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Should late people be cancelled?

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Grethe Kemp
Grethe Kemp
Grethe Kemp

Working on #Trending includes covering entertainment and lifestyle, and that means attending a lot of events.

Events mean people and with that comes the issue of time and waiting.

It’s no secret that South Africans take time as a rough guideline rather than a strict requirement, and the term “African time” is thrown around much more than it should.

The issue of time and events starting much later than they should has lead to me making a rule for myself from now on. If the event starts an hour later than the time indicated, I leave.

I’ve spent too many hours waiting at restaurants for dinners, launches, speakers and proceedings to get going, and I’m done.

A few months ago I was invited to try out a new menu at a certain hotel in Melrose Arch.

We arrived at 6pm, as stated by invitation, and the public relations person was astounded that we had actually arrived on time. Also, we were the first people to arrive.

Slightly frazzled, he offered us some Champagne and told us to sit in the lounge.

The Champagne came and went, more guests arrived, and still there was no indication that we would be starting the said dinner. By my third flute of sickeningly sweet sparkly I was drunk, hungry and over it.

We went to the bar an ordered expensive whisky and wine. This was apparently not allowed – only cheap Champagne! – but I was beyond being polite. The dinner finally started an hour and half later.

It was so late by then that we cut it short and left before dessert was served.

It’s another issue when you have friends or family members who are always late. I heard a saying the other day: “People who are late are saying ‘My time is more important than yours’.”

Think about that for a second. A consistently late person is saying to you, every time they make you wait, that they value their time much more than they value yours.

I heard a more psychological explanation for late-comers – they’re subconsciously rebelling against what they feel as constraints placed upon them by the expectation to be on time.

Ridiculous as it sounds, there might be some truth in it.

My most problematic family member when it comes to time went to a boarding school from Grade 1 right through to the end of university.

Boarding schools revolve around time and rules, and I think in her adult life her consistent proclivity for being hours late for events is subconscious rebellion against her regimented childhood.

Either way, it still sucks for the person who has to do the waiting. Until latecomers start experiencing repercussions for their tardiness, they’ll continue taking the rest of us for Popeyes.

Which is why I’m officially advocating that latecomers be cancelled.

The next time you’re sitting in a restaurant on your own, waiting for a late friend, colleague or acquaintance, give them 15 minutes and then leave.

After all, your time is just as important as theirs.

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