Editorial Page of Cochonnet Marin

The content and views published on this website do not necessarily reflect the ideas and beliefs of La Pétanque Marinière. Le Cochonnet Marin is a website totally independent of the Marin Pétanque Club and reserves the right to freely publish the uncensored opinions of its editor.

“What RSVP Means

The term R.S.V.P. comes from the French expression "répondez s'il vous plaît", meaning "please respond". If R.S.V.P. is written on an invitation it means the invited guest must tell the host whether or not they plan to attend the party. It does not mean to respond only if you're coming, and it does not mean respond only if you're not coming (the expression "regrets only" is reserved for that instance). It means the host needs a definite head count for the planned event, and needs it by the date specified on the invitation.

Why It's Inconsiderate to Not RSVP

An incomplete list of respondents can cause numerous problems for a host including difficulty in planning food quantities, issues relating to minimum guarantees with catering halls, uncertainty over the number of party favors and difficulties in planning appropriate seating, among other things.”

When you receive a dining invitation which ends with RSVP, it would be extremely rude to show up for diner without letting your hosts know in advance that you have indeed accepted their invitation.

But that’s what some people casually do. They will call after a deadline, when the hostess has already bought food for her guests, or they will simply show up when everybody is already seated, and expect to partake in the festivities.

In my book this behavior is totally unacceptable. It shows a total lack of manners not to be tolerated in a polite society.

Similarly, people who have been asked repeatedly if they are going to show up for a picnic and did respond by a stated deadline, these people should be banned from the dining table or the tournament regardless of the excuses.

Good breeding, which is sorely missed in American society, should be a prerequisite to any social intercourse.

By not following basic established rules, these people leave themselves open to banishment from clubs and social functions.

Personally, I will never invite again a person who doesn’t have the decency to respond in time to an invitation.

Within our club, I will push hard to refuse people who call after repeated deadlines and warnings. People should be treated the way they treat other people. If you are a slob, you should be treated like a slob!

By the same token, I will treat gentle, well behaved people with the utmost respect and consideration.

If you are asked to make a reservation by a certain date, have the decency to call or e-mail early to let the organizers know what your intentions are.

What Andy Rooney thinks

Yes, we praise women over 40 for a multitude of reasons. Unfortunately, it's not reciprocal. For every stunning, smart, well-coiffed, hot woman over 40, there is a bald, paunchy relic in yellow pants making a fool of himself with some 22-year old waitress. Ladies, I apologize.

For all those men who say, "Why buy the cow when you can get the milk for free?” here's an update for you. Nowadays 80% of women are against marriage. Why? Because women realize it's not worth buying an entire pig just to get a little sausage!