Planned social occasions
I mean a works outing, family party, xmas do, we've all been there. Where the saddest, dullest and least imaginative members think that the idea of a formal gathering is a guaranteed recipe for a GOOD TIME. Then there's the anxiety of what to wear for the said venue. The two or three hours of staggered arrivals that basically fall into two camps: early nerds or supposedly later cool dudes (not), this is also a definitive guide to those with drink problems. Then there's the politics of whose round you're in or how's the tab being split. Not to mention the fact that most of the attendees hate the sight of each other and have only turned out because it was "by invitation", "for a good cause" or worse still "it's xmas". And the day after everybody gossips about the others or misfortunate soul who disgraced their good self by over-indulging and possibly actually enjoying themselves!

I met an ex-workmate for a pint in early October and he told me that the anual xmas do is on 4th December this year, oh whoopee! (I didn't think). So that amounts to a dozen or so 40+yr old blokes doing a less than a handful of town centre pubs, where despite the fact you aint seen each other for another year, you can't hear or speak as you each try and get a round in, whilst it's 5-deep at the bar! All the while gurning at each other and letching at girls young enough to be your daughters. Then spending more on a taxi home than you've spent all night and a lousy shit beer headache in the morning, oh what joy!

Why do some people think that's a good idea, year after year, when in my extensive experience, it just isn't?

BE WARNED: Anything that needs to be planned well in advance as regards enjoyment is going to be shit, even a holiday!
(minky, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 19:30, 4 replies)

I think they're OK
the dull fucks piss off home early and I get too pissed to not be enjoying myself. Depends who you work with I guess. Also brings out some hidden personality traits in your colleagues which can be interesting.
( stopmeandslapme Cometh the hour, cometh your mum, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 20:26, closed)

Personally
I quite like them. The xmas pissups that is.

Free drink, free food, usually some form of entertainment - usually the blond bint from downstairs in a tiny skirt and a Christmas hat on a mechanical bull - actually, come to think of it, I fucking love it!
(dchurch bah, Mon 19 Oct 2009, 21:41, closed)

XMAS Office "Do"
Agree 100 %, what a load of fucking shite. Every year I get the "Oh, this year we have changed it, it will be good this year I promise. We have hired a band". Why will that make it good ? bit like saying "The tyres on my car will perform great becasue i have just pour custard down the drain"

I am flying to the UK on the exact morning of the Office xmas party, yep I paid 160 Euro's to get away from the bolox otherwise people will start applying pressure with the good old "Oh, go on, go on it will be fab"

I have been to 15-20 ish xmas parties in my life and they have all been rubbish. I'm married now also so the fun angle is now down to 0.02 degrees.
(amsterdam_neild, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 9:11, closed)

I'm clicking this...
'Cos I agree totally. Most of the people I work with (not all - there's some good people) are twunts of the highest order - make sme glad I work abroad a lot to be honest.

And as for shitmas - bunch of arseholes spending money they don't have on gifts for people they don't really like - then they spend all of January moaning about how much it cost them - fuck off!
( snee held his breath since, Tue 20 Oct 2009, 10:25, closed)