Early Or Late Party Guests Shouldn’t Disrupt Host's Plans [The Question]

Readers across Patch communities weighed in on a timeless party dilemma: whether hosts should accommodate guests who show up too early or too late, and the consensus was a firm no. The general advice is to start on time, serve dinner on schedule, and let late arrivals blend in as best they can, while saving the dramatic friend-culling (or fake-early invitations) for the truly repeat offenders.