RSVP's gone ignored...for goodness sake, just say "yes" or "no".

I wanted to begin the day by posting about something very close and dear to this blogger's heart. To write about it and get that 100 lb monkey off my back once and for all- and that thing is in regards to...

RSVP's (and why they go ignored)

Here goes so bear with me now. Why is it that in these days and times with so many tools of communication available to us all that most people still do not seem to get the idea behind an RSVP. (rhetorical Q)

It just drives me crazy to know that some people completely ignore the RSVP idea and appear so non-chalant in getting back to the person(s) who originally sent it. The really funny or ironic part behind their inability to reply within a timely basis or failure to reply at all is that these people are usually the first one's to complain when they are the ones that it happens to. Going forward I will refer to this issue as...

The RSVP factor

Now I won't even try to act like I haven't been a culprit of the factor; I can admit that I, too, have forgotten to reply to an invite or waited until the very last minute to send one. I do understand that everyday life is often difficult and extremely busy and people can get all caught up in the mix and just plain'ole forget to honor an RSVP. I have been guilty of doing as such in my younger years. It is as I have gotten a bit older (and hopefully wiser) that I realize the value & courtesy of responding to RSVP's. I used to have the kind of career which would hinder my abilities to multi-task and in order for me to not allow an RSVP to go without response, I would have to revert to requesting that the person email me a reminder along with the RSVP. Sure that was probably not the best way to handle the factor, but it was my way of letting people know that their invitation was important to me and that by emailing me a reminder, it would ensure a reply from me.

I have friends and family who are really bad offenders of the RSVP factor. Either they wait until the very last minute possible to reply, they allow someone else to reply for them or they just do not bother with it at all. Boy, that used to chaffe my hide, per se, or just hurt my feelings, but here recently - I have decided to become equally apathetic about sending future invites to certain people. After all, if they didn't care enough to reply the first few times I sent them invites, then it should not bother them to get omitted from future gatherings I plan on having. Maybe I will invite them and call them at the last minute to un-invite them or maybe I will wait until the last minute and call someone we both know and have that person pass on the information for me that they are no longer invited.

Life is short, but precious and when an RSVP comes your way from someone who loves you and cares enough about you to extend an invitation to you, do the respectful thing and just reply. A "yes" or a "no" is best at the earliest time possible. If the RSVP has a date and time included by which you should reply, please honor it. The person who sent it did it for a very good reason of that I am certain. It takes a lot of planning for certain gatherings and when you receive an invite with an RSVP, treat it like you would like your RSVP to be treated. Maybe the problem lies with the fact that the offenders of the RSVP factor are the kind of people who usually do not host parties and such so they do not understand the importance of planning an event. I do not really know what their problem is. All I know from personal experience is that it happens all too often and by the same people.

I just don't get it. I would never ignore an RSVP in such a blatant manner, nor would I pass on my reply via a third person (not kosher either). If I had to reply at the very last minute because something important came up which created a delay in my reply, I would call the person and apologize for it and be honest with them. I would not over-do my apology either because that can be just as offensive as the late reply was.

I am not sure what has happened to people being honest and respecting other people's feelings. All I know is that I try to live my life each day by placing myself in other people's shoes as best as I can and try not to hurt their feelings. To treat others as you would like to be treated. No amount of church-going will get that into people's heads if they don't practice it first. It is a matter of right and wrong. Everyone knows right from wrong; one's actions prove that theory everyday. Rotten actions bring about rotten results.