Invitations via Facebook

[VillageMama]

This is a new one to me. In the past week I have received two "invitations" via Facebook for home sales parties... one is a local acquaintance who is having a Tupperware party and the other is a friend from high school (who I haven't seen in 20 years) who is having a Pampered Chef party. She lives 200 miles away from me!

Call me hopelessly old-fashioned but I am a bit put off by these impersonal electronic invitations. There weren't even individualized notes included in the Facebook private messages. It appears that the senders just composed one note and sent it off to their entire Friends list.

Then there are the follow up messages reminding their lists to RSVP. I am a BIG believer in RSVPing but my goodness! Am I really under some social obligation when I was invited via Facebook by an acquaintance 200 miles away to come buy things at her house?

Help me navigate the new electronic etiquette!

 

[DisneyJen0504]

Using facebook or evite.com has become a more common way of inviting guests to events. I find I receive them more for home parties such as the ones you mentioned than traditional birthday parties etc.
I myself don't find them impersonal but rather convenient, cost effective, and timesaving for the host.
I treat them like I would any other invite by responding yes or no in a timely manner.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I personally really like them. They are easy to make and send plus they are also really easy to RSVP to. All I have to do is check yes or no into the program and the person knows whether or not to expect me.

Plus I like the fact it doesn't waste paper; if I'm going to recieve an invitation to something I wont go to it is better not to waste a tree in the process. But then again I prefer emails to letters and read books on a kindle so I'm big on elctronic alternatives.

 

[SaraJayne]

This is a new one to me. In the past week I have received two "invitations" via Facebook for home sales parties... one is a local acquaintance who is having a Tupperware party and the other is a friend from high school (who I haven't seen in 20 years) who is having a Pampered Chef party. She lives 200 miles away from me!

Call me hopelessly old-fashioned but I am a bit put off by these impersonal electronic invitations. There weren't even individualized notes included in the Facebook private messages. It appears that the senders just composed one note and sent it off to their entire Friends list.

Then there are the follow up messages reminding their lists to RSVP. I am a BIG believer in RSVPing but my goodness! Am I really under some social obligation when I was invited via Facebook by an acquaintance 200 miles away to come buy things at her house?

Help me navigate the new electronic etiquette!

No, you aren't obligated to come to their houses and buy things.

They are asking if you'd like to buy anything out of the catalog ~ aka as a book party.

It's virtual shopping and ordering online instead of doing it at a persons house.

 

[Sarah <3 Disney]

If it makes you feel better, I received a formal wedding invitation this week via Facebook e-vite! The bride and groom invited 75 people this way!

House party, sure, e-vite. Wedding? Ehh...

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I have received a few and really don't mind them. I see it as really easy to RSVP and I love the reminder.

 

[ksjayhawks]

I don't mind the evite.

Now a mass invitation on facebook I would not care for as much and would probably ignore, especially if it was for a sales party--especially the ones you received which seem to be just a general mass mailing, not a private invitation to a select group.

 

[*BTMRR*]

It does seem a bit rude, but I don't mind when I receive "party" invitations this way because it feels easier to say "no thanks, I can't attend."

 

[Disneyland1084]

If it makes you feel better, I received a formal wedding invitation this week via Facebook e-vite! The bride and groom invited 75 people this way!

House party, sure, e-vite. Wedding? Ehh...

Now THAT'S tacky!

 

[Imzadi]

I would think the impersonal quality of it would make it easier for you to turn down the invitation. It's not like you are one of 10 handpicked people, where they might feel hurt or slighted.

I personally hate when people try to use me as an ATM machine. I have an acquaintance, who every time he sends one of these group emails of the next best product to buy, his signature has one more thing he's selling. He's up to about six "multiple personalities" of ways he tries to make money. Who can take him seriously? it's obvious he hasn't found one great product he truly believes in and is making money hands over fists in. I keep thinking, "When you find yourself, let me know who you finally turned out to be."

 

[autumnpalm]

I don't mind Facebook invitations for casual parties and get-togethers and will RSVP as I would for any other event.

But a wedding? No WAY would I ever send my invitations out via Facebook.

 

[MAKmom]

I think they are great. If you respond no to the Tupperware party you will be given a link to order on line. I agree a wedding invitation is wrong.

 

[Disneylover79]

Now THAT'S tacky!

I kind of agree...I was at a graduation party last night and the hostess/friend suggested this and I told her no way! I don't think it is proper, so a formal invite it will be...

 

[bicker]

I find electronic mail and social networking communications such as Facebook, to be superior to all other non-face-to-face communications. There is no additional value afforded by a piece of paper, afaic.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

If it makes you feel better, I received a formal wedding invitation this week via Facebook e-vite! The bride and groom invited 75 people this way!

House party, sure, e-vite. Wedding? Ehh...

I find electronic mail and social networking communications such as Facebook, to be superior to all other non-face-to-face communications. There is no additional value afforded by a piece of paper, afaic.

I agree with Bicker.

I don't see the problem with electronic wedding invites, either. People spend so much money on paper wedding invitations... and it's a waste of resources. 99% of people are going to throw them out and do we really care about that stupid little piece of tissue paper? What's the point?

 

[luvmy3]

I find electronic mail and social networking communications such as Facebook, to be superior to all other non-face-to-face communications. There is no additional value afforded by a piece of paper, afaic.

I have to disagree. We were invited via FB to a friend's housewarming party and we had no idea. What people don't seem to understand is that not everyone checks FB religiously and therefore they may not get the invitation until it is too late. I check my mailbox everyday

I do use evite for one specific party we have every year because we always communicate with the people that are invited through email so I know they see it. I do not use FB, for any invites and I wil lsend out a traditional paper invitation for all other parties I have.

 

[bicker]

I check my email and Facebook about 3x per day, while we check the mail maybe 3x per week. I suspect people don't seem to understand that.

I think my main interest is that folks who choose to cling to the old not criticize those who choose to move into the future. It isn't "tacky" .. it's progressive. Calling it "tacky" is reflective of sentiments which I could readily create some pretty nasty counter-disparagements for, but what's the point in such prejudicial appraisals? None.

So the point is that folks should look at e-vites with the kind of negative connotation that we're seeing some folks express in this thread.

 

[luvmy3]

I check my email and Facebook about 3x per day, while we check the mail maybe 3x per week. I suspect people don't seem to understand that.
I think my main interest is that folks who choose to cling to the old not criticize those who choose to move into the future.

That really has nothing to do with someone sending out a traditional paper invite, I assume you check your mail everyday?


ETA after your addition. I don't find it tacky however with the lack of a paper invite you would have to suspect that you aren't reaching all your invited guests. Just because one can use technology to do someting doesn't mean its always the right choice. IMHO, invititations via FB especially to a wedding, are the wrong one for my reason stated above.

 

[bicker]

I check my email and Facebook about 3x per day, while we check the mail maybe 3x per week. I suspect people don't seem to understand that.

That really has nothing to do with someone sending out a traditional paper invite, I assume you check your mail everyday?

Uh, did you read the message you replied to? (You even made the comment bold, so I assumed you read it all the way to the end of the sentence. )

I don't find it tacky however with the lack of a paper invite you would have to suspect that you aren't reaching all your invited guests.

I think if you know your friends, you know whether or not they check their email. Moreover, following-up on missing RSVPs will catch the few you've misjudged.

Just because one can use technology to do someting doesn't mean its always the right choice.

Just because something has been done a certain way in the past, doesn't mean it is the only way to do it in the future.

IMHO, invititations via FB especially to a wedding, are the wrong one for my reason stated above.

And is the right one for my reason stated above. Reasonable people disagree. That's life. And that's really my concern... that folks who hold to the "old way" perspective aren't respecting the "new way" perspective as much as we folks with the "new way" perspective respect the "old way" perspective. I find that offensive.

 

[luvmy3]

Uh, did you read the message you replied to? (You even made the comment bold, so I assumed you read it all the way to the end of the sentence. )

Yes, I did read your response and the fact that you personally check your email or FB multiple times a day really has no bearing on whether or not sending an invite via that way to you is the only choice, you still check your snail mail.

I think if you know your friends, you know whether or not they check their email. Moreover, following-up on missing RSVPs will catch the few you've misjudged.

True, but the host doesn't always think to do this, like in the case of the party we missed. Also there are those who have the attitude that they shouldn't have to chase down people for RSVPs.

Just because something has been done a certain way in the past, doesn't mean it is the only way to do it in the future.

I never said that inviting someone via snail mail was the only way to do it.

And is the right one for my reason stated above. Reasonable people disagree. That's life. And that's really my concern... that folks who hold to the "old way" perspective aren't respecting the "new way" perspective as much as we folks with the "new way" perspective respect the "old way" perspective. I find that offensive.

I find it strange bicker that you of all people would be offended at all by something so trivial, like how people feel about how their invite arrives.