JONATHAN BROCKLEBANK: I feel like a man out of time… but when DID we decide stealing 15 minutes of someone else’s life is fair play?
Jonathan Brocklebank reflects on his inherited anxiety about punctuality and argues that arriving late can show disregard for other people’s time. He says a survey suggesting that a 15-minute delay is acceptable has made him question how lateness became so widely tolerated.
The survey asked 2,000 adults about acceptable lateness: respondents reportedly considered 15 minutes after the agreed time acceptable, with delays of up to 14 minutes not yet rude. Twenty-six per cent said being an hour late was beyond the pale. Brocklebank contrasts these attitudes with his punctuality-minded father and recounts waiting more than an hour for Katie Price at a book-signing, where no explanation or apology was offered.
- Brocklebank argues that lateness shows disregard for others’ time.
- A survey found 15 minutes late is widely considered acceptable.
- He recalls waiting over an hour for Katie Price without an apology.
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A recent survey asked 2,000 adults how late someone could be before they considered it rude. Respondents indicated that arriving 15 minutes late was generally acceptable, with delays of up to 14 minutes not yet crossing the line into impolite.
Attitudes toward punctuality are influenced by family background and broader social norms. How we view lateness connects to questions about respect and consideration for other people's time.
Social expectations around punctuality have appeared to shift in recent years, with greater acceptance of minor delays becoming more common. This changing culture raises questions about what modern society considers acceptable behaviour when it comes to timekeeping.