November 28, 2006 at 1:16 pm
Punctuality Is the Courtesy of Kings
All of us who have made appointments know how irritating it is if the person with whom we have made the appointment comes late. If the person who is late apologizes, it reduces our anger.
However, if they regard their lateness with flippancy, it makes our blood boil. To be late for anything is a sign of rudeness. It shows that you do not respect the person with whom you have some dealing or that you do not view the matter seriously.
It has been said that important people should never be early for appointments to show that they are important. This is not true. Leaders can even kings and queens in the west make it a point to go early for engagements and appointments. They do this to gain the respect of the people.
They know it is impolite to make others wait. However, it is a different story altogether for the people of the east. They think that higher up you are on the ladder of power, the later you can make your appearance at functions and engagements. Only ordinary people must be early for everything.
There are differences in the concept of time between the west and the east. Life in the west is fast-paced and changes take pace all the time. Eastern society moves more slowly and few changes take place. To them, time is not very important. Invite them for a wedding at seven int he evening and most of them will come in eight and the dinner will not begin until well past nine. In the west, things are different.
Usually if a Westerner makes an appointment to meet you at 9.00 am, he means just that. He thinks that it is the height of discourtesy if you are even one minute late. If even kings and presidents can be on time, why is it that ordinary mortals cannot do the same thing? However, when an easterner makes an appointment with an easterner, no one grumbles or mentions bad manners even when one of them is half an hour late.
Whatever it is, I think that one should be punctual for meetings, appointments or engagements. Firstly, it is a sign of respect for the person or people who are waiting for us to appear. Secondly, the other party may have other urgent matters to attend to. So, by being late, we prevent them from attending to these matters.
Thirdly, by not appearing on time, we may cause anxiety in the people who are waiting for us. They may be wondering what has happened to us. So, let us be like kings, presidents and all great men. Let us be punctual for everything.
ahem , easterners? society moving slowly? you have alot to learn about china m’dear , in chinese society punctuality is part of guan xi and the status quo, one is always punctual if he values his face or values business opportunities and good relations.
In a society predominantly influenced by confucianism and materialism , one can not afford to be late.
perhaps you would be more credible if you made less sweeping statements and assumptions. View all comments by Robert Bodiva Rickalso
Late and the culture… hmm…
That’s same as:
blaming God/religion’s figure head from failed exams - “Oh yah. I failed because God don’t help me.”
blaming bad weather when accidents - “I accident because bad weather.”
blaming culture when late - “That’s the culture here. We always late.”
…
LOLWTF
Rather obvious it is actually the person him/herself that should get the blame. View all comments by dstl1128
Came to you by way of Allan’s blog; very nice blog design! Good luck on the new site. View all comments by edward
waiting itself kills millions of cells. could use that to send the person who made you wait on a guilt trip
^^
Hehe, I hope I can, but that would be a little too cruel, don’t you think so? View all comments by bodicea