4 ms·

America isn't the most punctual culture, but there are plenty of cultures that are much more casual about lateness, including some Middle Eastern, South America

America isn't the most punctual culture, but there are plenty of cultures that are much more casual about lateness, including some Middle Eastern, South American, and African cultures. Most Americans brush off as much as 15 minutes of tardiness, but in some cultures, 30-60 minutes isn't uncommon. The German student who consistently shows up a few minutes early may be annoyed that fellow students show up a few minutes late, but a South American student who shows up 45 minutes late is going to be immediately branded as lazy or unserious.

alextp 16y ago
At least here in brazil, where punctuality is generally disregarded, classes start on time (at most 5min tolerance) and people arriving 45min late to a scheduled appointment shouldn't expect to find anything waiting for them. At the same time, social events in general happen always an hour or so later than announced, except for small gatherings and things with a fixed timeframe such as going to the movies. As a naturally punctual person I've arrived in birthday parties thinking I was being fashionably late and found everybody still pre-shower and the place a mess.
lallysingh 16y ago
IST: "Indian Standard Time" When a family member invites us over for 7:30, they mean 8:00. If you actually arrive at 7:30, they're still getting ready themselves.
- gopi 16y ago
  Even Indians in US adhere to the IST...Most indian parties start atleast an hour after the scheduled time!
  - lallysingh 16y ago
    Oh I should've mentioned that I'm in the states. I believe that it's a full hour in India.
- Dylanlacey 16y ago
  There are even sub-sub-culture examples. Rovers (http://www.rovers.com.au/ http://www.rovers.com.au/) for instance have RAT: Rover Adjusted Time, which is approximately "the next x.30 to occur after the start time" and which is compensated for by the "car park meeting" that occurs after the event is over. It wouldn't be notable except for HOW often they both occur in a pair.
- maw 16y ago
  IST sounds friggin awesome, at least compared to MST (Mexican Standard Time). We've had guests invited for 8:00 arrive at 10:30.

alextp 16y ago

At least here in brazil, where punctuality is generally disregarded, classes start on time (at most 5min tolerance) and people arriving 45min late to a scheduled appointment shouldn't expect to find anything waiting for them. At the same time, social events in general happen always an hour or so later than announced, except for small gatherings and things with a fixed timeframe such as going to the movies. As a naturally punctual person I've arrived in birthday parties thinking I was being fashionably late and found everybody still pre-shower and the place a mess.

lallysingh 16y ago

IST: "Indian Standard Time" When a family member invites us over for 7:30, they mean 8:00. If you actually arrive at 7:30, they're still getting ready themselves.

gopi 16y ago
Even Indians in US adhere to the IST...Most indian parties start atleast an hour after the scheduled time!
- lallysingh 16y ago
  Oh I should've mentioned that I'm in the states. I believe that it's a full hour in India.
Dylanlacey 16y ago
There are even sub-sub-culture examples. Rovers (http://www.rovers.com.au/ http://www.rovers.com.au/) for instance have RAT: Rover Adjusted Time, which is approximately "the next x.30 to occur after the start time" and which is compensated for by the "car park meeting" that occurs after the event is over. It wouldn't be notable except for HOW often they both occur in a pair.
maw 16y ago
IST sounds friggin awesome, at least compared to MST (Mexican Standard Time). We've had guests invited for 8:00 arrive at 10:30.