Saturday, October 23, 2010

Sorry, I'm late!

Is a certain text message becoming all too familiar? To quote:
Remember when we would make plans to meet someone and then actually show up on time? If you were more than a few minutes late, the other person would have visions of you lying on a gurney with a toe tag.

Now, thanks to cellphones, BlackBerrys and other gadgets, too many of us have become blasé about being late. We have so many ways to relay a message that we're going to be tardy that we no longer feel guilty about it.

And lateness is contagious. Once one person is tardy, others feel they can be late as well. It becomes beneficial to be the last one in a group to show up, because your wait will be the shortest.
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5 comments:

Hans Georg Lundahl said...

Now that is precisely cellphones, not internet. *selfrighteous smirk*

lara77 said...

What ever happened to treat others as you wish to be treated.I would be mortified to be late for any appointment and if late I had better have a really good excuse( hit by a cab?) Seriously, to me it is a sign of disrespect and something I would never forget. It belongs in the category of other distasteful habits in today's society; talking while chewing food, not thanking someone for holding a door ,etc. What is wrong with basic civility? Is it not timeless?

Enbrethiliel said...

+JMJ+

Elena, it is not just lateness that mobile phones enable. In my job as an after-school tutor, many parents have texted me almost at the last minute to cancel my meetings with their children. It seems like the courteous thing to do--but only because it's better than having me arrive at an empty house while they go off on a spur-of-the-moment dinner out. Which means that it's not better at all. Especially if I was counting on the money--but that never occurs to them.

elena maria vidal said...

We really need to learn to put ourselves in other people's shoes.

Badger Catholic said...

Guilty as charged