Miss Manners: Time to find considerate friends, maybe

DEAR MISS MANNERS: I love to entertain and host get-togethers and dinner parties often, and big parties usually two or three times a year. However, since the Internet became popular, I noticed that people are really being kind of jerky when it comes to answering invitations.

Before accepting, they want to know who else is going, what is being served, and are wishy-washy about attending (with a response of “maybe”) until the very last minute.

I thought I had found the perfect solution to this. I sent out somewhat vague paper invitations (old-school, I know, right?) with instructions that once they RSVP’d to me, they would then be added to a page on Facebook that would give them all the information they needed to know.

I thought this couldn’t possibly fail. Except out of the 40 people I have invited to this birthday party of mine, which I am arranging, five have already called me to say, “Yeah, put me down as going. Unless something else comes up that day. You know how it is.”

The first time someone said this, I thought they were joking and I laughed. The second time, I was astounded and couldn’t respond. The next three times, I was angry and said something along the lines of, “Well, it would mean a lot to me to have you attend, so please let me know ASAP if you change your mind.”

Is this a thing now? To accept offers to events until maybe something better comes along? Or do I need new friends? I am appalled by the lack of manners here and would appreciate help on what to say if anyone else tells me “until something better comes along.”

GENTLE READER: By “a thing now,” Miss Manners trusts you mean that people are increasingly shameless about being rude, and by “old-school,” you are referring to timeless ways of showing consideration for others.

Perhaps you do need another set of friends. You may tell your current friends that you are sure something better will come along for them.