frankenburner2 commented in an earlier Journal entry that a date ?showing up...on time...would be nice?.

This prompted me to post my own views on the subject as arriving late is a phenomena particularly relevant to Thai girls (and some other Asian nationalities) and used to really get under my skin. If I can make the effort to arrive on time then why can?t they? Nowadays there is no excuse as we all have mobile phones so it is always possible to call and apologise.

After it started happening to me, I decided that if a date is more than 20 minutes late and hasn?t bothered to call to tell me that she will be late I leave. When she does eventually arrive and phones to find out where I am, I just say that I was fed up with waiting and am now doing something else. I do make a point of arranging another date and ensure she knows that I expect her to call if she can?t arrive on time.

How do you guys handle a late date?

i cant complain cos im always late ...

if ya bother datin a girl then surely she would be worth waitin for?

get used to it man :[

late date? well, once i was late for friday party bcoz of traffic...i was so sad....all i could do was to say sorry, and i now make sure that i will not miss it again..(if i awake hehehe)

Can't agree there uarewotueat - if a girl is being taken out then surely she should make a little effort to turn up on time.

Also, if you bother dating a girl, then isn't she worth the little effort it takes for you to arrive on time.

Thais definitely have a different sense of time and punctuality. I read in a book on Thai culture once that when Thais make an appointment they sometimes ask if you mean "falang time" meaning the time stated is really when you're expected to be there. Don't know if that was a crock or not, but it certainly seems to be supported by behavior.

This is, sometimes, one of those cultural things, so you should probably explain, once, that falangs view punctuality vey differently and that it is important to us, or at least you.

(Of course, sometimes, it's just a selfish thing.)

If they can't adjust then better to find someone who can and who won't give you so much aggravation.

Ianin: you seems to be understanding guy .... that is true...if the girl being taken out surely she would make effort to turn on...if she late thatz might be bcoz she can't decide what to where to impress you...dont get it wrong that she making appointment with thai time!!! oh by the way

Loburt : well, as i am thai i would like to currect that!

naturally thai appointment maybe 5 minutes late it might be bcoz she wants you to show up first as she is too shy to be there alone....think positive man!!

I always date where there is booze. If my date is late, I order drinks. More and more drinks. The more she's late, the more pissed I am... Then she can't complain that I'm drunk even before we start going out! ;-)

But it's true that time isn't much a serious issue here. I agree with Somebody that it might be more important to show up looking and smelling good rather than all messed up and stinky just to be on time.

It's a matter of values... The look is more important than the punctuality here. Other countries/cultures have different values.

Gigabyte : good to know that atlease someone agree with what the right is lol

people are late sometimes... relax man

ive known thai girls to be waitin for me when i turn up on time

oh and if they were gonna be late then they usually call me

must be your bad luck :[

>>> "better late then never" <<<

i consider it rude to show up extremely late....an occasional 5 , 10, or 15 minutes due to traficc, bad weather or whatever is understandable...but consistantly being 30, 40 or 50 minutes late is not acceptable.

ps...i've managed to get pong to within only 20 minutes late on average....she used to be horrible!

by the way...for those attending the event tonight....see you promptly at 8:20!

My favorite topic.

I give a 10 minute window for everyone, including myself. If I can plan to meet on time why can't you? If it means possibly arriving early if everything goes right so be it. My time is as valuable as yours so you better be on time.

Really pisses me off when the plan is to catch a bus at XXX so lets meet 15 minutes before the bus leaves, by the way the bus only goes every 2 hours. Then the person shows up at XXX + 5 minutes and says lets get on the bus. ARE YOU STUPID???? You knew the next bus left in 2 hours. How many times did we say the bus leaves at XXX. FU. Have a good life.

I will remember that

Misty: I agree with you, it's basic politeness to simply wait for a late person and not complain; he/she might have good reasons to be late.

But what I have observed here in the East compared with the West, is that it's more important to show up for a date looking at our best than late but sweaty and smelly and messy. In the West, showing up for a date on time is often more important than the look.

I've met a lot of messy and smelly people showing up on time in Europe and Canada, but all my dates here in Thailand came looking and smelling good, just a few minutes late... I just took the opportunity to relax, have another drink, and enjoy my life. :-)

Just my two baht... :-)