The Secret
posted by Jen | 9:21 AM
This post is going to seem very cryptic to some and very obvious to others. Please forgive the cloak and dagger, but that is why I’m writing about it after all.
Yesterday, I received an e-mail about a SECRET event. Something very cool has been arranged for myself and certain other people that meet a very specific condition. Not everyone who could be considered worthy to attend this event has been invited due to attendance limitations. Those of us who are invited to the SECRET event are not supposed to spread the existance of the SECRET event around, as it may cause jealosy.
As much as I would love to attend the SECRET event, there are a few things that bother me about it.
The condition of invitation is a rather random one. It made sense at first, but the meaning has now become rather skewed due to some scheduling issues. Many people that you could argue very much deserve to be invited are not getting in on this. It does seem somewhat unfair.
The SECRET is going to get out. This is big and someone will spill the beans. There were already rumors before the e-mail came out, so I don’t see it staying quiet forever, or even until after the SECRET event.
We are not allowed to bring guests to the SECRET event. This is due to the attendance limitations. However, as a certain person very close to me would also think the SECRET event is very cool has not been invited, I really can’t see myself going.
Now, I realize writing a blog entry about SECRET events in all-caps is probably not conductive to keeping the SECRET. Well, tough noogies. If it needs to be SECRET, there’s probably something wrong with the concept in the first place. If it’s going to seem unfair and unappreciative if (when) it gets out, it probably shouldn’t be happening in the first place.
Yesterday, I received an e-mail about a SECRET event. Something very cool has been arranged for myself and certain other people that meet a very specific condition. Not everyone who could be considered worthy to attend this event has been invited due to attendance limitations. Those of us who are invited to the SECRET event are not supposed to spread the existance of the SECRET event around, as it may cause jealosy.
As much as I would love to attend the SECRET event, there are a few things that bother me about it.
The condition of invitation is a rather random one. It made sense at first, but the meaning has now become rather skewed due to some scheduling issues. Many people that you could argue very much deserve to be invited are not getting in on this. It does seem somewhat unfair.
The SECRET is going to get out. This is big and someone will spill the beans. There were already rumors before the e-mail came out, so I don’t see it staying quiet forever, or even until after the SECRET event.
We are not allowed to bring guests to the SECRET event. This is due to the attendance limitations. However, as a certain person very close to me would also think the SECRET event is very cool has not been invited, I really can’t see myself going.
Now, I realize writing a blog entry about SECRET events in all-caps is probably not conductive to keeping the SECRET. Well, tough noogies. If it needs to be SECRET, there’s probably something wrong with the concept in the first place. If it’s going to seem unfair and unappreciative if (when) it gets out, it probably shouldn’t be happening in the first place.
8 Comments:
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Look, its stupid that its secret. And its obviously not going to stay secret, since I've heard it being discussed LOUDLY in many locations. But I see nothing wrong with encouraging people not to talk about it in front of others who did not receive an invite.
And is the invite list any more random than if you asked all managers to select 3 people? Or if you contrained it only to the engineering team? Or the management team? You get the idea...
There had to be some way to contrain the invite list, and they did it in a way that made sense at the time that they made the list. Yes, there are other deserving people. Lots of deserving people.
But I don't think those people aren't being denied acknowledgement of their work. They are just getting acknowledged in different ways. Like say like paid vacations to awards ceremonies. Or flags flown in space. Or walking down on the baseball field with a flag. Or a trip to see the debris they were working on studying. I'm just saying, there are lots of cool rewards out there and you shouldn't feel guilty for receiving one type for one reason while others receive different ones.
Well, that's the point, isn't it? The certain someone isn't the one who I think has the most right to complain. It's the other people that were supposed to be busy that didn't get invited. I'm not going to mention specifics in the interest of not being the one to blow this on the internet.
My point is, that if you think you need to keep something secret so that people don't get offended, you probably ought not be doing it.
I think Becca doesn't see a problem with it because she was invited. I actually don't care that much because I'm indifferent to the event, but it still makes me a little miffed that I wasn't invited. Becca, I think you would feel the same way based on things I've heard you say in the past.
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Of course I would feel miffed :). Whenever someone else gets something special for which I can consider myself even slightly qualified for, I wonder why I wasn't inlcuded. And we both know there have been several occasions where I've been in that position.
But I also acknowledge that they can't give everyone everything. I think the SECRET thing is stupid. But I don't think its stupid that they took advantage of this cool opportunity than they could at least give to some people. I also think its damned cool that even little me with my teeny tiny role rated an invite. And I do feel bad for the other contributors that don't get an invite. But not so bad that I won't go. :)
i totally agree with jen... if its something that has to be secret, then they probably shouldn't be doing it. in my humble opinion, if it is something that is going to hurt the feelings or make mad those that weren't invited... then they shouldn't do it. this is not an award, so why do something that is going to create a division among a group of people that otherwise work as a team.
so what is the solution? what should they have done differently? true, they could have insited on those "deserving" be included... but where does that stop? what about the "one agency" crap we are always hearing about?
I'm receiving death threats. It's kinda hard not to give it away when people know you and wonder why you don't participate in plans precluded by this SECRET.
Jen, I think your entry would have been more fun if, instead of using the word SECRET, you had used CENSORED instead. :)
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