does not impose any obligation whatever on me.

Builder I do a lot of maintenance for has been heating with an outdoor wood boiler for years. Boiler burned out, he decided it wasn't cost-effective to fix it at current oil prices, so he had 13 cords of firewood to sell.

He doesn't have the time or inclination to deal with it, so we worked a deal where I posted it on The List Which Shall Not Be Named and I interface with the buyers, arrange payment and keep everybody honest.

Buyer contacted me last week about getting two cords then dicked around for most of a week making the arrangements. Finally said he'd be here at 10:30 this morning.

I got there at 10:25, waited until 10:45 and then because I am a) 3/4 German, b) retired military and c) an adult I place a good deal of importance on punctuality. Also, I needed to get to the lumber yard before they closed.

Of course they arrived in their own good time while I was gone. The Lady of the House knew the wood was being sold and that I was handling the details so was a bit distressed when they showed up and I wasn't there to supervise.

I stopped by on my way back from the lumber yard. Freakin' hippies from Bah Hahbah, not even a little apologetic, but I held my tongue, took their money, confirmed their measurement of what two cords looked like and everyone is satisfied.

The trouble with being punctual is that nobody's there to appreciate it. - Franklin P. Jones

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
because I am a) 3/4 German, b) retired military and c) an adult I place a good deal of importance on punctuality.

Timely rant.

Lifespan is the absolute single most limited commodity any of us have. People who aren't where they agree to be, WHEN they agree to be there, are stealing that commodity. They're Lifespan Thieves. Fifteen or twenty or more minutes of your life that you could've spent doing something else-- even if "something else" was limited to drinking whiskey and watching midget porn, or sleeping, or curing cancer-- is gone.

I dislike thieves.

You might know my father-in-law. His favorite saying is: If you're not 5 minutes early, you're late!

He's 89 now, but you can still be sure if he says he'll be over at 4:00, he'll be knocking at the door at 3:55.

Military Time:

15 minutes early is On Time.

On Time is late.

Late is unacceptable.

Early is on time

On time is late

Late is unacceptable


Period

quote:

Originally posted by PHPaul:
Military Time:

15 minutes early is On Time.

On Time is late.

Late is unacceptable.

Beat me by 1 minute!

quote:

Originally posted by toms:

Beat me by 1 minute!

You were late...

The "freakin' hippes from Bah Hahbah" must not be Maine natives. Underestimated the driving time. Every native knows "Ya kaant git theyah from hereah."

In today's world, if someone is late , it's your fault.

Back before I retired I had to give a series of high-rise fire safety/evacuation briefings. I started by locking the conference room door at the appointed hour, proceeded with my briefing...and ignored the rattling and knocking at the door. They weren't late for the makeup session and I didn't waste the time of those who came on time.

quote:

Originally posted by mikeyspizza:
The trouble with being punctual is that nobody's there to appreciate it. - Franklin P. Jones

That's a great quote.

quote:

Originally posted by Redleg06:
Back before I retired I had to give a series of high-rise fire safety/evacuation briefings. I started by locking the conference room door at the appointed hour, proceeded with my briefing...and ignored the rattling and knocking at the door. They weren't late for the makeup session and I didn't waste the time of those who came on time.

At a job I had, there were weekly meetings -- department heads in the branch manager's office. The meetings were scheduled to start at 8:00 am. The branch manager locked the door at 8:01.

When I was a prosecutor we had misdemeanor arraignments at 8:00 a.m. on Mondays. The judge had his bailiff put everyone who came in after 8:00 in the jury box. They got to sit through the entire arraignment (usually 2-3 hours) and were then told to come back next Monday, but before 8:00 this time.

I gave a series of "How to keep yourself safe" presentations at a local assisted living center. I always got started 15 minutes early because they were all here 1/2 hour early. Walked in 20 minutes early once and on old Marine said "About damned time you got here".

15 mins early is 15 mins early

On time is on time.

Piss on that horseshit about "unless you are 15 mins early you are late"

Stupidest concept ever put out.

quote:

Originally posted by medic15al:
15 mins early is 15 mins early

On time is on time.

Piss on that horseshit about "unless you are 15 mins early you are late"

Stupidest concept ever put out.

It has it's origins in the military as far as I know.

If you have the 8:00pm to midnight watch, you show up at 7:45. The 15 minute window ensures that you are there on time and have time for the off-going watchstander to brief you on what happened on his watch, what's scheduled to happen on your watch and anything else that may be important.

Further, I ALWAYS plan to be at my destination 15 minutes early. That way, if (when...) shit happens (traffic or whatever) I have a cushion. Just common courtesy on my planet.

quote:

Originally posted by medic15al:
15 mins early is 15 mins early

On time is on time.

Piss on that horseshit about "unless you are 15 mins early you are late"

Stupidest concept ever put out.

Call for medical help and let them use that attitude.

quote:

Originally posted by medic15al:
15 mins early is 15 mins early

On time is on time.

Piss on that horseshit about "unless you are 15 mins early you are late"

Stupidest concept ever put out.

Guess you wouldn't make it in my industry. We have to be there up to an hour before departure and here's the kick in the gonads...I don't even get paid for that hour.

Enjoy your day.

quote:

Originally posted by erj_pilot:

quote:

Originally posted by medic15al:
15 mins early is 15 mins early

On time is on time.

Piss on that horseshit about "unless you are 15 mins early you are late"

Stupidest concept ever put out.

Guess you wouldn't make it in my industry. We have to be there up to an hour before departure and here's the kick in the gonads...I don't even get paid for that hour.

Enjoy your day.

My company too (10 minutes early is considered "on-time).

I wonder if this is an aviation and/or military type of attitude?

We have let go more than one person who feels it is okay to show up just "on-time" only to spend 5 - 10 minutes trying to figure out what is going on in order to be ready to speak, participate, work, etc.