Poll: Do you mind relatives/friends dropping in unannounced on working days? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you mind relatives/friends dropping in unannounced on working days?".
This poll was originally submitted by ST Translations
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll i... See more This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Do you mind relatives/friends dropping in unannounced on working days?".
This poll was originally submitted by ST Translations
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629 ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Missing Option: Nobody Dares | Oct 2, 2007 |
Only exception here would be an emergency.
Otherwise I'm off-limits during working hours, they wouldn't drop by if I was in court, in the middle of a boardroom meeting, etc. Nothing has changed - I still hate interruptions.
| | | | Amy Duncan (X) 
Brazil
Local time: 21:41
Portuguese to English
+ ...
Like Debs, I have made it clear to all friends that I am not to be interrupted during my work day...or at any time, really, unless they call ahead.
The "dropping by unnanounced" concept is something completely foreign to me!
Amy
| | | | John Cutler
Spain
Local time: 02:41
Spanish to English
+ ...
My friends are like me: too busy to go dropping in on people. If one of them were to decide to visit me on the spur of the moment, I'd be happy to see them, offer them a coffee, but would hope that they'd get the hint that I've got work to do and keep their visit short and sweet.
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| Depends on how busy I am | Oct 2, 2007 |
If my work day is going well, I'll invite them in and offer coffee - if I am swamped or behind, I don't even answer the door bell, likewise I don't answer the phone when I see that the call is not work-related, unless I have time to chat.
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It never happens - even if they weren't working themselves they'd always phone first (and probably be told not to come round anyway...)
[Edited at 2007-10-02 16:34]
| | | | Patricia Rosas
United States
Local time: 17:41
Spanish to English
+ ...
In memoriam | one friend tried that long ago ... | Oct 2, 2007 |
I now live in a rural area, away from people I know well, so that has reduced the likelihood of interruptions. As others have pointed out, my friends are all in their offices when I'm here at my desk, so that reduces the likelihood even further.
But several years back, I had a retired friend who thought that it was fine to drop by unannounced night or day. I carefully explained that I didn't mind a drop-in visit once or twice a year, but I resented that it was becoming a routine. ... See more I now live in a rural area, away from people I know well, so that has reduced the likelihood of interruptions. As others have pointed out, my friends are all in their offices when I'm here at my desk, so that reduces the likelihood even further.
But several years back, I had a retired friend who thought that it was fine to drop by unannounced night or day. I carefully explained that I didn't mind a drop-in visit once or twice a year, but I resented that it was becoming a routine.
A few days later she did it again. I ended that "friendship" right then and there ... someone who doesn't respect your time is no friend at all.
[Edited at 2007-10-02 16:39] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Beatriz Galiano (X)
Argentina
Local time: 21:41
English to Spanish
+ ...
I generally emphasize the importance of using telephones in order to communicate, I am generally unavailable for visitors, except my brothers.
I dont like it, I tell friends and acquaintances to phone first, although I live alone, many times a telephone call is enough to let them know what they need to know or to let me know what time they are comming.
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How I wish my relatives *could* just drop in unannounced! They all live at least 1000 miles away....
Sigh...
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I have a lot of friends who are freelancers or work (very) irregular hours (freelance designers, teachers, programmers), and often an unexpected door bell is what gets me to dress like a human being in the morning... Of course I correspond bothering other people when I am less busy. We know each other well enough to be able to say "sorry, busy this time" if there really is no time to waste. And I do not mind working a bit later in the evening to compensate a nice unexpected break!
| | | | rchan
Local time: 01:41
Chinese to English
+ ...
| An Eastern perspective | Oct 3, 2007 |
I would rather have someone phone ahead before they visit. However, in some Eastern cultures, hospitality takes the form of welcoming anyone almost anytime! Phoning ahead often obligates the host to prepare food, so NOT phoning ahead can be another kind of courtesy: meaning the host doesn't have to prepare anything special for the guest.
| | | | Nikki Graham
United Kingdom
Local time: 01:41
Spanish to English
| I do, but I am polite (I hope!) | Oct 3, 2007 |
I almost put N/A, as my friends and family don't live that close and would never drop round without arranging it first, but neighbours do sometimes come to the door for one reason or another, and I often wonder whether they expect me to invite them in for coffee/tea, although I never do. The dog barking her head off behind me does help to deter unexpected (and unwanted!) visitors and keep it all short and sweet.
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Hipyan Nopri
Indonesia
Local time: 07:41
Member (2005)
English to Indonesian
+ ...
| Troublesome Eastern Culture | Oct 3, 2007 |
In my country, it is not surprising to find that a neighbour, friend or relative comes over without any appointment. They are used to coming just for chatting. In the early days of my freelance translation business, it was extremely hard to say no. As a result, many of my works were delayed. Fortunately, over time, I dare say no to them.
Today, I work alone in a special room. Any time someone is coming unexpectedly, my wife will accompany him/her in the living room and tell him/her that I... See more In my country, it is not surprising to find that a neighbour, friend or relative comes over without any appointment. They are used to coming just for chatting. In the early days of my freelance translation business, it was extremely hard to say no. As a result, many of my works were delayed. Fortunately, over time, I dare say no to them.
Today, I work alone in a special room. Any time someone is coming unexpectedly, my wife will accompany him/her in the living room and tell him/her that I'm working on an extremely urgent job and cannot be interrupted. So far, it works very well.
Best Regards
Hipyan
[Edited at 2007-10-03 14:09]
[Edited at 2007-10-03 14:11] ▲ Collapse
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