Punctuality

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Is anyone else extremely anal about time? I have always been a stickler for punctuality. I show up for work not less than 20 minutes before the start of my shift, i will never be late for an appointment, even if it means being two hours early.

I understand that in western cultures plus Japan, time is highly valued, and to be late for an appointment shows disrespect for the host. Apparently in most other cultures, time is hardly valued at all. In Latin America, showing up to a dinner party on time is considered disrespectful, its customary to be two hours late.

The US is considered "time moderate" in that one can be up to a half hour late without being considered disrespectful. This clashes with my belief (Im American) that to be even a minute late without a good explanation shows a lack of regard for my time. If i am going to be late, i always call ahead, to me thats common courtesy.

Where i work, we are expected to be clocked in and ready to work 15 minutes before the posted shift time (all minutes are paid of course). This is so that the previous shift person can get out on time (one person on duty at a time). Almost all of my co-workers think nothing of showing up at the last possible second. I punch in at 640 for a 7-3 shift, my relief shows up at 257, to me that is 12 minutes late.

Coworkers often ask me why im so early, i tell them that its out of respect for their time, that they have other things to do. There seems to be a disconnect somewhere, i am not shown the same respect, i too have things to do. My shift may be 7-3 but i show up at 635 or 640, punch in no later than 645 (the 15 minute rule), i should be out no later than 315 after doing the paperwork. Most days its closer to 330 or 345 because my relief showed up between 255 and 310.

Am i wrong to ask for the same respect that i show my co-workers?

The people I've known who show up early for everything tend to be extremely anal and demanding, expecting the rest of the world to do everything their way, or they become snotty and ugly, or just downright abusive.

My dad was that way when I was a kid, waiting in the parking lot for everyone else to show up, getting upset when everyone else didn't share his sense of urgency. Didn't do his blood pressure any good. He seems to have outgrown it finally.

I had an ex with OCD who was unbearable about it - but she couldn't be bothered to call and let a person know if she just decided to skip a meeting entirely, so it had nothing to do with mutual respect, though she would say that. It was never mutual, it was always her way or there's gonna be trouble. There was always trouble.

I, on the other hand, just resist being told what to do, and when to do it. You can't rush quality.

I am kind of a space case with a lot of things but I'm usually very punctual. I feel strongly about it. lol.

I am very punctual and pretty anal about it. I feel that my being late is disrespectful of the other persons time. This probably stems from my life being so busy that I have to schedule practically everything so being late often times can screw up the rest of the day for me, so I don't want to do that to someone else. If I am going to be late I always let them know, that way they aren't wasting time waiting for me when they could be doing something else they need to do. I don't have a problem with others being late, I will wait without being frustrated because I expect that more often than not, but I'm typically more sensitive to others needs than I am to my own. It's a curse but that's who I am.

Someone who plans something and doesn't show up and doesn't call? Different story.

I do tend to take people too seriously. If i say "will you be here by 3?" and they say yes, then show up at 301, they have "lied" to me.

I live by hard and fast deadlines, if i say i will be somewhere by a certain time, i feel that i am contractually obligated to live up to that, if i thought that it would be a problem, i would have said "about 3 oclock".

another thing is vague timeframes. if its 220 and you say youll be back "within the hour" i expect you by 3. if you say "within an hour" then i expect you by 320.

I am a literalist, "say what you mean, mean what you say" yes means yes no means no. Thats why i could never figure out sex, dont scream "no" if you want me to continue, you say no, i stop. Im legally protecting myself there. fftopic:

I am always early to engagements and have near "shutdowns" if others prevent me from being punctual (it happens often in my family). I can deal with other people being late (I am in no hurry most of the time) but i can't deal with being late myself (I relate it to lying when you say you will be somewhere at a specific time and then don't).

I've got into the bad habit of not being punctual. Now I'm the exact opposite...I'm regularly late for pretty much anything. I've been half an hour late for a lecture on several occasions this year, something that I wouldn't have ever thought possible even last year. I blame the student lifestyle, and my own inherent laziness.

sorry guys, I'm the one thats always late

i dont like it but kind of...cant help it

There should be a "Yes, although i'm also usually kind of late myself" option

I am almost always on time or early. I don't mind if people are a little bit late, I understand circumstances and traffic and stuff - but significant or intentional lateness is annoying.

If there is something I'm unfamiliar with, I'll be early. If it's a regular thing and I know how much time I need, I'll be there on time. If you never give me a time, never remind me, then it's not going to end up happening, or at least will be very delayed.

I'm very anal about time, and being on-time. This is another reason I don't like other drivers, because they can make me late. I've had to learn that it's customary that if you have an interview for a job at 3:30pm, you show up at 3:20pm. I guess I take time very literal lol

I am, but I've kind of accepted that it doesn't always happen. Especially with people in my age group, most of the time people are late anyways, so I try to take that as normal.

I myself am usually early, which does tick me off when I'm waiting for someone else to show up. Like if I'm meeting up with a friend to see a movie or something. Of course, whenever I intentionally try to be late to get back at them, they end up arriving early and well, I become the fool. Just can't win, so meh.