⬆️THIS⬆️
Have seen the Same here!!! Customized to each attendee along with transportation to a beautiful catered event & venue. The hosts never said a word, but there were a few of us who definitely noticed and we were heartbroken for the hosts.

I don't host "fancy" events, but I've mostly given up printing clue books for people, mostly because of no-shows. My worst was 55 sign-ups as of the day before, about 3 cancelations last minute... and a total of 9-10 people actually attended!

Now people can print their own clues and only print them myself if the event absolutely requires it. I generally expect 1/3 to not attend, either dropping or not, and consider anything better than that a great turnout.

I'll bring it up at our next weekly meeting. My turn for coffee?

And there it is. You hit the nail on the head.

I'm currently reading:
An Age of Winters by Gemma Liviero

I recently finished:
The Night Watcher by Tariq Ashkanani

What does this mean? Sorry, not enough context. Next time please cut and paste as is the standard for this milieu.

Congrats Artemis and Eidolon for Box of the Week! Well deserved!

😳 Wow that’s terrible! That’s like a 80% no-show. Can’t help but think I’d be so scarred, I’d never host another event. I’m so sorry that happened to you. But also happy you didn’t let it get you down and you continue to host events.

Was just there last week clues still work perfectly, safe and dry. DMS and RE would be proud! :)

Long ago RSVP was usually respected. And thank you cards were hand written and sent out after a big event. It's a shame we have lost this social structure. Even though we have moved away from paper based communication sent through the mail, the same polite norms should still apply. No postage is required now, so can't complain about the cost! Updating your RSVP using online tools is so easy it's not an excuse, and it's rude to ignore this obligation. Taking 15 seconds to type out and send a thank you after the event is also not asking too much. Or is it?

So I have noticed a significant and dangerous situation has become far more common recently, likely caused by device usage while driving. Drivers in oncoming traffic often cross over the center line (not just a little bit) and pose a serious head on collision risk. Curious if anyone else has noticed this behavior is increasing?

No, they are not avoiding a pothole, or a biker, or a pedestrian, or any other obvious hazard. They are simply paying more attention to their device instead of paying attention to driving. And veering into oncoming traffic.

I have decided to start blasting (tooting?) my horn whenever this happens. So beware inattentive drivers: if you look up from your device and find yourself warned by a car with horns, that's me. Please do not crash into a utility pole in response. Thank you!

Young Whipper Snapper wrote:

So, here is the context from Wise Wanderer:

To which, I wrote:

I wrote:

To which Wry Me wrote:

If you understand what I actually wrote (above), you would see that I am not asking to be an arbitrator of any sort. I am asking the two people (heartsquare and dingus dufus) who gave apparently contradictory answers to come up with one answer. I was asking them to self-arbitrate.

To find said answers from the two of them, click on the link after "Reply to:" until you see said replies. (For context, this paragraph is a compromise for Young Whipper Snapper who wrote "What does this mean? Sorry, not enough context.", and Wise Wanderer who didn't like me "rehashing every word that everyone says". I think that this compromise will satisfy neither of them.)

Can’t say I don’t agree with you there? The last several years of baby, birthday and wedding gifts we have sent were never even acknowledged much less thanked for. We hear that’s common.
But law knows that’s another beef for another thread for another day!

You are very much correct though, it’s just so easy to accomplish these tasks for absolutely 0 money and minimal time online.

So now that we’ve talked at length about how inconsiderate it is to your host to be a no show for events; what can we do to streamline the process and make it simpler for guests to drop their signups?

AQ automatically sends out a reminder. If someone could remind/correct me?!?! I can’t remember but I know there is at least 1, possibly 2 reminders sent out that have clear directions for editing your signup if you are unable to attend.
Maybe that needs to be revamped?

Or are people not reading their mail?

I refuse to believe that the no-shows are purposefully being rude. Inconsiderate yes but I believe that to be out of ignorance because they don’t know.

My L’box community has some of the most thoughtful & kind folks you will ever meet. I have been the recipient of packages of stamps/gifts/cards/notes/ltcs over the years so know for a fact the we are at the top of the snail mail how to ladder. Surely a lil ole keyboard isn’t outside of one’s wheelhouse?

Digital communication is quick, it’s easy, and it’s free. Plus it’s way simpler than traveling to the post office!
Life happens, every single one of us gets that. So if you need to cancel attending an event that YOU SIGNED UP FOR, in under 60 seconds you can easily reverse that sign up and spare your host some hurt feelings, time and money.
It’s the right thing to do.

You're setting the parameters of the conversation and assigning tasks, then directing them to self-arbitrate. You see it too, don't you? arb arb arb arb . . . Hold on, hold on. . . it's on the tip of my tongue.

It might be helpful if AQ sent out an automated reminder a month in advance in addition to the current reminder. That might help with people who don’t read their mail often.

So, harking back to a previous conversation, I think I can concede two points at once, in a similar spirit of synthesis and compromise. You challenged us to find one positive thing that Trump has done, and narock seems to need to confirmation for the one thing that he hasn't done directly (attack same-sex marriage) because they don't find anything he has done to be particularly problematic, so I can give up one point there also. He hasn't made same-sex marriage a direct target and bonus!: He also seems to probably have refrained for today from raping a baby (statutorily, I mean, c'mon, she would have looked older, if she had actually existed, which she doesn't. Probably.) She was 15, and it wasn't today, which we all know isn't the same.

Sometimes - folks sign up for events when they are listed than do not check their accounts for long periods of time. I can't remember what I did yesterday - so folks with long breaks probably don't remember what they sign up for months earlier.

The perfect answer will never be perfect for everyone... like Jonathan mentioned - I no longer create event sheets that include all clues and expect folks that are attending to print clues. I usually have a couple copies with me for those traveling/signing up late.

As far as gift bags - mine are usually minimal with things I can absorb back into my personal supplies if I have extras.

sorry no help from me... let me drink more coffee.

As a host - I generally send out reminder notices to folks. The bigger the event - the more messages I send. So I'm not sure an additional automated message from the site will help more than that :)

I know you do that, mud, but I don’t think all hosts do that. It can’t hurt…

The subject of the reminder email could be, "Are you still coming?"

Based on experience I am pretty sure many people do not know they have AQ mail unless they actually go to the site and look.

They do not know that they can set their preferences to have AQ mail forwarded to their regular email.

Or if they can simply be notified at their regular email when they have new AQ mail.

You are correct, there is no perfect answer.
I myself personally no longer do events where a rsvp matters in terms of wasted time or money.
But every event & host is different and this soapbox I’m on right now is for them and future events where a rsvp does matter.

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⬆️This.⬆️

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Yep.
Rather than a generic title line perhaps something titllating to catch the eye that would encourage further inspection and possibly opening the email.

There is just over one week left to join this year's Secret Stamp Santa exchange. All of the info is on the tracker, but if you have any questions or need clarification, please let me know!

TG

How about “Brad Pitt will be attending the event you signed up for!” That’ll make people read it!

YASSSS!!!
🤣😂
Ur awesome!

Why? We are also not as monolithic as some other groups.

Contradictory in what way?