Journal athloi's Journal: Office Christmas party? Help a geek out 6
So I'm working at this place which is having a holiday Christmas party. They promise:
5:30-7:30 Cocktail Reception
7:30-9:00 Buffet Dinner
8:00-12am DJ, Dancing and Karaoke
7:30-9:30 Photographs
Does anyone else think this sounds like hell? What should I do?
It's a large corporation with probably 500 people, about a third of whom are developers, and the rest are various and sundry consultants, administrative staff, lawyers, salespeople, therapists and nuns. Actually, I don't know what they all do.
I'm not an antisocial nerd, but I'm also a geek, and I'm passing up on either some quality programming time, or quality family time. Still they tell me this is the way to advance my "career" toward "success" which means that I can afford a big house in the exburbs, and I'll never live near a busy street, raging ghetto, fast-food restaurant or discotheque again. But.. but... my instinct is to flee from this awkward-sounding social disaster.
Can any geeks help?
Don't go it alone (Score:2)
Don't go with a fellow geek, though. The Stygian Aura of Geekness will just prompt stares.
Basically, if you think this is important, then tell yourself that. It will take the edge off of the "I could be doing something more important" vibe, because, in actual fact, this IS what you're supposed to be doing right now, and is therefore the most important thing on your To
Re: (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Nah, I'd probably sell eighteen, and then the damned geeks would just copy them and distribute like drunken sailors, and I'd be tied up in court for the next thirty years. Copyright protection is only as strong as your lawyer goon squad.
Oh, wait, DRM is off-limits...
Re: (Score:2)
Especially this part:
Show up late, have a drink or two, eat a few plates of food, watch people sing karaoke for 45 minutes, then leave. Or embrace the event and sing.
This was exactly the advice I was going to give. It's not that it's mandatory that you stay from 5 to midnight, unless you are socially close to the boss, and his wife is doing the setup. I doubt either of those arguments are true, therefore, show about 6:45, mingle, have dinner, listen to the DJ (as they'll want to do some PA thanks for coming thing if they didn't during dinner, so stay through the first part of the dance whatver) and jet by 9:30.
It's not rude, and if you
Light it up (Score:1)
Warning (Score:2)
Reading the list of activities, I saw the warning sign that tells you to avoid the whole thing: karaoke. Honestly, a holiday party can only reduce you in the eyes of others, not build you up. And worse -- you will get to see others say and do things they wouldn't normally do during a work day which other co-workers will go on endlessly about, asking your opinion. Beg off -- tell them you're having elective surgery, or you have to take your wife to a funeral, or your cat is being spayed and you don't want to