hello to every reader

well, i'm sort of new to this forum, i don't know whether this subject was already discussed (too busy, can't spend some time in searching)

why is it so hard for most of arab people to be on time?

what makes the westers different from arab? is it really part of their culture to be on time?


i get well pissed off when someone comes late for silly reason!

what do you reckon is the problem? and what can be done to get over this silly conduct!?

your point of view is appreciated

I really thionk it depends on the person and not the Arabs only...
I think in every country there are people who are like that and my head says it is because they "love to be late!"

Maybe because they can stay up all night so they go out late..
maybe because they can drive and go out whenever they want without caring about other peoples timing...

why is it so hard for most of arab people to be on time?

there could be many reasons for this, but what i think is that Arabs are very optimistic when it comes to meeting someone that they dont keep slack time in mind... like they wouldnt put in mind the time it would take them to get ready, to get to their destination, what to expect, etc... so if you had a meeting with someone, they would assume that they have a portal that they could walk into to get to you...

another thing would be if you met someone on your way to the meeting, just saying hello would take 15 min... and it would be rude if you said 'i got to go i am late for a meeting' the same applies to elders, if they ask you to do something you are expected to drop everything and do what they asked for... out of respect... :yes:

what makes the westers different from arab? is it really part of their culture to be on time?

i would like to hear a westerner answer this... :candy:

what do you reckon is the problem? and what can be done to get over this silly conduct!?

the problem maybe is their upbringing... which is weird in a way, because we have 5 prayers a day that needs to be performed on time... but then there isnt anything that would come between a person and his/her prayer and it doesnt take a long time to prepare for it or get to a masjid...

a good solution is to plan ahead and think things over... use the watch thats on your wrist or your phone and make every min count... think that needs to be done to get to my meeting on time, what do i need to prepare what do i need to get, what do i need to get out of my way...

I really thionk it depends on the person and not the Arabs only...
I think in every country there are people who are like that and my head says it is because they "love to be late!"

Maybe because they can stay up all night so they go out late..
maybe because they can drive and go out whenever they want without caring about other peoples timing...

well yeah i do agree in a way, but i spent 5 years in the uk and most of british were on time! though, most of omani are never on time! both sides can drive and go to bed quite late!

thanks for participating little chap

I don't think it's a matter of race but more a matter of 'how you've been raised'.

there could be many reasons for this, but what i think is that Arabs are very optimistic when it comes to meeting someone that they dont keep slack time in mind... like they wouldnt put in mind the time it would take them to get ready, to get to their destination, what to expect, etc... so if you had a meeting with someone, they would assume that they have a portal that they could walk into to get to you...

well in this sense i would rather cancel the meeting if they are a minute late, so that next time they forget about being optimistic in meeting me!



another thing would be if you met someone on your way to the meeting, just saying hello would take 15 min... and it would be rude if you said 'i got to go i am late for a meeting' the same applies to elders, if they ask you to do something you are expected to drop everything and do what they asked for... out of respect... :yes:

that's quite overwhelming to me! i don't find it rude to say i have got to go! surprisngly they understand and say oh ok you can go! i don't care if that's rude to them! being on time is important to me





the problem maybe is their upbringing... which is weird in a way, because we have 5 prayers a day that needs to be performed on time... but then there isnt anything that would come between a person and his/her prayer and it doesnt take a long time to prepare for it or get to a masjid...

a good solution is to plan ahead and think things over... use the watch thats on your wrist or your phone and make every min count... think that needs to be done to get to my meeting on time, what do i need to prepare what do i need to get, what do i need to get out of my way...

good points, thanks

I don't think it's a matter of race but more a matter of 'how you've been raised'.

good point! thanks

One word>>> Arrogance

It's just an Arabic thing, if your ontime your not an Arab :hyper:

Lol..well i think it's how there use to do things it becomes a part of them
If your always late then you will always be late it's hard to change it at once
Though it's good to be on time :D

It's not only Arab, it's an natural problem with some people, regardless who they are..

it's not an arab thing, it's just the way you're brought up i think.
my family from my mom's side are always on time, my father's on the other hand are NEVER on time. they do everything at their own pace..happens to be a very slow inconsiderate pace. lol

it's very inconsiderate, but i'm always late :inno:
dad's genes to blame :p

Being on time ? ...




THIS IS MADNESS !

THIS ...

IS ...

ARABIAAAAAAAAAAA ...

I'm most often than not on time and I usually call when I expect to be late. I hate it when people are late and don't even have the courtesy to call or sms you to let you know that they're running late.

I'm alway alway always late .. *sigh* my professors hated me.

I really think it depends on the person and not the Arabs only...


I agree. In every culture there are people who are on time and others who are late. You can't generalize.

i hate being off time. maltese culture is very laid back so not being on time is 'normal'. i hate it. if somebody gives you an appointment..i stick by it. i go there before the appiointed time...nerdo.....

Iono about you guys but to me it depends on the "importance of the meeting"
If im goin out for a night of fun, or meetin up with friends or the likes of that.. you'll already know or should already kno im gonna be late :p

If it's something like a job meeting where I kno im gonna be screwed if u dun show up on time.. or miss the appt .. Than I'll prepare myself way ahead so I arrive on time...

Soooo.. In the end I guess my friends will just have to deal with it ;)

it's not an arab thing, it's just the way you're brought up i think.
I don't think it has anything to do with the way you were brought up. Otherwise my parents wouldn't keep telling me off for always making them late.
I'm hardly ever on time. It's a bad habit and I'm trying to get rid of it. I'm on my way, and I hope I get there soon.

I'm almost always on time. I absolutely hate being late. The importance of the meeting doesn't make difference, whether its going to classes or just meeting up with a friend. I wouldn't like to be kept waiting for someone else, so i don't do it to someone else.

anytime, anywhere,anyplace i like to be on time because the Time is very important to me and if the other party comes late as we promised i cant blame them because maybe for such a reason they got late...

lol@kamakazy's "meeting portal"!!!

I think that's so right! The point about stopping to talk to people is bang on too in my experience.

Sometimes I think it's selfish for people to be late; it's like they're saying "my time is more important than yours...you can sit around waiting for me...whatever"...it feels that way if someone left you sitting waiting, especially if you arranged to meet somewhere outside and you're just bored by yourself. Westerners always get pissed off being made to wait.

But like Kama said, I don't think it's because Arabs don't care about being on time, it's just those other factors.

Anyway, I guess we should all learn to be patient (but it's nice to be on time if you can ;) )

When I was taking the arabic lang. course, our tutor said a watch on arabs is just for decoration. :hyper:

He was right then eh.

Personally, I HATE being late. Sometimes one has no choice, but I feel really bad for leaving that person waiting.
But my experience with an arab husband is, when he says 8pm.. he really means 9.30pm or 10pm.

BUT!

If *I* say I'll be ready by 8 pm, at 8.01pm he is "waiting" outside, honking the horn like mad.

I don't blame the Arabs anymore. I recently started working in a government entity and we must wear turban (mussar) everyday. I already used to get late thanks to the Wizaar (something like the Scottish skirt), now I have to tie the turban everyday too :(

I don't blame the Arabs anymore. I recently started working in a government entity and we must wear turban (mussar) everyday. I already used to get late thanks to the Wizaar (something like the Scottish skirt), now I have to tie the turban everyday too :(
no excuse. wake up earlier.

:p

I don't think it has anything to do with the way you were brought up. Otherwise my parents wouldn't keep telling me off for always making them late.

genetic then? xD
thinking about it, i'd say it's more of a lifestyle thing, which is usually influenced by the people you're around/live with, in most cases they're your parents.
mom hates being late. but after living for 23 years with my father, she's never on time anymore.

my friend's mom is always on time mashallah, and she's just like her mom. she says: "mom absolutely hates being late. she thinks it's inconsiderate to keep people waiting. I'm used to being on time just to avoid the long 'it's very inconsiderate..' lecture." same goes to everyone in their household.

so yeah, i think it's the matter of how you're brought up..to an extent :P

and yeah, it's a bad habit. :(

For a woman going to an event being "fashionanbly late" is acceptable.

Where I work being late 3 times in one year can get you disciplined depending on you superior.

I'm usually the one waiting ... and it can be annoying.

I already used to get late thanks to the Wizaar (something like the Scottish skirt), now I have to tie the turban everyday too :(


I wear wizaar around the house because it's so quick and easy...what's so hard?! lol!

Glad I don't have to wear the mussar though...it looks fabulous, but I reckon it takes some practice to get right, and it feels hot after a while to me...

People being late is not so bad if you're used to it and expect it..then it's just a kind of "alternative appointment". But Nella, your mum rocks!

All people from different nations can be late not just arab. It's just that people differ in the atticate of presenting their excuses or appreciating other's people time.

I wear wizaar around the house because it's so quick and easy...what's so hard?! lol!

Glad I don't have to wear the mussar though...it looks fabulous, but I reckon it takes some practice to get right, and it feels hot after a while to me...

People being late is not so bad if you're used to it and expect it..then it's just a kind of "alternative appointment". But Nella, your mum rocks!

Wizaar around the hose is quick and easy, nothing to worry about is it get untied, but not when your our, you can afford it to get untied there ;)

it's a personal matter. you can find someone like this in all different parts of the world

personally speaking: when i know i'll reach late i give a call and explain why i was going to be late but i really hate it when someone makes me wait ( i mostly don't wait lol ) if i didn't get a call that e.g my friend will be late, i hust leave after five minutes and then when he reaches there and call where are you i just say i waited and left lol. this taught many friends of mine to be on time or call when they get late

Sting, if yours keeps coming undone you can get one with elastic....but I think the normal one stays on OK when you're used to tying it properly...it would be funny to see you walking down the street with your wizaar on your feet though. That would definitely slow you down and make you late!