Is it right to keep people waiting?
By mercuryman3a
@mercuryman3a (2477)
India
October 24, 2008 8:39pm CST
I find quite often that a lot of people feel important when they make people wait. If someone comes to meet them in the office, they ask their assistant to ask the person to wait for awhile though they may not be doign any thing important. If they call for a conference, they generally turn up late while everyone waits. Politicians can never be on time.
Why is ti so? Do they feel that their importance willgodown if they are on time or do thaey feel that people will feel that they are very busy if they go late and make people wait. I for oen value other people's time as much s my own. i hate to make any one wait even for a minute longer than is absolutely necessary. I value punctuality in all things, whether it is going to office or attending a conference or returning home too.
6 people like this
22 responses
@moonlitmagikchild (22181)
• United States
27 Oct 08
it just seems like a power play.. if you are the one waiting then you must not be as important type bs!! to me if you keep me waiting when there was an appt then your not valuing me as a person and my time.. of course with doctors we're screwed into waiting but if i was a doctor i would definitely be more considerate to others.. im the same in not wanting to put out other people and im always early if not on time.. lol
@karamellized (680)
• Philippines
26 Oct 08
I hate it when I have to wait for friends who set certain schedule. They should think that I could have done more things aside from waiting for them. 
@gorgeousdreamer (1034)
• Philippines
26 Oct 08
I think keeping a person wait for you is not right now matter what position you have in life. I myself hate waiting for somebody, so I know the feeling and why should we do that if we can hurry a little to avoid getting late.
@jackal1122 (64)
• Philippines
26 Oct 08
Getting late on appointments or any schedule meetings is a bad attitude. It will reflect on your personality as being unprofessional. I have been to Japan for a three months training and I learned from them how important punctuality is. For the Japanese, being late is a sin. That is why, I have learned the value of being punctual in any appointments whether it is for business or personal.
@lynnemg (4529)
• United States
25 Oct 08
I try to always be on time for any of my appointments. I am building a business and I feel that punctuality is a great benefit for me. If I tell someone I will be there for a meeting at 8:00, and I am even running 5 minutes late, I always call to let them know. There time is just as important as mine is, and for me, being on time can be the difference between getting the client or not.
I wish that there were more people that had this point of view. One of my biggest et peeves is going to the doctor's office 15 minutes before my scheduled appointment time and still having to wait so long.
@nangel78 (1454)
• United States
25 Oct 08
I feel it is important to show others the same courtesy and respect you would like to have in return. I do not like to keep people waiting. Now if a bad traffic accident happens, I can understand running late because of something like that. Sometimes things we cannot control happen, but otherwise I would rather be on time and be respectful.
@zhaosonghan (1039)
• China
25 Oct 08
You are great,it is bad that make someone keep waiting,i always think so.I will be on time that i meet everyone.I know someone don't do like this,they make someone wait,i think they do like this maybe they want to say:'i am so busy,i am a big man,you meet me you must wait,you are lucky to met me...'There are people like this,i often see anywhere,special for boss,when someone ask to met them,the boss's assistant will tell you,boss is busy doing something,please wait a moment...Honestly,i can bear wait for somebody,but i can't bear others wait for me,so every date i will set off early,in this way i will not be late.
@divinegwapa (914)
• Philippines
25 Oct 08
It's very unprofessional to let anyone wait. It has become a bad and a very irritating habit. I've had incidents that I've waited for hours and I was really pissed off then. My time was wasted and my entire day ruined. I wouldn't want to cause other people that. As much as I can. I always try to come 10-15 minutes early in my appointments.
We should learn from the Japanese. Every second counts for them. The subways in Japan always leave on the dot. In that way, the Japanese are trained to come on time and value their schedules. I think that should be imposed in every country as well. ;D
@yashassid (208)
• India
25 Oct 08
I don't have much patience so I hate waiting and I have come across such circumstances where in I have waited for a whole day for nothing, that was during my first interview, I was really very frustrated and had an argument with the interviewer. So I realize the pain and try to avoid making people wait.
"Time is precious not only for me but also for everyone"
@ratheeshnice (27)
• India
25 Oct 08
yes,of course there are people who consider themself great by making people to wait for them..they feel they will be respected if they show to others that they are busy..i consider them to be fools because according to me respect comes from self respect that is the time at which we respect others..and we must understand that time is of equal importance for all.so making one to wait unnecessarily is really bad ans a sad thing..such type of practises should not be encouraged and must be avoided..
@mindgamer (17)
• Malaysia
25 Oct 08
When I have an appointment (both formal and informal) with somebody, I will always make it on time. If not, I will be feeling guilty as if I have stolen someone's time. As we all know time is precious. And there is no way we can compensate for the waiting time somebody lost if we turn late for the appointment. So, try to make it a habit to show up on time and properly allocate the time just solely for the appointment.
@rbhuiyan (66)
• Bangladesh
25 Oct 08
it is not right to keep people waiting.because waitig waste time.somebody can lose valuable time for wating.some people are carelessness about waiting,they do not understand the value of time.on the other hand there are many people whose are aware of valuable time.they want almost to keep the promise.overall keeps people waiting is not a good habit.
@ellie26 (4139)
• Malaysia
25 Oct 08
I don't mind waiting if the person has a genuine excuse not to see me on time. However, I think those who let any person wait just because he/she doesn't feel like seeing at the moment is rude. I don't think keeping others waiting is a good idea. Time is precious so don't let others wasting time waiting.
@princejayevents (1245)
• Philippines
25 Oct 08
That's not proper for someone to feel like important when waited by others. It's just proper for everyone may it be personal or business meetings that we should all be punctual and respect others important time.
@bryanski (497)
• Philippines
25 Oct 08
I don't want to keep people waiting as I don't want to wait to. And I am afraid when people are waiting of me. That is why I have a great fear for tardiness. Sometimes in school, I'd better be absent than late. But I have adjusted already. Anyways, punctuality is very important I agree.
@oderog (731)
• Kenya
25 Oct 08
No I do not keep people waiting and at the same time hate waiting for people. Am very impatient person such that if I have to waite for you it has to take not more than one hour. But if you look again the positive of waiting, is that when a person is late you have to give him the benefit of doubt either something bad has happened to this person.
@echosoundz (856)
• Malaysia
25 Oct 08
I don't think so. Time is precious and you cannot get back when it's pass you by.I'ved been in this situation many time and I feel like if the person cannot fulfill the time that he/she as promised earlier why did asking to come at that moment and makes us wait. It's so unethical since we too have other things to attend to. Tis shouldn't be happening if they value and understand the important of time itself.
@hildas (3031)
•
25 Oct 08
I think that to keep people waiting is extremely rude. I hate it! I was always taught to be on time, and I have never been late many times either 'for anything'. I think you are correct in saying, people feel more impotant when they make people wait. It is called 'making an entrance' in my opinion. They like to be the centre of attention. The better one. Some people though, might actually be late 'often', but there is people that do it all the time, to feel important and do it on purpose. Punctuality 'in my opinion' is very important.
