“Our office manager was upset that people weren’t responding promptly enough to the Christmas party invitation,” says our submitter in San Diego.
In keeping with the holiday spirit of things, the office manager apparently channeled that anger into the posting of this (uncredited) About.com excerpt in the office kitchen, for the edification of all. How that’s for savoir faire?
related: an evening of congenial abnormality
154 responses so far ↓
#1
Olson
Do you think it would drive this guy completely insane if I were to RSVP with “Maybe”?
Dec 13, 2009 at 10:11 am rating: +60
#2
Sarah
Gotta agree. People who dont RSVP, are annoying.
Dec 13, 2009 at 10:24 am rating: +42
#3
Annie
I like how some effort was made into choosing a fancy font for the header. Clearly this person pays attention to details.
Dec 13, 2009 at 10:25 am rating: +5
#4
Gunderson105
I thought RSVP was French for “I surrender”.
Dec 13, 2009 at 10:31 am rating: +21
#5
infant tyrone
Since the font of the entire note is sans serif, some of the folks (we aren’t told what kind of work is done here) in the office might have been a little worried about the dress code (unspecified in the note).
Y’see, fonts with serifs are often referred to as “Roman”, and everybody can decode that to mean “Toga Party!” + everybody has sheets.
But sans serif fonts are often referred to as ‘grotesque’ or ‘Gothic’, and not everybody is going to want to spring for an all-black ensemble (OK, you’ll get any part-time Johnny Cash impersonators) plus the all-important black or deep-purple cosmetics just for the chance to gobble up some left-over-from-Halloween red-hot candy and wash it down with cherry flavored KoolAid or even Singapore Slings.
Team Toga!
(Although we loves us a good rendition of “Werewolves of London”.)
Dec 13, 2009 at 10:42 am rating: +17
#6
Xenobiologista
I don’t think it’s terribly passive-aggressive…it’s understandable that the manager’s annoyed if they’re in charge of buying food and has no idea how much to get.
Also, why are we stuck using a French acronym? The fact that it’s an acronym of a phrase in another language means that it ends up getting used in weird ways like “Please RSVP” (“Please please respond”). Do you think more people would be likely to comply if plain English was used, e.g. “Please respond by Friday?”
Dec 13, 2009 at 10:42 am rating: +18
#7
Stephanie
Xenobiologista, I don’t think the issue is people not understanding the concept of RSVPing because of it being ‘in another language’. As an office manager who sent out the invitation for the Christmas party with “Please respond by [date]” and still had to go around individually to people to ask them if they were coming or not since only about 25% had bothered to respond after being sent the invite as well as a ‘reminder to RSVP’, I think people are just lazy,inconsiderate and occasionally busy.
Dec 13, 2009 at 10:50 am rating: +20
#8
John
It’s not passive aggressive, it’s appropriately pointed. People who don’t RSVP are assholes.
Dec 13, 2009 at 11:02 am rating: +27
#9
Critical Grass
Réspondez s’il vous plaît is a sine qua non condition to attend the party.
Just respond, don’t be a snob.
Merci.
PS: Some people have been asking about the dress code. Don’t worry about it, anything you’re confortable wearing is good enough, as long as it’s haute couture.
edited after reading
assholeashmeadow’s comment. Thanks.Dec 13, 2009 at 11:50 am rating: +6
#10
Palomon
Funny that a note on manners is itself so rude.
Dec 13, 2009 at 11:50 am rating: +6
#11
StickSave
If people feel that serious about RSVP, then maybe they should use fucking English to get the point accross since it’s obviously directed to English speaking persons. RSVP means “I’m too fucking lazy to write out how I need you to respond with a definite answer whether yes or no.”
Dec 13, 2009 at 11:51 am rating: +6
#12
The Prof
The Meaning Of Plagiarism:
To use the work of others as your own, without citing the source.
I have been reading PAN for a while and this is the first case of “cut and paste” passive aggressiveness I can remember.
Dec 13, 2009 at 12:02 pm rating: +4
#13
The Prof
…and while we are at it. I am clearly no grammar fascist but I hate when RSVP is used as a noun and a verb.
“How many RSVPs have we gotten?” or
“Let me know if you want to go … I need to RSVP.”
Dec 13, 2009 at 12:07 pm rating: +1
#14
Adam
Is that green holiday paper? Or is it just plain old white and the color has changed due to transfer to digital?
If so, I like the green paper, very festive.
Dec 13, 2009 at 1:08 pm rating: +2
#15
shwonline
BBQ! RSVP ASAP. BYOB.
Dec 13, 2009 at 1:37 pm rating: +19
#16
susaw
basically, a host/ess can’t win. Cancel the party and contribute the funds to a shelter or someone who wants to celebrate the season. Bah humbug to those lame invitees who can’t bother to RSVP. so rude are they.
Dec 13, 2009 at 2:53 pm rating: +8
#17
Wade
If management had thought to send out the invitation via Facebook, then everyone would have responded promptly and courteously.
wait.
Dec 13, 2009 at 4:11 pm rating: +6
#18
smacky
Here’s another handy use for escape goats! When people show up at your party and they haven’t RSVP’d (sorry, Prof) you can have them ride the escape goats back out the door.
Dec 13, 2009 at 5:06 pm rating: +1
#19
Havingfitz
With deepest regrets, I must inform you that I will not be able to attend your party. I’m scheduled to testify at the trial of our former employee, Bob Mess, who was fired for doing number 2 in the men’s room (while wearing very loud stiletto heels). As you know, Bob retaliated by stealing a few dozen staplers, some diamond cream,Dave’s soda, and a Chihuahua named Tobby. If you have any questions, please direct them to my tan poodle.
Dec 13, 2009 at 5:31 pm rating: +17
#20
Mel K
What’s aggressive in this note for me is the annoying use of centre alignment. Not only do I not want to attend the stupid party, I do not want to be visually assaulted by reading something that does not allow for easy skimming.
I guess it could have been worse if hard returns had been inserted to make it in the shape of a Christmas Tree.
Next time, spend the money on a really great drinks trolley with drinks and treats and send it around while people are working. They’ll be happy to stop work and have a better time than at a forced party.
Dec 13, 2009 at 5:51 pm rating: +5
#21
Lisa
I’m going to have to declare myself “Team Management” on this one. Even people who pride themselves on their manners will neglect to RSVP.
Don’t be afraid! We’re not asking because we want to harangue you to come if you dare refuse the invitation. We just want to know how many fu**ing chicken fingers and boiled shrimp to buy.
Oh, and all you losers that bring your entire extended family to the office Christmas party? We’re all laughing at you.
Dec 13, 2009 at 6:33 pm rating: +9
#22
Quinn
Man oh man, I hate it when people don’t cite their sources. >:(
Dec 13, 2009 at 8:14 pm rating: +4
#23
kdaniel
Sounds like their office could use a little Heart:
I got an invitation for you
A little temptation for you
A night in your honor
A secret rendezvous
I can almost see your face at my door
I don’t want to have to wait anymore
I know my offer might be long overdue
RSVP
It’s a private affair
I just won’t believe that you don’t care
RSVP
Only you and me
I’ll be waiting till you answer me
Dec 13, 2009 at 9:26 pm rating: +2
#24
Palomon
Gang-
We’re looking forward to the office Christmas party.
We need a head count to order food. Our aim is to get some good chow instead of stale chips and salsa, so please RSVP, which is French for “Give us a Heads Up,” before the end of the week. This’ll let us get some quality h’oer’duervers, which, when spelled correctly, is French for “good stuff you can eat with your hands.”
Thanks in advance and Merry Christmas.
- The Boss
Dec 13, 2009 at 10:44 pm rating: +7
#25
Makya
This is exactly why I cancelled Christmas this year.
Dec 14, 2009 at 2:43 am rating: 0
#26
Renagade676
I really don’t think it’s important to RSVP if you’re coming to a wedding or a funeral, unless you aren’t able to make it. Or it’s for a really formal wedding.
Then again, my wedding was a casual outdoor wedding on my parent’s property, with a potluck dinner and a Star Wars cake.
In the other hand office parties should generally be, “don’t RSVP, don’t come”. Save the people who have busy home lives alot of effort.
Dec 14, 2009 at 5:29 am rating: 0
#27
Escape Goat
Is “whether” randomly italicized?
And isn’t “italicized” an Italian word? I thought this manager was going with a French motif. C’mon Man(ager), don’t confuse us.
Dec 14, 2009 at 7:33 am rating: +1
#28
Joe 2
“C’mon people! I need to know how many Happy Meals to order, goddammit!
Dec 14, 2009 at 3:42 pm rating: +1
#29
Cady
I confess I’m guilty of writing a similar note at the bottom of every invitation I write, simply because the vast majority of my friends do not grasp the RSVP concept.
Dec 14, 2009 at 10:23 pm rating: +1
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