What Would the Setbacks Do?
Email questions to advice[at]thesetbacks.com
Christmas Jeer?
December 15th, 2010
Christopher Pringle writes:
First off, I would like to wish you guys Happy Holiday’s. It is that crazy holiday season and I’ve encountered quite the predicament.
A close friend of mine is trying to organize a holiday get together. When he pitched the idea to me he explained that he wanted to get a bunch of people together for some beers, food, and holiday cheer. During the conversation, he made it sound like there would be around 20 people coming out. This sounded like it was going to be a huge party. I was looking forward to it.
The problem is that when I got the email invite, there was only two other people invited. I’ve already booked work off for this “party”. Should I bail out on this lame-fest?
 Trevor |
Listen PRINGLE! I assume that, like me, you have already grouped your friends into 3 categories of importance: A being the best, B being pretty good, and C being filler. You need to get the guest list, compare it with your list, and then follow theses simple rules:
1. If all guests are on the A list, it doesn't matter how many there are, you go. 2. Guests from B should never outnumber A, and C should never outnumber B. 3. If it is a mixed party of less than 10 people, you're going to want to make sure there is a ratio of 2A to 1B/C, making sure that rule 2 is not broken. 4. For a party of more than 10 people, the ration can be 1.5A to 1B/C, but again rule 2 should never be broken. These are simple social rules, and I'm surprised you didn't already just consult your friendship matrix to determine whether or not you should go. There's even an app for that. |
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 Steve |
That's a tough one, Christopher.
It really depends on who those other two people are. Say, if it was Burt Reynolds and the Queen of England, then I'd go for sure. But if it was anyone else then I'd probably be having second thoughts like you are now. Wait. If it actually is Burt Reynolds and the Queen of England, can you let me know? Can you ask if you'd be allowed to bring one guest? I can make some dip or something. I actually found a recipe that only calls for one container of cream cheese and some hot peppers and it tastes EXACTLY like you're eating jalapeno poppers. Have you ever had those? They're so good. |
 Paul |
Dear Scrooge,
If Bill Murray has taught me anything, it’s that stapling horns to a mouse in your miniature nativity scene does not make you “festive”. It this guy really is a close friend, maybe this is a cry for help. Maybe you should introduce him to more people. Maybe you make a snowman. Maybe you should bake a tray of cookies. Maybe you should bring a bottle of butterscotch schnapps. Maybe you should bring a stripper. Maybe you should switch to briefs. Maybe you should order the club sandwich. Maybe you should accept others imperfections. Maybe you should watch more Discovery Channel. Maybe price is the difference. Maybe it’s not all about the Benjamin’s. What I’m trying to say is that I think you should go to the lunch thing. |
 Chris |
Hey idiot,
There's a word for these kinds of things. It's "scams". One of two things is going to happen here - and I'm saying this with little to no idea of how well you know this "friend" of yours. A) - You're going to conveniently be told to go to a Holiday Inn Express near the airport due to a location change, and will enter a room with two Scandinavian dudes in robes who'll insist on you having a few drinks. There'll be a video camera set up, and next thing you know you're being stuffed like a Christmas turkey. B) - It's an intervention. From personal experience, this is a guaranteed awkward situation waiting to happen. If you get there, and you allow them to get to the letters that they've written you - you're fucked. Either way - bail man. |