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The last post reminded me a little of something that used to happen when I went to parties...
Let me say first, I discovered I don't really like parties (kind of a moot point since the pandemic).
But back in the day, there'd always be someone who'd show up at a party, stay for about 20 minutes or so, then announce they were leaving because they had to be somewhere else or had other people to see. They were usually met with: Thanks so much for coming. Too bad you couldn't stay longer. It was great of you to stop in! We hope you'll come back next time, etc.
After they left it would be followed up with; He's such a great guy (or girl or couple), so exciting, so busy, has so many friends, etc. ... basically admiration for having a lifestyle that made them in such demand that they couldn't stay at parties for more than a half hour (where the reality was probably more like the person or couple had some food, had a couple drinks, began to get bored, and split).
So I decided, instead of staying at parties for hours, invariably becoming one of the clean up crew, dealing with the afterhours drunken arguments or emotional breakdowns that would sometimes occur when only the main-stayers were left, I'd try the same tactic - just stay for a while, have a bite and a couple drinks then leave before things became tiresome.
But when I tried announcing I was leaving because I "had to be somewhere" or just had to go, I was met with things like: Where do you have to go? What, do you know people more important than us? That's pretty rude! Since when are you the man-about-town or some kind of party hopper? Oh, you're too important to hang out with US now? You're not going to help clean up? You're just going to eat and run? You're not going anywhere!
I'd always get something between irritated sarcasm or outright anger, and it didn't matter if it was family gettogethers, holiday parties, a gathering of close friends, a large party of friends & associates, or even a work party.
It was very annoying and I never could figure out why most other people's goodbyes were met with kindness, gratitude and admiration, while my attempts were always met with irritation, anger and hostility.
Last edited by Captain Steel; 10-02-21 at 10:47 PM.