spydah
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Post by spydah on Nov 8, 2013 12:34:34 GMT -5
We received an e-mail asking if we want to participate in this year's office secret Santa. I replied with No, I'm not interested. Now, a few people are asking me why I'm not doing it. What ever happened to no means no!
Do I even have to give them a reason? I don't think I should. What would you do? How would you handle this?
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2013 12:35:58 GMT -5
We received an e-mail asking if we want to participate in this year's office secret Santa. I replied with No, I'm not interested. Now, a few people are asking me why I'm not doing it. What ever happened to no means no!
Do I even have to give them a reason? I don't think I should. What would you do? How would you handle this? Do it. You know you want to. You are just a little nervous now but once it starts it is going to be great.
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Chocolate Lover
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Post by Chocolate Lover on Nov 8, 2013 12:36:05 GMT -5
Man, people are nosy. I'd just keep on with the "I'm not interested" until they shut up.
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spydah
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Post by spydah on Nov 8, 2013 12:37:50 GMT -5
Maybe I should give them a childish response and say: No, and I'm taking my ball with me! None of you get to play!
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NomoreDramaQ1015
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Post by NomoreDramaQ1015 on Nov 8, 2013 12:38:31 GMT -5
Tell them you can't because you need to pay for a hernia operation. Add in tons of descriptive detail about how the surgery works. They'll never pester you again.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2013 12:40:07 GMT -5
Why aren't you going to participate? If it's financial you can say that. "I was spending a couple of hundred a year in gifts for these kind of circles. I've cut back to save for the kids gifts." If you just don't like them...say it's financial
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Chocolate Lover
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Post by Chocolate Lover on Nov 8, 2013 12:43:46 GMT -5
You could go all YM on them and say it's not in the budget and they didn't submit the request in a timely fashion so no adjustments can be made!
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Nov 8, 2013 12:44:02 GMT -5
You don't owe them an explanation of any kind. No is no, and that's it. Tell them to buzz outta your cubicle; you are too busy posting here to be bothered anyway.
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Shooby
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Post by Shooby on Nov 8, 2013 12:44:42 GMT -5
The best approach I have found is one of being passively aggressively oblivious. You just pretend to not notice or show any interest in these types of things if you truly don't want to participate. And, then if asked you just vaguely mutter no, walk away and change the subject and don't ever mention it. And, don't EXPLAIN why because that just leads to more and more questions and cajoling and on and on. And, even if you say it is for financial reasons, then they will just accuse you of being a cheap arse so my advice is to never explain. You are either doing it or not and if not, who cares why.
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spydah
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Post by spydah on Nov 8, 2013 12:49:38 GMT -5
Tell them you can't because you need to pay for a hernia operation. Add in tons of descriptive detail about how the surgery works. They'll never pester you again. Brilliant! I like it!
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spydah
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Post by spydah on Nov 8, 2013 12:50:10 GMT -5
Why aren't you going to participate? If it's financial you can say that. "I was spending a couple of hundred a year in gifts for these kind of circles. I've cut back to save for the kids gifts." If you just don't like them...say it's financial It's a financial reason!
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Chocolate Lover
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Post by Chocolate Lover on Nov 8, 2013 12:50:22 GMT -5
Tell them you can't because you need to pay for a hernia operation. Add in tons of descriptive detail about how the surgery works. They'll never pester you again. Brilliant! I like it! If you go with that, you should offer to show them your scar. Keep them from talking to you forever!
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spydah
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Post by spydah on Nov 8, 2013 12:50:46 GMT -5
You could go all YM on them and say it's not in the budget and they didn't submit the request in a timely fashion so no adjustments can be made! It really isn't in the budget and it won't be!
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spydah
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Post by spydah on Nov 8, 2013 12:51:40 GMT -5
You don't owe them an explanation of any kind. No is no, and that's it. Tell them to buzz outta your cubicle; you are too busy posting here to be bothered anyway. That was my point! And now I need to drink a pint (that's on the budget! )
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spydah
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Post by spydah on Nov 8, 2013 12:53:00 GMT -5
The best approach I have found is one of being passively aggressively oblivious. You just pretend to not notice or show any interest in these types of things if you truly don't want to participate. And, then if asked you just vaguely mutter no, walk away and change the subject and don't ever mention it. And, don't EXPLAIN why because that just leads to more and more questions and cajoling and on and on. And, even if you say it is for financial reasons, then they will just accuse you of being a cheap arse so my advice is to never explain. You are either doing it or not and if not, who cares why. I won't tell them why, I'm not even gonna say it's financial or it's not on the budget. I'm not interested means I'm not interested. No means no!
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Waffle
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Post by Waffle on Nov 8, 2013 12:53:45 GMT -5
You really don't owe them a reason. But if it were me, and people continued to ask after getting the simple "no", I'd probably give a joking answer and stick with it - like "Hey, somebody's got to play Scrooge".
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Nov 8, 2013 12:56:46 GMT -5
Ah the joy of this crap not being allowed in federal workplaces.
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swamp
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Post by swamp on Nov 8, 2013 12:57:54 GMT -5
I'd join just to play nice in the sandbox.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2013 12:59:47 GMT -5
I'd join just to play nice in the sandbox. Me too. It's worth $20/year to keep coworkers cheerful and cooperative and bosses thinking how nice I am at raise and promotion time.
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spydah
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Post by spydah on Nov 8, 2013 13:29:07 GMT -5
You really don't owe them a reason. But if it were me, and people continued to ask after getting the simple "no", I'd probably give a joking answer and stick with it - like "Hey, somebody's got to play Scrooge". I stuck to my I'm not interested speech and I threw in your Scrooge quote.
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spydah
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Post by spydah on Nov 8, 2013 13:30:03 GMT -5
I'd join just to play nice in the sandbox. Me too. It's worth $20/year to keep coworkers cheerful and cooperative and bosses thinking how nice I am at raise and promotion time. I might not be here by then. At least that's the plan! Wish me luck!
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Nov 8, 2013 13:32:52 GMT -5
Me too. It's worth $20/year to keep coworkers cheerful and cooperative and bosses thinking how nice I am at raise and promotion time. I might not be here by then. At least that's the plan! Wish me luck! I thought about that too. Maybe your new place won't do Secret Santa.
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spydah
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Post by spydah on Nov 8, 2013 13:59:12 GMT -5
It's not official (yet)!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2013 14:01:44 GMT -5
Me too. It's worth $20/year to keep coworkers cheerful and cooperative and bosses thinking how nice I am at raise and promotion time. I might not be here by then. At least that's the plan! Wish me luck! Have you never seen any made for TV movies?!?!?! You never get the new job or promotion of windfall you are expecting when you piss off everyone you work with! You end up having to stay there and eat humble pie and discover how wonderful they really are! You have sooooo jinxed yourself!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2013 14:02:20 GMT -5
That counts for double when you are being a Christmas Scrooge!
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spydah
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Post by spydah on Nov 8, 2013 14:07:21 GMT -5
I have 3 business days to change my mind.
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spydah
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Post by spydah on Nov 8, 2013 14:08:02 GMT -5
Thank you for your input later and swamp. I'm at least considering it now!
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Miss Tequila
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Post by Miss Tequila on Nov 8, 2013 14:26:22 GMT -5
Aww, dont' be a Scrooge! I think we call ours Nasty Santa (or something like that). Everyone brings a wrapped gift worth $20, we each draw numbers to see the order of selecting the gifts. As you select your gift you open it and anyone that comes after you can steal it. It is a lot of fun!
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Nov 8, 2013 15:03:55 GMT -5
Aww, dont' be a Scrooge! I think we call ours Nasty Santa (or something like that). Everyone brings a wrapped gift worth $20, we each draw numbers to see the order of selecting the gifts. As you select your gift you open it and anyone that comes after you can steal it. It is a lot of fun! A Nasty Santa sounds like a mixed cocktail you should serve at an office Secret Santa party. 1) Take one empty punch bowl. 2) Empty all the remaining soda from the office party into it. 3) Add an equal amount of whatever hooch Tina or Miss M sneaked through security tucked in their undies. 4) Add ice, mix and stick a few straws in there. You don't neeeeeeeed no stinkin' glasses for this. You won't be standing up long enough.
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alabamagal
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Post by alabamagal on Nov 8, 2013 15:07:27 GMT -5
I have 3 business days to change my mind. Did you ask in the interview for the new place if they have Secret Santa, and if yes it would be a deal killer?
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