COUNT TO THREE BEFORE YOU START YOUR TURN (Article 66)

Commentary: It is considered good sportsmanship to pause before starting your turn. A good rule of thumb is to count to three then start your turn (i.e., calling a discard, picking from the wall).  This gives other players time to decide if they want to claim the last discard.

Question from a player:  What is the proper etiquette for allowing time between turns?  
 
Answer from the NMJL:  “Thought is at least four times faster than speech.  Allow a player who is listening for a call to hear and make their exposure before you pick your tile from the wall when it is your turn.” 

Source: National Mah Jongg League Bulletin (1996 page 5)

Other answers from the NMJL:
 
“Thought is at least four times faster than speech.  Do not pick ahead.  Allow a player who is listening for a call to hear and make their exposure before you pick your tile from the wall when it is your turn.” 
 
“Thought is at least four times faster than speech… do not pick ahead.  Allow a player who is listening for a “call” to hear and make her exposure before you pick your future from the wall when it is your turn.” 
 
“A player must have a chance to call a discard for exposure of mah jongg.  If you are disregarding our rule of no picking or looking ahead, you have the advantage over the player who is listening for a call.  So many letters say that a call for a take and for mah jongg were simultaneous and we find that this is not quite an accurate statement of fact.  if the one picking ahead says that she has picker her mah jongg tile before she allows some to make a call, this tile did not actually belong to her in the first place.  A split second should be allowed between a pick, discard, and call.” 
 
“A player must have a chance to call a discard for exposure or mah jongg.  If you are disregarding our rule of no picking or looking ahead, you have the advantage over the player who is listening for a call.  So many letters say, “that a call for a take and for mah jongg were simultaneous” and we find that this is not quite an accurate statement of fact.  If the one picking ahead claims to have picked the mah jongg tile before allowing someone to make a call this tile did not actually belong to him or her in the first place.  A split second should be allowed between a discard and a call.”  
 
Sources for other answers: National Mah Jongg League Bulletin Q&A (1967 page 5, 1968 page 4, 1969 page 4, 1970 page 4, 1970 page 4, 1971 page 4, 1972 page 5, 1973 page 5, 1974 page 3, 1976 page 4, 1977 page 3, 1978 page 3, 1979 page 3, 1981 page 3, 1982 page 3, 1983 page 3, 1984, 1985, 1986 page 4, 1989 page 5, 1991 page 12, 1992 page 5, 1993 page 13, 1994 page 5) https://www.nationalmahjonggleague.org