It was awesome..and you know you wanted to come, but couldn't be bothered to get out of bed.

seriously, what's complicated about it? We all practise since primary school the concept of answering letters/ entering into a commitment by ticking a box.

yes= I want to be your girl-/boyfriend
no= I don't want to

maybe the people in question have never received such letters...


I was also annoyed, when I was told that people didn't show up at the recent football match on sunday. The days before the event there was literally a fight going on in the 'social events category', because too many people signed in.

In the end lots of people didn't show up and I missed the opportunity to play, because the attendance list 'seemed to be full'. Very frustrating...

As were the hangovers.

You are pitching your event offer to thousands of people. Many of them you don't know and may never know personally. The sense of obligation created by an EF event is far less than that of a personal invitation. Maybe you need to revise your expectation of online relationships ? Almost everyone I have ever (eventually ) met treats such online event signups in a casual way.

Why don't you add a "DON'T SIGN UP UNLESS YOU'RE DEFINITELY COMING AND DON'T COME IF YOU DON'T SIGN UP" rider to your next event posting? It may improve attendance vs signup ratio, but massacre the overall attendance numbers.

We look forward to validated event feedback with eager antici.......pation.

AYB

ah yes but - no...

McDonalds breakfast is pancakes, weird artificial syrup and black coffee.

Mmmm... You sold it better than lib.

I think a blacklist is perfectly acceptable, for all the reasons mentioned. But it needs to be clear to those signing up that they are making a commitment, and their reputation will suffer if they flake out. Not everyone has the same sense of duty about these things.

I think they call it Maple syrup. I've never worked out how close it ever got to a Maple tree though.

Although if you want something really scary - check out the ingredients on the side of a Moonpie

You should arrange to host a really wonderful event. Invite all the previous no-shows and then don't turn up yourself. Try to pick an outdoor event on a day you know a short storm will hit.

Some time in Summer then

It would be really nice if this worked... But most people would do one of two things:
1. They would disregard it. And I have proof of this as in one of my current event descriptions, I have said: "please separate adult guests from children guests" as it does matter in this case, and only one person has actually done it. ONE out of 26.

2. You would get some people that would (almost inevitably) sign up just to NOT show up just to see what happens. That is the nature of the beast after all.

Catch 22 really. Those of us who organize regularly do our best to please the masses...and then like UM said, we just stop organizing because it isn't worth the hassle. And then someone else comes along and takes over. Just like the rest of EF (and life, really), it is a vicious cycle.

This post comes round every few weeks, but as long as signing up is anonymous and takes as little thought as one click this will keep happening.

My suggestion would be: if it's an event where no-shows can screw things up, I would ask every Yes to PM me their mobile number. It breaks down that anonymity just enough, that the person knows that if they don't bother to show they could well be getting some very real, irate phone calls from a very real, irate EF member.

I really don't think giving out your phone number to the organiser in a PM is asking too much either, when you're going to meet them in person at the event anyway. It's also useful for the organiser if they have to make last-minute changes to plans.

I tend to be a serial "maybe", particularly to events that are scheduled for the first and last weeks of a given month.

I "may" come to some event you have if it is not too expensive, I can get a ride / the transport cost doesn't equal my weekly shopping bill AND is dependent upon whether it is something hubby would also enjoy and if not, whether he's working.

I say "maybe" if I want to go and sometimes, it is until that last moment whether or not I know whether or not I can make it. So, if I'm too flakey for some to want to invite, so be it, those who know me very well know exactly why this is the way it is - and hopefully they also know how much I wish it could be otherwise.

__________________
The Joys of Opticianry

Then why even say "maybe"? Why not wait until you know for sure and put "yes"?

Err... You're not sure which?

Oh, wait. You mean Chemmie? She claims to be a he, but I can definitely confirm that he is. Or something.

I used to put "maybe" and explain - if I could get a ride, if hubby's schedule is done on time to know, if, if... whatever.

You're right though, rather than putting some sad explanation of why my life is ruled by (many) something(s) other than my own desires, I will simply not say anything unless I've prearranged everything and know for sure it is a "Yes".


Just to be clear - I DO understand that it is much better to know for sure from the standpoint of the one organizing, and agree it is the fair thing to do, that's not what I'm saying. What I AM trying to make clear is that for some (like me), saying "maybe" with some explanation helps give opportunity if there is available rides or so forth for others to say they've got room or so on instead of having to message everyone going and say "hey, can I get a ride" or whatever thing may make a difference whether I can come or not.

__________________
The Joys of Opticianry

I am always disapointed when I see a maybe who turned to become a no! I usually see more of a maybe yes, than a maybe no.

But I never counted them when doing the reservation. It is the yes who don't show up that are totally disrespectful. Last Brunch I organised, almost everybody were there, some didn't show up and at that point it was a good thing because we had more space to sit here and there and have a chance to chat with everybody. But, an excuse, a reason, an apology would have been nice.

It gives the organisers an idea how much general interest there is in the function.

I agree that people should change their "maybe" status to "yes" or "no" no later than 24 hours before the event.

...mmmkay...