Source
r/AskReddit•
dbsmith

Are you reliable?

I'm terrible at managing my time and am always late for appointments. Also, I accept event invitations and then cancel last-minute when I realize I never actually wanted to go.

My habits manifested themselves on the weekend in spectacular fashion when I arrived four hours late for my own party. Everyone was asking where I was, but then they realized it was easier to assign me my own time zone. I now operate under BST, which is always four hours behind everyone else.

Users of Reddit, are you reliable? Has anything good ever come out of being late?

Posted Feb 6, 2012, 7:37 PM UTC

09
[deleted]•

You sound like a total dick, and I'm surprised you still have friends.

3
dbsmithOP•

That's the nicest thing anyone's said to me all day!

Actually, that criticism rings true. I know that lateness is a sign of disrespect. Being late all the time is stressful and I don't like causing problems for my friends or others who rely on me to be on time.

I must say it's probably my worst habit and something I'm actively working on, but my friends are pretty understanding.

1
Unwright•

Yes on both counts. I was raised to believe that punctuality was the most important quality a person can have in a professional business setting. No matter where I'm going, I make sure to give myself a proportionately wide buffer period so worst case scenario, I'm X minutes early. For example, I have an appointment tomorrow at 3 PM and it takes 20 minutes to get there, and the area in between is known for having bad traffic on tuesdays. So, I leave at 2:15. Gives me a 20 minute travel time and a 25 minute buffer in case of traffic.

The worst thing that can happen in that case is that I'm 25 minutes early. In that case, pull out laptop and watch an episode of Community or something to pass the time.

There are those weird fringe cases where being late can actually be a positive thing, but in the absolute overwhelming majority of cases, you should be a few minutes early or perfectly on time. People view being late to professional things as being lazy or unreliable, which is why being late to a job interview without calling ahead for traffic or whatever reason you have will 9 times out of 10, keep you out of that job.

Being on time is important.

3
Ron_Mahogany•

I had a friend like you once. She would make plans.. bug you the whole week about the plans.. then the day of the plans.. would not show up and not be reachable.

Then a few days later she would have some piss poor excuse "oh.. tee hee I thought it was next weekend!!"

So.. we stopped inviting her to things. She gets mad at all of us for "never inviting her out to do things" so we plan a little get-together to have a house party.

.. guess who doesn't show up?

We are no longer friends.

2
thacandyman91•

I am reliable when it counts. I'm not late to appointments, exams, or work. BUT, when it comes to the weekends, with things that aren't as important (social events), I'm not very punctual. If I'm late for a social event, I would have either missed the boring or best part, so it's very hit/miss for me.

1
GeothCloak•

People like it when you're on time.

I don't think you will find much justification for being late all the time.

1
MsAnnThrope•

I'm sometimes late to appointments just like anyone else is, but I'm reliable where it counts. If I say I'm going to do something, I do it. Or I try like hell to do it, anyway. My friends have told me a few times that they appreciate that about me a lot. And thus far they haven't taken advantage of it. I suppose that makes them good friends. :)

1
dbsmithOP•

That's a good trait. People like people who put in effort.

2
therealjerrystaute•

I'm so reliable I've even showed up for beatings from bullies on time (and ended up the winner by default, since HE didn't expect me to show, and so didn't come himself-- IN FRONT OF WITNESSES who'd gathered to watch the show). This particular event boosted my reputation quite a bit in high school: and all I had to do was be brave enough to show up.

Showing up at court proceedings when the other guy doesn't often makes you the default winner too, by the way.

1