8 ms·

It's very possible to have every intent and desire to be on time, and still fail at it. Some people have problem with things like attention and executive funct

It's very possible to have every intent and desire to be on time, and still fail at it. Some people have problem with things like attention and executive function that make planning in time very difficult. For you it might be an issue of not caring. IT's not for everyone.

shaklee3 9y ago
It's really not that hard unless you have kids. Just leave earlier. Like someone said, you wouldn't be late for a flight since you actually care.
- nitrogen 9y ago
  There's a question of cost. Maybe you can be on time for a flight once in a while, but it costs you so much X (time, mental energy, money, whatever) that the same strategies would not help in day-to-day schedules. Ask someone with DSPS, for example.
- icebraining 9y ago
  You haven't met really time-impaired people if you don't think they'd miss flights and many other things they "actually care".
- LaGrange 9y ago
  You completely misunderstand how executive functioning deficiency works, it appears. While this was written by a person with chronic pain issues (you might not be aware of!), it applies to many other (often also invisible) disabilities: https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/ https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine.... "Just leave earlier" is about as useful an advice as "grow a new hand."
  - verinus 9y ago
    I have never ever met such a person- what does that say about the probability? Personally I think the probability of this used as an excuse is much higher than of it beeing true.
    - LaGrange 9y ago
      > I have never ever met such a person- what does that say about the probability? You did. You probably have family like that. The fact that you _think_ you never met such a person says a lot about you, though.
BrandoElFollito 9y ago
This reminds me of all these obese people who a are obese because of "health issues", to cover their horrific lifestyle. 98% of the cases, probably (I am being generous). Same with the timekeeping : some feel that they are so unique and mentally impaired that keeping time is beyond them. But they just do not give a shit about others. I was 30 kg overweight and had all kind of excuses (including a medical condition). I then moved out of this comfort zone and lost the extra weight. Some peopke will not be able to do that, this is their choice. I will not pity them and certainly not allow for any specific arrangements if I see this is their fault. And yes, when you see someone drinking coke after coke and inguritating mountains of food you are not at risk of hitting the unfortunate 2%. So get a watch, leave an hour early. If an hour is not enough, two hours. Yes, this is impacting but then you choose which time is more important for you. I apologize if you are in the 2% of people who cannot afford a watch or read the time with understanding.
- tobr 9y ago
  This comment is perpetuating many falsehoods about obesity. For most people with chronic obesity, it is not really a matter of willpower. Just because the direct cause of their condition is too high food intake, it does not mean that it’s a “choice”. Their bodies are programmed to require large amounts of food. Losing weight by willpower in the short term just increases the signals to eat, and may cause weight gain in the long run. The only effective treatment in the long run is gastric bypass.
  - maccard 9y ago
    Have you a source in the only effective treatment being a gastric bypass?
    - tobr 9y ago
      This Vox article is a well sourced but easy to read overview. https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/12/7/16587316/bariatric-surgery-weight-loss-lap-band https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/12/7/16587316/ba...
  - 9y ago
dazc 9y ago
'It's very possible to have every intent and desire to be on time, and still fail at it.' The people who try to arrive 'just in time' are the ones this usually applies to though. If you've ever worked at a place where you have a long commute you'll likely have noticed that the people who are consistently late are those who live closest.
- JimboOmega 9y ago
  People who really struggle with time management and planning, yup. The lack of an ability to reason about time - to, fundamentally, exercise executive function - leads to these problems where the time estimates are always short. For some people, it's hard to see all the pieces ("take a shower, brush teeth, put on clothes, pack your bag, take the elevator...) that go into one larger task ("getting to work") and reason about them. It's fundamentally a working memory/executive function deficit. It's also shocking to me how every intent of leaving well and truly earlier than I thought can also fall apart. The lack of adrenaline in such situations allows a million distractions to creep in. "Oh, I can spend a few minutes to fix my makeup". "Oh, I haven't watered the plants in a while!" I can try to wall some of them off (I will NOT use the computer or look at my phone), but there's real limits.
Angostura 9y ago
Yes, some people may have a neurological deficit. For most though, it’s not caring or lack of empathy
- LaGrange 9y ago
  May I propose a certain other behaviour here might _actually_ show lack of empathy?
girzel 9y ago
I am often late, despite trying not to be. I am also sometimes early. I once arrived 24 hours early for a flight. On two occasions recently I arrived at a doctor's appointment the day before. The first time they thought it was quirky, the second time they looked at me as though there might be more wrong with me than they'd thought.

shaklee3 9y ago

It's really not that hard unless you have kids. Just leave earlier. Like someone said, you wouldn't be late for a flight since you actually care.

nitrogen 9y ago
There's a question of cost. Maybe you can be on time for a flight once in a while, but it costs you so much X (time, mental energy, money, whatever) that the same strategies would not help in day-to-day schedules. Ask someone with DSPS, for example.
icebraining 9y ago
You haven't met really time-impaired people if you don't think they'd miss flights and many other things they "actually care".
LaGrange 9y ago
You completely misunderstand how executive functioning deficiency works, it appears. While this was written by a person with chronic pain issues (you might not be aware of!), it applies to many other (often also invisible) disabilities: https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine/the-spoon-theory/ https://butyoudontlooksick.com/articles/written-by-christine.... "Just leave earlier" is about as useful an advice as "grow a new hand."
- verinus 9y ago
  I have never ever met such a person- what does that say about the probability? Personally I think the probability of this used as an excuse is much higher than of it beeing true.
  - LaGrange 9y ago
    > I have never ever met such a person- what does that say about the probability? You did. You probably have family like that. The fact that you _think_ you never met such a person says a lot about you, though.

BrandoElFollito 9y ago

This reminds me of all these obese people who a are obese because of "health issues", to cover their horrific lifestyle. 98% of the cases, probably (I am being generous). Same with the timekeeping : some feel that they are so unique and mentally impaired that keeping time is beyond them. But they just do not give a shit about others. I was 30 kg overweight and had all kind of excuses (including a medical condition). I then moved out of this comfort zone and lost the extra weight. Some peopke will not be able to do that, this is their choice. I will not pity them and certainly not allow for any specific arrangements if I see this is their fault. And yes, when you see someone drinking coke after coke and inguritating mountains of food you are not at risk of hitting the unfortunate 2%. So get a watch, leave an hour early. If an hour is not enough, two hours. Yes, this is impacting but then you choose which time is more important for you. I apologize if you are in the 2% of people who cannot afford a watch or read the time with understanding.

tobr 9y ago
This comment is perpetuating many falsehoods about obesity. For most people with chronic obesity, it is not really a matter of willpower. Just because the direct cause of their condition is too high food intake, it does not mean that it’s a “choice”. Their bodies are programmed to require large amounts of food. Losing weight by willpower in the short term just increases the signals to eat, and may cause weight gain in the long run. The only effective treatment in the long run is gastric bypass.
- maccard 9y ago
  Have you a source in the only effective treatment being a gastric bypass?
  - tobr 9y ago
    This Vox article is a well sourced but easy to read overview. https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/12/7/16587316/bariatric-surgery-weight-loss-lap-band https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/2017/12/7/16587316/ba...
- 9y ago

dazc 9y ago

'It's very possible to have every intent and desire to be on time, and still fail at it.' The people who try to arrive 'just in time' are the ones this usually applies to though. If you've ever worked at a place where you have a long commute you'll likely have noticed that the people who are consistently late are those who live closest.

JimboOmega 9y ago
People who really struggle with time management and planning, yup. The lack of an ability to reason about time - to, fundamentally, exercise executive function - leads to these problems where the time estimates are always short. For some people, it's hard to see all the pieces ("take a shower, brush teeth, put on clothes, pack your bag, take the elevator...) that go into one larger task ("getting to work") and reason about them. It's fundamentally a working memory/executive function deficit. It's also shocking to me how every intent of leaving well and truly earlier than I thought can also fall apart. The lack of adrenaline in such situations allows a million distractions to creep in. "Oh, I can spend a few minutes to fix my makeup". "Oh, I haven't watered the plants in a while!" I can try to wall some of them off (I will NOT use the computer or look at my phone), but there's real limits.

Angostura 9y ago

Yes, some people may have a neurological deficit. For most though, it’s not caring or lack of empathy

LaGrange 9y ago
May I propose a certain other behaviour here might _actually_ show lack of empathy?

girzel 9y ago

I am often late, despite trying not to be. I am also sometimes early. I once arrived 24 hours early for a flight. On two occasions recently I arrived at a doctor's appointment the day before. The first time they thought it was quirky, the second time they looked at me as though there might be more wrong with me than they'd thought.