Peace Of Mind
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[font color="#8f2520"]~ Drinks Well With Others ~[/font]
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Post by Peace Of Mind on Nov 8, 2013 15:08:48 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? Play the game and buy your recipient edible undies. You will no longer be asked to participate or the next one will be more fun if they do ask you again.  You're welcome. |
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Nov 8, 2013 15:11:09 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? Play the game and buy your recipient edible undies. You will no longer be asked to participate or the next one will be more fun if they do ask you again. You're welcome. Nah, it could backfire. The recipients could love the undies and ask Spydah to a game of strip poker. Loser eats his G-string.  |
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kittensaver
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Post by kittensaver on Nov 8, 2013 15:13:52 GMT -5
Play the game and buy your recipient edible undies. You will no longer be asked to participate or the next one will be more fun if they do ask you again. You're welcome. Nah, it could backfire. The recipients could love the undies and ask Spydah to a game of strip poker. Loser eats his G-string. And then we all get disciplined/fired for sexual harassment . . . .  |
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Nov 8, 2013 15:38:14 GMT -5
Nah, it could backfire. The recipients could love the undies and ask Spydah to a game of strip poker. Loser eats his G-string. And then we all get disciplined/fired for sexual harassment . . . . While at least one person is on the way to the ER for food poisoning. Gawsh, I love Friday threads.  |
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amishgal
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Post by amishgal on Nov 8, 2013 15:40:44 GMT -5
You don't celebrate Christmas because you worship Satan? But then, someone else will probably start a Secret Satan exchange and there's no getting out of that one.
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cktc
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Post by cktc on Nov 8, 2013 15:52:13 GMT -5
I would love to have one of these at work but my office is too small. So one year my ex had a white elephant exchange at his work and I planned his gift, a Richard Simmons workout DVD. It got passed around and around, then when it was over he told the lucky recipient to open the DVD case. There were two tickets to a college football bowl game inside (I got them free from a place I was volunteering and no one I knew could attend). The people who exchanged it were quite disappointed |
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Nov 8, 2013 16:25:00 GMT -5
You don't celebrate Christmas because you worship Satan? But then, someone else will probably start a Secret Satan exchange and there's no getting out of that one. OMG! I'm sorry, I really did laugh out loud on this. I'm going to hell for that. Bad me. No latkes for me this year.  |
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HoneyBBQ
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Post by HoneyBBQ on Nov 8, 2013 17:11:10 GMT -5
Say you're a Jehovah Witness?
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greeniis10
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Post by greeniis10 on Nov 8, 2013 17:48:41 GMT -5
Not saying this is the case for everyone, but I've found that my attitude towards something like this changes once the obligation is no longer there. Before DH retired he worked for the same govt. agency for almost 30 years. HATED every single holiday party and I can probably count on one hand the number we actually attended. (He worked at several different offices over those years and we've only been togther for 13 years.) My office is just my manager and I so we don't have a holiday party.
Then DH retired and works part time as a driving instructor 1) because he needs something to do, and 2) he was a manager for most of his prior working years and missed bossing people around (he learned quickly that I was not one of those people!). Last year we went to their holiday party and participated in the secret santa and had a blast! DH asked me, "Why are we having so much fun?!" and I told him, "Probably because we don't HAVE to be here!". YMMV
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2013 18:26:42 GMT -5
Several years ago my coworkers wanted to pull names to exchange Christmas gifts. I didn't care for several of the people I worked with, so I declined to participate. When people asked why I wasn't participating, I said "Because I don't want to". "Well, why not"? "Because I don't want to". The real reason was that I didn't want to risk having to buy a gift for someone I really didn't like. |
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Nazgul Girl
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Post by Nazgul Girl on Nov 8, 2013 21:02:01 GMT -5
I would join, and then give the absolute worst gift(s) imaginable. I would give a gift of " office supplies " in a cute box, including paperclips, post-it notes, a mini-stapler, some little magnets, a few cute pens, and a bag of new rubberbands. Also, a box of staples. Since these are all in the supply cupboard already, your coworkers would conclude that you were nuts, and never, ever ask you to participate again.
Plus, it would be hilarious.
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sesfw
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Post by sesfw on Nov 8, 2013 22:14:02 GMT -5
want to risk having to buy a gift for someone I really didn't like.
I enjoyed the Christmas gift exchange at work. At times I pulled a name I really didn't care for so I got something non embarrassing and gave it anonymously. We had a price limit of $10 and that was a huge help.
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Nov 8, 2013 23:44:38 GMT -5
Nah, it could backfire. The recipients could love the undies and ask Spydah to a game of strip poker. Loser eats his G-string. And then we all get disciplined/fired for sexual harassment . . . . It's only sexual harassment if it's not wanted (at least, that what I remind my guys about when they threaten me with it ) |
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happyscooter
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Post by happyscooter on Nov 9, 2013 7:55:58 GMT -5
I worked as a temp for many years. I was always able to forgo buying GS cookies, candy, wrapping paper, etc... since I could say 'I don't know if I will be here when it gets delivered and I won't be able to come back and pick it up'.
Soooo, about 15 years ago I was at a place for several months. I was going to be there for the holidays. I had 2 kids, DH, MIL/FIL, my mom, 6 nieces and nephews, sister, 2 BIL, SIL, and gave my kids $$ to give to the Scouts (leaders), church for their gifts (SS teacher, choir director, youth director) schools (beta club, student council sponsored angel trees). I had neither the money nor the time to go look for a gift for someone that I didn't know that well. When I declined to be a part of the Secret Santa, you would have thought I slapped my manager in the face in front of the whole office.
What was so bad was the ones who were insisting that I participate, were women who couldn't afford to put gas in their car or couldn't afford groceries for the entire week.
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TheOtherMe
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Post by TheOtherMe on Nov 9, 2013 19:32:56 GMT -5
Ah the joy of this crap not being allowed in federal workplaces. I loved those things not being allowed in the federal workplace. |
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Abby Normal
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Post by Abby Normal on Nov 11, 2013 15:30:00 GMT -5
Several years ago my coworkers wanted to pull names to exchange Christmas gifts. I didn't care for several of the people I worked with, so I declined to participate. When people asked why I wasn't participating, I said "Because I don't want to". "Well, why not"? "Because I don't want to". The real reason was that I didn't want to risk having to buy a gift for someone I really didn't like. Goodness. I just offered to organize it. Then I pre- pull a name I want. Doesn't everyone do that?  |
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Knee Deep in Water Chloe
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Post by Knee Deep in Water Chloe on Nov 11, 2013 15:43:20 GMT -5
Several years ago my coworkers wanted to pull names to exchange Christmas gifts. I didn't care for several of the people I worked with, so I declined to participate. When people asked why I wasn't participating, I said "Because I don't want to". "Well, why not"? "Because I don't want to". The real reason was that I didn't want to risk having to buy a gift for someone I really didn't like. Goodness. I just offered to organize it. Then I pre- pull a name I want. Doesn't everyone do that? Yes, or "accidentally" pul out three names and look at them, then keep your favorite. |
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Otto the Orange
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Go Orange!
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Post by Otto the Orange on Nov 11, 2013 16:07:14 GMT -5
Ah the joy of this crap not being allowed in federal workplaces. I loved those things not being allowed in the federal workplace. I guess no one told my federal workplace, we do it and anyways I don't see the big deal, just play the game. Its the "cost" of your job. With everything else going on in the economy is this really so bad? what would you have done if it was like back in the day when you were "expected" to have your boss over for dinner every so often and stuff? god forbid you have to buy a $20 present once a year............ |
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Nov 11, 2013 17:40:09 GMT -5
I loved those things not being allowed in the federal workplace. I guess no one told my federal workplace, we do it and anyways I don't see the big deal, just play the game. Its the "cost" of your job. With everything else going on in the economy is this really so bad? what would you have done if it was like back in the day when you were "expected" to have your boss over for dinner every so often and stuff? god forbid you have to buy a $20 present once a year............ I guess it depends on your area. I work for an IG so we tend to be very, very strict on all the ethics things. We do a potluck holiday dinner. We do gifts/cake for marriage, babies, retirements and people otherwise leaving. That's all we are allowed to do. When I worked in the public sector, I participated in the things I wanted to. I bought stuff from coworkers kids and so on. We had multiple pot lucks throughout the year. It is kind of nice to not have to worry about something taking up my time outside of work. Several people mentioned they didn't appreciate a holiday party taking up an evening during the season. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 11, 2013 17:42:29 GMT -5
I would make up an elaborate and depressing tale about some trauma you suffered due to a past secret Santa incident.... Tell it with gusto...
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Apple
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Post by Apple on Nov 11, 2013 19:34:52 GMT -5
Well, if you get the job offer, just come in with "I KWIT" bedazzled on your butt and you won't have to explain why you don't want to join  |
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Otto the Orange
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Go Orange!
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Post by Otto the Orange on Nov 12, 2013 14:09:21 GMT -5
I guess no one told my federal workplace, we do it and anyways I don't see the big deal, just play the game. Its the "cost" of your job. With everything else going on in the economy is this really so bad? what would you have done if it was like back in the day when you were "expected" to have your boss over for dinner every so often and stuff? god forbid you have to buy a $20 present once a year............ I guess it depends on your area. I work for an IG so we tend to be very, very strict on all the ethics things. We do a potluck holiday dinner. We do gifts/cake for marriage, babies, retirements and people otherwise leaving. That's all we are allowed to do. When I worked in the public sector, I participated in the things I wanted to. I bought stuff from coworkers kids and so on. We had multiple pot lucks throughout the year. It is kind of nice to not have to worry about something taking up my time outside of work. Several people mentioned they didn't appreciate a holiday party taking up an evening during the season. it's unfortunate people work with people that they don't like spending time with |
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wvugurl26
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Post by wvugurl26 on Nov 12, 2013 15:05:41 GMT -5
I spend time with the people I enjoy spending time with from my office. In the past the office did things outside of work but we were a much larger office then. We are down to a total of 12 staff, 1 SES, 2 15s, 4 14s and 5 staff auditors. Throw in our rules governing interaction between management and staff level people and it gets hard to work around. Other people might have it easier but those are the breaks when you work out of an IG shop.
Many of us are busy outside of work and most commute a hour one way from various directions. Several are off to pick up kids from daycare after work.
We are having a Christmas party at an outside venue this year but it is being held during work hours.
Just because we forgo the kid fundraisers and Secret Santa doesn't mean we hate each other.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2013 15:31:29 GMT -5
who wants to go to my Christmas...errr mean "holiday" party?   |
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Nov 12, 2013 15:37:21 GMT -5
who wants to go to my Christmas...errr mean "holiday" party? It all depends. Are you bringing enough edible undies for everyone?  |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2013 15:40:07 GMT -5
who wants to go to my Christmas...errr mean "holiday" party? It all depends. Are you bringing enough edible undies for everyone? of course....the rules are- toga party, no underwear allowed unless it's edible |
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spydah
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Post by spydah on Nov 12, 2013 16:54:18 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? No, it would not if they respect a person's choice not to participate. PS: I didn't get the job. |
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NancysSummerSip
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Post by NancysSummerSip on Nov 12, 2013 16:55:16 GMT -5
Did you ask in the interview for the new place if they have Secret Santa, and if yes it would be a deal killer? No, it would not if they respect a person's choice not to participate. PS: I didn't get the job. Aw, sorry Spydah. I'm looking for a new job, too. Rejection sucks.  |
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spydah
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Post by spydah on Nov 12, 2013 16:55:22 GMT -5
I decided to participate based on the feed back I got HERE, not based on the pressure at work. And it had nothing to do with the comment above (reply #56)! |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 12, 2013 16:56:08 GMT -5
I decided to participate based on the feed back I got HERE, not based on the pressure at work. And it had nothing to do with the comment above (reply #56)! Whoever you get, give them a shake weight. |
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