:43

I am very punctual and if for some reason I am late u can guarantee it's not my fault and I get into such a fluster until I'm where I am supposed to be..

FiveShelties · 07/12/2018 00:51

My Dad was also really early for everything, we always seemed to be at everything about 45 minutes early.

On the day of his funeral there was an accident on the motorway and the hearse was caught up in the queue. Although the Police kindly did there best to get the funeral cars through, we were very late for the service. This lifted a very sad occasion as we all imagined his horror as he was late for his own funeral. Everytime I get caught up in a traffic jam now I smile

ChocolateTearDrops · 07/12/2018 00:53

I hate being late and if someone I'm with is going somewhere and they're going to be late I get all twitchy about it.

Much rather be a tad early!

Ozgirl75 · 07/12/2018 00:56

Hate it too, because of often being late as a child because my parents were so disorganised at getting out of the house.

I also much prefer to arrive early and then sit and have a tea and wait.

My kids have never been late for school and once when one had an orthodontist appt and I had to sign him in I was amazed that there were 4 or 5 people signed in late with reasons like “overslept”. That has literally never happened to me.

Cantthinkofabloodyname · 07/12/2018 01:06

I get really anxious if I'm going to be late. I suppose that mine stems from my DM not having much of a sense of urgency. Even as an adult, if I needed her to meet me by a certain time, I'd tell her to get there at least 15 minutes earlier but without letting on. That way she'd be there on time.

starzig · 07/12/2018 01:28

I am always late at work. I think so many years of having to be on time for school, uni, student work earns you the right. Only if you aren't customer facing though.

BusterGonad · 07/12/2018 01:35

I'm hardly ever late and find it very annoying when people are. It really pisses me off and I feel like walking away and not bothering to meet them at all.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 07/12/2018 01:40

I hate being late too. I have precise start times for work. Today was 13.39 and I was there 10 mins early. I get all twitchy if I think I'm going to be late.

Also hate being late what at work, which when it does happen it out of my control. Which kind is makes me feel worse about it.

Chesneyhawkes1 · 07/12/2018 01:41

Whilst at work not what that should say 😬

Echobelly · 07/12/2018 02:04

Being late, or possibly being late,
tends to send me into a fury, even when it doesn't matter if I'm late

goldopals · 07/12/2018 05:56

I hate being late and have real problems with anxiety when it looks like I could be late

Waytooearly · 07/12/2018 06:01

I can't bear being late. It's just so rude! I go to ridiculous extremes to get everywhere on time.

Does anyone else think that mobile phones have changed the etiquette around lateness? It used to be that you'd agree to meet at such-and-such cafe at such-and-such time. The first person would arrive, have a coffee for 10/15 minutes, and then if the second person didn't show the first person would just get on with the day and check in later.

Now some people will just constantly text, 'Just leaving now, on the way, just got train...' Okay you're still late!

I was interviewing for a receptionist role at my work. Looking for a person who could be at the front desk by 7:59 every day. We often have people queueing up outside so really need a receptionist who could show up on time every day.

I asked one candidate how she was with being on time for things, and she said, 'Don't worry, I always call when I'm running late.' Wut?

NotyourMummynotyourmilk · 07/12/2018 06:03

I have real anxiety issues if I think I will be late. I would rush the children around in the morning to then stand outside school for 20 minutes. My DH was always late or just on time but after 30 years he pampers to my anxiety and will happily sit outside a friends house for half an hour chatting until it’s time to go in. I am at a mindfulness course on Tuesday to fix this very issue.

Teacherlikemisstrunchball · 07/12/2018 06:10

I had an ex colleague who was always late for everything or ‘just-in-time’ it would impact on my day because she used my classroom at lunchtimes, would start her activities late, but then want to finish late meaning my afternoon lessons would be disrupted and I couldn’t set up my room properly. She would also walk into an event as it started and then set her stuff up noisily. Drove me insane. I asked her about it once and she actually said ‘well I think my time is more important than other people’s, I don’t want to have to waste time waiting around for them, so I turn up late so They have to wait for me’. it really changed my view of her, she honestly did not care about the negative impact it had on others.

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