pouët.net

@rudi:
I HAD the same problem! My solution - I have my watch set 7-10'' in advance. It works. BUT it happens I am still late so my conclusion is/was:
1. when there is sth exciting - I am on time
2. when I respect the others (friends, families) I would like to be on time, what I am already doing. Just think - you do not want to wait 30' for sb who is (always) late, do not you?
3. when you are not motivated (work?) you will be almost always late, in the tersm of putting the thing away (what is impossible),
4. it is psychological and cultural case - in the Germanic countires and in the Northlands (at least in Norway) ppl are MORE in the sense of being 5' in advance than on time. In the latin countires (France, Italy, Spain...) being 5'-10' late is a NORMAL thing, even for a professional the meeting (at least that's what I experienced). Moreover, being 1h late for a party with the chums, is a common thingie and everybody is aware of that.

Time.... Time...
"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."
(from the movie, I have not seen yet: "Ferris Bueller's Day Off")

@Lord Graga:
GOOD point!

IIRC there was a man who worked in a patent office in Austria who decided that all time was relative.
Beyond that there was a bloke who made up a story for his kids that had a protagonist that was always late for a very important date.
Which would you rather relate too?

sim: Doing business all over Europe and in Asia, I can categorically deny those ideas that being late is normal. It isn't. If you have a meeting, you're on time - period.

Also: it amuses me that a lot of people seem to go out of their way to create complex workaround for being late, while the solution is so simple: don't be late.

gloom:
1. that's why I wrote "at least that's what I experienced".
2. complex workarounds: hehe, I agree! Sometimes it is, let me even call it, a childish excuse. Exactly, while the solution is sooo simple =). We agree.

sim:


makes me wanna move to those countries. because it seems like they have a different view than norwegians do. so it is psychological. i know that appointments etc are kinda important to follow here in norway. because it seems like there are two kinds of people (although people can change) but there's a underlying subconscious thing with being 'at time' and being 'late' for appointments. i just dont get it why it is so. i think its the people that has these weird thoughts about being on time. or following time at the exact scheduled time.

Personally i like coming just on time or a liiiiiiiiittle too late. Dunno why, just some stupid thing in my head. If i'm too early i get extremely restless for some reason.

But if you're gonna look rationally on it i'd say that..

If you're early, you're wasting your own time.
If you're late, you're wasting everyone else's.

Gotta log, i'm already too late for bed.

That didn't come out the way i intended.

being on time shows respect to those who are also attending the meeting.

Fortunatelly, I used to always come very early to meetings. They use to ask me if I am an Englishman or something. I guess I found it very important for some reasons to not be late. And wouldn't mind waiting for the others to come (hail the mighty gameparks and nintendo ds :).

It has changed a bit today though. I might not be always perfect today. Sometimes I do come late for 10-15 minute and worry "Oh, shit I am late, shit, shit, shit, they are gonna kill me!!!" and then I have to wait for the rest again because they are late for 30 minutes. Ah,. the irony!

Though, I understand it can be a problem (if one considers it as a serious thing) and solutions like gloom's are only practical solutions that don't consider the psychological aspect. If we could just do it we wouldn't be here.

??? Nope... Depends on the persons you deal with maybe, but it's not a "NORMAL" thing! It may happen to some people, not to everyone, and at least not to me.

I second Rasmus and Gloom on this point.

Geez! That's obvious! Have you ever seen, let's say, 20ppl late at the same time?
To make it CLEAR what I ment:
If a person is late for the meeting, the others participants are not so surrprised (even if might be critically seen by some of the participants), since being late is an often case in mentionned countries.

rudi:
I like norwegian punctuality. It is really a good virtue, since being late never pay! Try to be late for your plane, or...for a date ;).

You know, personally I do not like living with my watch in front of my eyes. I am NOT a robot, but must to say it - sometimes it is really important.

As Optimus said, there's a pschological aspect to it. A simple solution to the problem like "just don't be late" is similar to saying "just don't gamble" or "just stop drinking".

For me, i'm usually on time. When i'm late it's often related to sleeping (i need much sleep).

time is just an illusion. lol?

i'm so glad i'm now rich and do not have to keep time.

I am late for work, i leave late from work, so the one beats the other.

Zplex: that's exactly my point. why not leave later, when you atleast are there, even if you're 5 or 10 minuttes late.

rasmus wins easily.

@Sim: Must agree with the "not so surprised version", but it's always the same persons that are late, it's not a latin ideology...