Tardiness: A sign of immaturity

Everyone of us at one time or another has walked into a theatre to see one of those popular plays. Whether it is "Cheerio Sergeant" or "Rella", the show never starts on time.

Once I inquired from a theatre producer why he was always late in staging the play. Pat came the reply" We are not late performers. But most of our patrons always come late. So we are compelled to start the show behind schedule".

Then I asked a late comer why he could not make it on time. He too had a reply. "These people never start the play on time. So I usually come late!"

So it goes on. Both sides proffering explanations but beginning the event late every day. However, once I had occasion to attend a certain function organised by a group concerned with those who took personal risks by saving others. The proceedings began sharp at 4.40 p.m. with only the organisers and a few participants.

Some of the invitees started trooping in one by one half an hour later. However, the organisers took no notice of them but went ahead with their programme. But the event was an exception to the general rule that Sri Lankans are noted for their late arrivals.

On hindsight, I feel people fail to be on time for a number of reasons. Some of the most important people seem to think that it is rather fashionable to be late. They think they would get extra attention from the organisers and the audience when they arrive late for a function. If the latecomer happens to be a political big wig, he might say he is late because of security reasons. But all these latecomers fail to acknowledge the fact that others are cursing their late arrival.

When I was in the government service there was a colleague who was notorious for getting late. Every time he was pulled up by his superior he had a stock reply to give: "It's better to be late than being the late". He had a point. If he rushed to office disregarding traffic lights and passing vehicles he would have been killed or injured on the road. So to avoid untimely death or injury he used to come late to office almost everyday. Are we not typical lotus-eaters?

Not only people, but also our trains are noted for their late arrivals. I know of a number of commuters who gave up train travel because they are eternally late.

Some thirty years ago I was waiting for a train scheduled to leave Maho at 3.15 p.m. The train proceeding from Batticaloa used to arrive a few hours after the scheduled time.

However, on that particular day, the train arrived at the station sharp at 3.15 p.m. Some of the commuters who were taken by surprise thought of congratulating the Station Master for the efficient service. The good-hearted SM raised his eyebrows and said, "Oh! This train was scheduled to come here at 3.15 p.m. yesterday!" That meant the train was 24 hours late!

Being on time means nothing to most of us. I hardly hear someone telling "I'll be there at 7 p.m." I always hear people say, "I'll try to come around 7 p.m." or: "I'll come at about 7 p.m." That means they will come at least half an hour late. But if you are dating someone will you be late? You might be at the rendezvous at least one hour early!

Sam Rayburn, noted as one of the most courteous of men, was never late for any function. However, one day he found himself behind schedule for an address he was to make at an American Medical Association meeting. Mr. Rayburn exploded", I loathe being late! And I loathe people who are late!"

Then there was this story of a pre-independence political meeting in India which began 45 minutes behind schedule. Gandhi is reported to have looked at his watch and remarked that India's independence would also be delayed by 45 minutes!

Human life being so unpredictable, we sometimes get late to attend functions at the scheduled time. What do we do in such instances? The best course of action would be to inform the organisers by telephone that you would be late. This is not something difficult in a society where everybody is using a mobile phone. By doing so you will show that you are concerned about the other man's time.

Most of the specialists who attend private medical clinics and hospitals are notoriously late. They come usually one or two hours late but they do not have the courtesy to apologise for their tardiness.

One day a big and burly man waited for the arrival of a consultant for nearly two hours at a leading private hospital in Colombo. He was so furious that when the doctor arrived, he pulled him up by saying, "doctor, you are late" and demanded a refund of his fee!

In Sri Lanka some politicians, film actors, actresses and well-known personalities are notorious latecomers for functions. In order to get them on time, the organisers advertise the event at least one hour ahead of the scheduled time.

For instance, when a particular event takes place at 6.30 p.m., they announce that the event would take place at 5.30 p.m. Those who do not want to be late for the occasion rush to the venue at 5.30 p.m. and are compelled to wait for another one hour unnecessarily.

If you ask a psychiatrist he would tell you that tardiness is a sign of immaturity. This is because only an immature person would have no regard for the other man's inconvenience.

Whatever said and done some people can never be punctual. If you are habitually late, you are unlikely to change your ways. That is the bitter truth.