Given the events of recent weeks and the experience of several other friends organising events at this busy time of year, I thought I’d draw you attention to an earlier post of mine. I’m going to quote myself. Because I am so quote-worthy.
When you are invited to a party or any kind of event, the singlemost useless reply to said invitation is that you MIGHT show up.
WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT ALL ABOUT.
Until such time as you are definite either way, your default should be that your AREN’T ATTENDING. And if it so happens that you are ultimately available and therefore able to attend, then see if it’s not too late to attend.
Seriously, Facebook has a lot to answer for by legitimising the “maybe” reply. It just gives me the shits. If you’re on Facebook, and someone invites you to an event, and especially if that someone is me, just because Facebook gives you the option, DON’T reply “MAYBE”. Just don’t do it. If Facebook had the option to withdraw invitations from events (which I shall rant about at a later date) I would SO remove you MAYBEers” from my lists.
The whole point of an RSVP is to let a host know who and how many will be at their event, so they can prepare accordingly. To those of you who are in the habit of replying maybe, here’s a few tips:
- Stop hedging your bets with invitations. Either you can, or you can’t.
- Your lack of commitment is disrespectful to the host. Stop it.
- If you have another commitment, honour it. (Having some trouble understanding what a commitment is? Try this.)
- Host a few gatherings yourself. Clearly you don’t understand the frustration of not knowing who and how many will be coming to your party.
Sorry for the rant, it’s just that I’ve just put up a few events on Facebook in recent weeks and am really frustrated by the vagueness of people’s replies.
Of course, since posting this, I’ve realised that I can in fact remove the “might attend” people, but out of a warped sense of compassion I haven’t done so.
RSVP’s for Bec’s party were DISMAL to say the least, and it’s a good thing she doesn’t care so much about these things. I was disappointed on her behalf though that many of her friends didn’t bother to commit to coming, and ultimately didn’t. I mean, it was a her 30th, not some random do. I won’t even begin on the people who didn’t respond at all…
Of course not everyone pays a great deal of attention to Facebook and invitations that come through it. That’s fine. I get it. But the vagueness of people’s responses or complete lack thereof to written invitations is pretty pathetic. Bec’s party is a good example once again.
I know we’re all about keeping our options open these days, but remember what you’re actually communicating when you respond in a vague manner, or not at all: “I don’t care about you enough to bother.”
