Feb 22, 2012

Time is Money!



Okay, so maybe it isn't, whatever. But I'd still like to stress that time is important and especially when it belongs to others. So, if you are one of those who waste people's time then, well, don't. Take as long as you want in the loo. Do what you want to with your hair. Stay late at work, take a shower before dinner. Hey, it's your life and it certainly is your wish. Just don't waste my time while you're at it, okay?

Granted, I'm not the most punctual of people. True, I've probably kept people waiting a few minutes too, just a few. But no way, never as blatantly as the following examples:

  • Couples who, when invited for lunch will turn up at 4.30 PM. Need I rant any further?
  • A person who will claim she is just 10 minutes away and will turn up after 3 freaking hours. Arghh!
  • People who will invite you to go out to dinner, ask you to come over first, and then take their own sweet time showering and trying on outfits. And then when you think you're finally on the way to that much-awaited meal, they will make stops to run their errands. Double Arghh!

Seriously, I understand that younger folks take their time doing things, I understand that it takes time to get kids ready, I understand that at a certain age time doesn't seem very important. I was not very time-conscious myself when I was younger. But with age, I guess it's not so unreasonable to expect some responsibility, don't you think? At least a sense of respect for other's time and plans. 

Despite all the ranting, let me tell you that I'm actually a very, very patient person. I tend to give people second chances, and thirds and fourths, and several more after that. But then it gets too much, sometimes. Perhaps that's what I do wrong. Perhaps I need to skip giving chances and be honest the first time around. Oh, well.



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34 comments:

  1. I am not the most punctual of people but i understand wht u mean. probably its lack of respect for people than time.

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    1. True, Kalpana. It's probably the lack of respect for people, or maybe it's just the lack of realization about the consequences of certain actions.

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  2. I'm with you on this. I detest people who say "I'll be there in ten minutes" and then turn up after an hour. As if I have nothing better to do than wait around for them. I used to be very very punctual, to the point that I used to turn up ten minutes earlier for any appointment, be it with friends or work. But I got so tired of waiting around for the Late Latifs that I stopped bothering about punctuality. I used to turn up ten minutes later than the given time. And then what happens? They turn up twenty minutes even later!! Aaarrggh!!!!

    I'm not so punctual anymore though. But I try as much as possible to let the other person know that I'll be late, instead of expecting them to wait around indefinitely.

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    1. I've always respected people who are punctual, Spiff. It's true that people in Hyderabad are extra casual when it comes to time. I'm not the most punctual myself as I said before, but yeah, I do try :)

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    2. Hyderabadis don't have a sense of time. "Bhaiyya bus kab aayega?" "Abhi 2 minute mein aata medam." You'll be lucky if it comes after two hours. :/ But I grew up in TVM most of my life. I don't think it has anything to do with georaphics. Some people just are like that. :/

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  3. I know what you mean. I understand that.. I used to get a bit late before.. Now as I am growing up.. I truly get it.. If i am running late I would rather inform . I prefer the same .. I hate to wait.. Actually I detest waiting ...

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    1. Thanks for understanding, SGIC. Yep, it's much easier if people inform you about such things, so you don't end up wasting a lot of time, or even save yourself from a few embarrassing situations :D

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  4. Moodevi - Lack of 'time sense' is in our blood. I don't know if its a mental or cultural product. By mental, I mean a lack of respect for time, and by cultural, I mean an inherent lack of sense of urgency due to the timelessness of our traditions. As a result, we end up slipping on our timeliness. Its not just our friends/relatives who make us wait, I have seen this indifference even on the streets where people just don't hurry even after you shout or honk at them. We see the state of govt office where everyone goes about their leisurely pace without regard to the queue of customers waiting for them.

    For your personal experience, maybe you should use 'Time is Money' literally from now on. If anyone makes you wait, just charge them. :)

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    1. I know the concept of exact time is quite alien to our culture, Vikas. I totally agree with you on that. But then I think that extends to just a few minutes, it shouldn't extend to several hours.

      Charging people seems a bit too much, don't you think? :D There should be a better way of putting it across, and I agree this post isn't exactly the best. Maybe if there was a feedback system in place....

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  5. Tell me about it! I would get that killer rage if people like you mentioned above come across in my life. Infact, most of the time, they lose their credibility. It just means they don't have discipline or respect to others time.
    Short but efficient write-up :) Loved reading it..
    Oh yes.. I love reading in the loo. for a looooooooooooooong time :D when there is no one waiting on the other end

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    1. Hi, Sahana! Glad to see you on my blog :) Killer rage! Haha, yeah I'm seething inside sometimes too, but I rarely get the guts to show it :D And then I go and rant on posts like these :D Talk about passive-agressive! Glad you liked the post.

      I love reading in the loo too. Do read the post I did about it. :D

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  6. Time is everything here in Germany, considering life runs like clockwork people are expected to function the same way and deviations are not taken lightly. Wasting someone else's time is a sin indeed.

    On my first day at the university, I was given a dirty shake of the head and made aware of the fact that I went in 2 minutes late for an appointment when I didn't even know my way around the place.

    I bug my friends now with my newly acquired calibrated punctuality :D.

    Cheers :)

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    1. Two minutes late is actually early in India, AS. But you already know that. I don't even have a problem with 15 or 30 minutes late, really. Just the extreme cases are too much. Did you read The Local Tea Party's post on the practice of 'calibrated punctuality'? If not, you certainly should, its a hoot! http://localparty.tumblr.com/post/18002012457

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  7. Indian Strechable Time is what we follow. I am neither late nor very punctual. Late only when I have to visit irritating relatives. Before time if the company happens to be fun. But no, I never piss the person till the extremes. The examples you mentioned above.......I have come across every single person. They should be punished!!

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  8. I totally can relate to the post! I hate it when people are not on time...It surprise me even more because in my college days, I was the one who was always constantly running late and making others wait..But guess, you learn as you live..And now, it has become my pet peeves..Cannot take it when people turn up late and don't even bother apologizing! :)

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    1. Hi Natasha! Yeah, like I said, people are expected to mature and get responsible as they grow older. So it's perfectly understandable that you weren't so punctual during college and you are now. It's bothersome that people insist on behaving like college kids even now.

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  9. I know exactly what you mean. I try to be punctual to the best of my abilities, and if I am late, it is due to a genuine reason. I try not to be more than a few minutes late.

    I am by nature a patient person too, but I hate it when someone takes excessive liberties with my time. It messes up my plans, and I absolutely hate it. I am not a monster who expects people to be on the dot every single time, but there is a reasonable time for everything. :|

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    1. Hey, TGNT. A few minutes late is not late at all. It's the blatantly late ones that are a bother. You said it, there has to be a reasonable time for everything - bang on.

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  10. Absolutely agree. I dont know how some ppl approach these things so casually!! You have got to respect the other's time as well! Wonder when they will realize!:O

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    1. Hi Piya, long time! I don't really believe things will change anytime soon, the way they are today :)

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  11. I wonder how much 'money' I owe you? Nice post, thank you.

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  12. I am extremelyyyyy punctual. Even when I try to be late, my subconscious hurries me and I end being the first one to arrive. And as luck would have it, I am stuck with the kind of people you mentioned above. It drives me crazy! But I guess am used to it now... People watching and having a book in hand helps kill time!

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    1. Oh yeah, trying to be late on purpose is the hardest thing to do, Chandana. Everything gets over way ahead of time on the very day I want to be late. A book certainly does seem like a life-saver.

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  13. I dont know where I stand ;) But no one has complained so far on my late arrivals. I guess its one of those within 2 -3 minutes from the actual time type!

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    1. 2-3 minutes is absolutely fine Archana, for Indian standards is still comes under early :)

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  14. @Everyone, sorry for replying to your comments so late, I've been busy travelling. Thanks you guys for taking the time out to read :) I'll be back soon with new posts, got lots to tell you about!

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  15. so true!! especially if you are the kinds who likes to reach ten minutes early, instead of five minutes late (guilty as charged here) .... but then, I guess I was conditioned to do that because of my parents and my mentors - these days, there seems to be no problem, no guilt if you are 'fashionably late' ..... great post!

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    1. Thanks, Nirvana! Yeah, no one seems to really be bothered about being late much. In fact, many take pride in it. I must admit I do get a few minutes late sometimes, but there are no good feelings associated with it. Just like yours, my parents have conditioned me enough to feel horrible about getting late.

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  16. Majorly true. I am not the very punctual types either but then, it never killed me so far.
    However, I've come across people who fit the above "rant section". Sigh. Telling them a one hour advance tiem may help? (-wicked wicked chuckle ha! -)

    Oh and I jumped in here. First time.

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    1. Welcome to the Daily Moo, toffeebar! Glad you dropped by and hope you will again soon. Perhaps you're right, but what if the day I give an advance time is the one day they're actually on time? :D

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  17. I'm also a bit weird like you - I hate making people wait, but if someone stands me up....*shrug*, I'm ok with it..unless of course someone else's life depended on this person's time. :)

    Totally relate to the post.

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    1. Glad you could relate to it, phatichar. :)

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