Good advice, but the impulse to do things before rather than after usually catches me, as it does Rufus & Neo.
However:

Imagine there’s no time clocks
It’s easy if you try
No “gee you’re late” before us
No more just getting by
Imagine all the people living for today.

Imagine there’s no planners
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to plot and scheme for
And no appointments too
Imagine all the people living life in peace.

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

* * *
We probably won’t ever “be as one” though, because some of us will still be early, late, or on time, even without clocks & planners.
That’s why I carry paper, pens, books or magazines wherever I go.
And I’ve noticed that people with phones never even notice if they or anyone else is early or late, because there is always email, texting, and the internet.

Say the letters N-D-N in order, out loud.

NDN = North Dakota Native?

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/175358979215376247/

Can’t change? Sokay, real friends will just adapt and lie to you about when to show up.

Not everyone will do that for you… and who can blame them? If you can’t show up on time, don’t be surprised when your fat friends stop inviting you to dinner.

She is a Nurse. He is an M.D. Super responsible people. Great human beings and a joy to be around.

One thing my wife and I do find annoying; my folks live out of town and when invited always arrive quite a bit early, sometimes by hours, but will never call or text to give us any idea when they will arrive I love seeing my folks, but their habit makes it really hard to plan meals.

Yes, appointments are different (also depending on the situation). I’m mostly talking here about looser social engagements, with “around” being part of it. Also, (and it’s interesting that most people have ignored this) being late for things that are not social and don’t involve another person, such as getting to the post office at 5:00 instead of 4:55 and finding the door locked.

Haven’t had the time to read all the comments on this and the other thread but aren’t you more referring to a situation where it is a ‘let’s me around 6’ kind of agreement which seems to me ambiguous enough that 5,10 minutes late are no biggie.

But if it’s a case that the appointment, meeting etc just says ‘6’ then that is more precise.

While I’m pathologically on time I’m not as offended as many others on this issue.

But sometimes the agreement is that it’s okay to be five or ten minutes late, on either side, and that even if one person is usually the offender it is perfectly okay. Not all people have the same agreement about time and flexibility around time. And certainly not the same agreement with everyone about it.

One of the main ways “Western Civilization” has advanced so far, so quickly, is thru better cooperation. This involves making agreements, and commitments, and keeping them. Agree to a time, keep your agreements.

The idea that being on time is part of “white privilege” has some truth — Human Rights – Democracy, including “anti-slavery”, were based on Christian Capitalist civilization, first done by whites. Based a lot on cooperation, with cooperation and coordination enhanced by keeping track of time.
Making agreements.
Keeping agreements. Or at least trying to, with a significant effort.

A few minutes late, a few times, from each party, is ok. Almost always, from the same side, is some kind of rude / time-difference, not good for cooperation.