today, the mail-person brought me

[truepenny]

1. A follow-up from Phi Beta Kappa, concerned (they say) that they have not received a reply to their invitation to join the Anniversary Society.* I notice that it is not possible to reply (via the R.S.V.P. card they have so thoughtfully included) without agreeing to give them money. You may either say Yes, in which case you are ponying up at least $233 (233 years being the age of Phi Beta Kappa, which, hello to the twee), or you may say No, in which case you are still agreeing to contribute. (The lowest tier of supporting membership is $39.) There is nowhere to say, yes, I received your missive, however, I must regretfully decline your generous invitation to give you money. Which would be, dear Phi Beta Kappa, the reason I did not reply in the first place.

2. This month's Locus, including a positive review of Shadow Unit Season 1.

3. My contributor's copies of The Lone Star Stories Reader.

#2 & #3 balance out my irritation at #1. But honestly, I become less proud of my Phi Beta Kappa membership every damn time I hear from them.

---
*The astute reader will deduce from this that they still think I'm my mom.

Comments

[bookzombie.livejournal.com]

I've been invited to a couple of secondary (High School equivalent) reunions. And after thinking long and I hard I decided to ignore them. These people were not my friends when I was at school and, since I am still interested in the same things that they didn't like me for 24+ years ago, I can't imagine they would be friends now. Apart from some sort of misplaced nostalgia I can't really think of any reason why I should give up my precious free time for them.

Blunt maybe, but that's the truth...

[libskrat]

Hunh. They've lost track of me, the fibbiks have. I think I am starting to be glad of that...

[redbird]

It might be amusing to send an actual letter, "Dear Phi Beta Kappa, I do not wish to join your anniversary society. Furthermore, given the nature of your organization, you should not insult your members by assuming we will not notice that your RSVP does not have a place to say 'Thank you for the invitation, but I am declining and do not wish to give you money..'"

[(Anonymous)]

WHAT would Miss Manners say?

[starlady38.livejournal.com]

Just another ΦΒΚ'er wandering in by way of Naomi Novik's journal, and I have to say, I've been in the organization for less than two years, but the honor society of the Founding Fathers seems to be pretty desperate for cash; it's annoying.

The magazine, though, does have thought-provoking items in it on occasion.