The guests who are not time punctual.

Very inconsiderate guests.. They must have a very valid reason of going late otherwise they are really irresponsible.. But I think being late is very normal now a days specially when you don't have your own car and you meet other unexpected incidents in the street while you are in travel.. Sometimes it happens unintentionally, so I think try to understand them maybe.

Im not really trying to take any sides but responsibilities go both ways... From what i read here, they did say they're coming at "night"... May be you could've been little more responsible & found out, or at least ask them, what time they were thinking of coming over... Also, if they said they'll come over at night, simple question like, "Since you're coming over at night, did you wanna eat with us or are you having dinner before you come?"... That would have solved the problem of waiting for them without eating... And it's your house... Set the rules & make it clear before agreeing to have them over... "How about if you can't make it before 8 pm, we'll try it another day..." That way, there's no doubt on both side what's expected... I hate people who have no consideration for other people's time, too... If someone tells me they'll come over to my house by 8 & he doesn't show up by 8:05, I'm not waiting for him... Don't get me wrong... Things happen in life... Plans do change... If & when they do, a simple phone call would be nice...

I don't allow anyone to come to my home that late. And if I state a time and they don't advise me in advance, I don't answer the door. It's also the last time they're invited.

Hey there, First of all I probably would've asked for an approximate time when they called to let you know that they would be coming at night. It was really nice of you to prepare snacks to welcome them, and since they didn't show up till 10:00pm at night, I would have been extremely annoyed with them especially since your wife didn't eat anything, and they didn't have any regret or apologize. People like this are so irresponsible and ignorant of other people and it is really sad. I hope your wife didn't wait too long before eating once they got there. I know I definitely wouldn't be inviting them over for a long time after that. I have never experienced this with anyone, because I always set my dates for early on in the day. If I know that I am going to be late I always phone ahead and tell them and then give them an approximate time and ask if this is okay, or I set the date for another time, because being too late like they were is just ridiculous... people need to sleep and eat!

I often have the experience, but we cannot do anything. because we cannot force them to come on time because maybe they have some problems in the way. So, there is nothing to do except be patient. Have a nice day.

I do not like people that have no sense of puntuality too. If they are not able to make it for the appointed time, they could have call up to inform earlier . It is not good to keep others waiting especially in your case where it is 10 pm (I will be getting ready for bed at this time ). This is indeed irresponsible !

Yes, I have had similar experiences too! One has to remember too that time means different things to people who come from different places.

Yeah I wouldn't have opened the door that late. But they did say they were coming at night. Did you bother to ask them how late? Maybe they intended it to be a late visit and that just wasn't relayed? Not sure.....but I definitely do not do guests that late. The people of my culture are known for being a bit tardy but then again...at family gatherings there really is not a "set-time" we eat...the food is served as you want to eat around my family. It's rarely a formal sit down dinner or anything. Just family getting together for good food, laughs, and memories.

It's sad to hear that. Anyhow, maybe there are reasons behind why they had arrived late. And beyond reason they should have called to inform your family about their delay. Maybe that is the point why you seem upset. There are really people who are like that, they are not time conscious, inconsiderate and above all insensitive. Like you, I also get upset with this kind of character that these people has. The only thing for us to do is to consistently remind them on the wasted time and the hassle they had caused. And of course to avoid conflict we should always say this things nicely, and at times we should also give chances and bargain like saying "please do not do it again". It is good on pointing it out the flaws, so he, she or them will be corrected on such bad habit.

I have grown up all my life around late people. Late people, and people that don't even bother to let you know they are coming... just show up and be like "we were in the area" but the children are freshly bathed and wearing nice, going out clothes. Ha, that would be my Dad. I am so used to dealing with people like this, and I would probably be one of them except that I was in the military and in the military they teach you that if you aren't 15 minutes early you are late. So, I have the problem of showing up half an hour early just to be on the safe side. When I graduated college I made the mistake of assuming that my boyfriend would be just like my family and I told him that the time I needed to be there was an hour earlier to give room for 'late' arrival. Well, he is like me and we ended up being 2 hours early for my graduation! Ahhhhh. But, for my own family I told them the ceremony started an hour earlier than it did and they arrived 30 minutes early. Of course they thought they were late and panicking about it until they realized what I did and they were very grateful that I lied to them. Haha. They have asked that I continue to lie to them about times for events. Of course I will have to change up the times or else they will always think that I'm just lying and they have cushion time they may not have. But, it is an easy way to deal with people that are always late.

This is common everywhere. I hate it too. The other day I had guests for lunch. They arrived very early - at 9.30 in the morning. I had a tough time to supervise my cooking and sitting with them. Ugh!!!!

Well, I would say no direct experience. However, I believe that guests should be treated well. Sure, I agree with you that sometimes guests do not respect the punctuality. However though, at least in my case, it is rare that I receive relatives or guests of any kind in my house. All in all, if they delay, I am tolerant. For once, it can stay there! I would however point out that, from what I've read in your discussion, your guests are perhaps arrived too late. Now I understand your disappointment!

If I were you, probably, I would be so annoyed. But, I won't set late dinner dates or meet-ups to avoid situations like that. And if I was the visitor, probably, I would apologize for my disturbance and fault. I would never take my pride first because I know that I'm just a visitor.

your guests are very impolite.i think that time punctual is one of the basic moral principles of human beings.i can't forgive those people who are not time punctual.i also have such experiences like you.obviously the results are always unpleasant.

Just out of interest, what was the reason or reasons for their late arrival? I have to feel sorry for your wife who did not have her dinner because of them. I just wish she did not wait up out of common sense and her well being. I don't know what had happened to them and I felt equally disapproving for the attitude even if they have legitimate reasons to be late. They owe all of you an apology and should not take things for granted here. If I were you, I would not hesitate to tick them off as far as their attitude is concern, I cannot tolerate this sort of way especially when I am playing host here.

When I invite guests we usually ask them what time they plan on coming. They don't have to tell us the exact time, but I would like to know if they plan on coming early or late. If they come at 6 p.m. or 7.p.m I cook dinner for them and if they come later in the evening we just prepare some snacks. Sometimes our guests come later than they planned, but they usually call us when that happens. Last time my friend, her boyfriend and I visited some friends we arrived late because there had been a accident on the road and we had wait for a very long time. I felt bad about that because I knew that they had prepared food for us, but there was nothing be do about it except calling them and explaining the situation. I think that it is impolite to just show up much later than planned without contacting the people we are going to visit.

Hi roshigo58, It's really ill mannered to do things like this. I have an uncle and aunt similar to the people you mentioned. Arriving at late night even though they are only few kilometers apart. Well, We could justify at least one hour of gap. Always some room for the emergency/ sticky situations. But people who should have come for dinner showing up at 10 or 11 is really bad. My uncle's really busy business man. But still, it hurts... All we expect is at least a hint of 'sorry' for being this irresponsible... Regards, Ajith.

good day roshigo58, some people were not really observant as to the time. as a result, they tend to disturb others with their unpunctuality. and this is not acceptable. hence, if you asked for any appointment and make a call, i guess, it is your responsibility to observe punctuality. or else, you may end up disturbing others time and privacy. i seldom meet people like this, and honestly, i told them straight away if they will come late, please do notify me or else, i can't able to attend to your time. thus, i am thankful for them adhering to my rule.

Not being punctual is common with guests, especially in our country.Some people are too easy going, they have all the time in the world and they think that everyone is like that.Sad thing is such people get away after doing this, its because we avoid being rude to people in our social circles.Best wishes.

It was really nice of your wife to prepare some snacks for the guests, but I guess snacks can be made even after the guests come to your place. Since neither you invited them on dinner nor they said they would come over dinner, so even your wife could have taken the dinner along with you instead of waiting for them. Even I don't like people who are not punctual and do not respect other people's time. I would rather expect people to at least call and inform if they are busy and plan to come late. So that if I am not comfortable with the time I can schedule the meeting for the following day.