To think that people who arrive early are as annoying as people who arrive late?

[6079SmithW]

Just that really. Don’t arrive early. I won’t be ready!

I run a business from home and clients who are early/late to drop their children off/pick then up are one of my biggest bug bears. I'm not an unpaid babysitter!

They'd be the first to complain if I opened late or shut early too!

If you're early, just wait in your car until the agreed time! If you're late to pick up and don't have a really genuine reason, I'll consider if I really want you as a client.

It's incredibly rude to be disrespectful of other people's time in that way.

For social occasions, a few minutes one way or another is usually fine assuming you're not putting the other person out. More than that is rude.

My parents used to do this -too -really annoying. The other thing they did though was to be looking out of their window for when I arrived one minute late and coming out while I was still putting away stuff in the car etc.

@cardibach Does it make you feel good to imply that you're a nicer person than me?

I don't like people hanging around in the kitchen while I put the final touches on the meal, for example, or for them to be waiting for me in the dining room/sitting room and us talking through the doorway.

I prefer to be able to fully focus on their company when they arrive. That's why it suits me better if they're not early.

I didn’t imply that at all. If anything I was suggesting it’s a bit odd to be uncomfortable about the presence of your friends in your house unless everything is perfect. I find the inflexibility apparent on this thread really odd and uncomfortable.

@cardibach

If you consider it abit odd and uncomfortable for people to take a different approach to you, surely that means you're inflexible?

As @mrsmilesmatheson says, we all just need to be respectful of other people's time.

No. Considering someone inflexible doesn’t make me inflexible. How could it?

Haha some people on here are so dramatic. 10 mins either side is completely normal is social situations.

And respectful of people’s circumstances, there are loads of reasons why people can be early and late on occasion. If they are truly friends or loved ones, you won’t mind them chilling in your lounge while you get ready.

Very odd to treat people supposedly close to you, with such distain,

absolutely!

Plus it's basic manners to arrive 10mm-ish after the time, so that would make them 20 mn before anyone expects them to turn up.

Most hosts will get a lot of stuff done in these 20mn, how rude to disturb them

it's the ones turning up early because they can't be bothered to wait who are showing disdain for the host, expecting them to drop everything to host them.

Not the slightest regard for the host who might be on a work call, in the shower, in the loo...

But no, they must drop everything, rush to the door, welcome you who are so important, offer you a drink. If I need to ring the doorbell to go to somebody's house, I have more respect for them than behaving that way.

Is it really a huge deal?

Do you even want these people to come? When I invite people it’s becaus3 I like them and want their company. I couldn’t care less if people I know well and like arrive 10 mins before the appointed hour.

My friends / family like me and respect me well enough to allow me to have a shower and get ready and do whatever I have to do by not turning up early.

It's manners and basic respects. It's amazing how it makes life so much easier and happier for everyone involved.

I am not even talking about vague relatives, neighbours, and all the people you invite when you are not "friends" 😂.

Quibbling like this over 10 minutes is just silly.

only on MN, it's just a natural thing to be at the right time in real life for everyone I know 😂

I don’t expect watch synchronised accuracy from my friends.