Social Anxiety Support

Amelia · 01-14-2009, 02:22 AM

Does anyone understand why some people send those round robin letters at Christmas? You know the kind that are utterly self-absorbed and self-congratulatory?! Listing the family's achievements/promotions/exotic holidays/talented children and pets?!! Talking up the good stuff and leaving out anything bad?!!! Attaching a photo of the smiling family?!!!! Including as many exclamation marks as possible?!!!!!

And showing absolutely zero interest in the recipient.

I've been getting this kind of letter from an old college friend for a number of years now. It's the only contact I have with her, as she doesn't have time to reply to letters or e-mails. I find her annual round robin very offputting: it's completely impersonal and self-absorbed, with no flicker of interest in how I might be getting on. Like a piece of advertising that doesn't invite a reply. I'm seriously wondering whether I still want to stay in touch with her.

What do you think of these letters?

Kardax · 01-14-2009, 12:51 PM

My Christmas card from Comcast (my cable internet provider) was more sensitive and appropriate than that... and it was machine-generated!

-Ryan

blackcap · 01-18-2009, 11:49 PM

I've never heard of these before, but they sound pretty self-centered alright. They would definitely be straight in the bin if I ever got one!

Celerian · 02-09-2009, 10:56 AM

I find them to be irritating. I understand that some people like to write these out just to give extended family or family from out of state a heads up on how everyone has been doing, and sometimes you really don't want to bring everyone down, so you leave the problems out. If you're going to do these, you should really have a family agreement that everyone's family should write up a "check-up" letter and everyone sends them out. That seems alright. Its just when one person does it every year, it makes them seem like a self-centered braggart.

Perfectionist · 02-09-2009, 05:46 PM

Oh my gosh, my family does this every year, and I hate it. My mom thinks it's lovely, and that people are dying to know about us. This years letter was over 1800 words. Yes, I said 1800 words.

I was four entire paragraphs. I cringe every time I think about it. I want to send out an apology to everyone who got one, and let them know I'm not really a verbose self absorbed narcissist. I think, anyways.

01-14-2009, 02:22 AM	#1 (permalink)
Amelia Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Posts: 3,533	Christmas round robin letters Does anyone understand why some people send those round robin letters at Christmas? You know the kind that are utterly self-absorbed and self-congratulatory?! Listing the family's achievements/promotions/exotic holidays/talented children and pets?!! Talking up the good stuff and leaving out anything bad?!!! Attaching a photo of the smiling family?!!!! Including as many exclamation marks as possible?!!!!! And showing absolutely zero interest in the recipient. I've been getting this kind of letter from an old college friend for a number of years now. It's the only contact I have with her, as she doesn't have time to reply to letters or e-mails. I find her annual round robin very offputting: it's completely impersonal and self-absorbed, with no flicker of interest in how I might be getting on. Like a piece of advertising that doesn't invite a reply. I'm seriously wondering whether I still want to stay in touch with her. What do you think of these letters?

02-09-2009, 05:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
Perfectionist Status: Too Cool for School Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: At the Hundredth Meridian Gender: Female Age: 21 Posts: 2,313	Oh my gosh, my family does this every year, and I hate it. My mom thinks it's lovely, and that people are dying to know about us. This years letter was over 1800 words. Yes, I said 1800 words. I was four entire paragraphs. I cringe every time I think about it. I want to send out an apology to everyone who got one, and let them know I'm not really a verbose self absorbed narcissist. I think, anyways. __________________ -Oh if Hans Christian Anderson could've had his way with me

01-14-2009, 12:51 PM	#2 (permalink)
Kardax Status: SAS Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Minnesota Gender: Male Age: 28 Posts: 1,646	My Christmas card from Comcast (my cable internet provider) was more sensitive and appropriate than that... and it was machine-generated! -Ryan

01-18-2009, 11:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
blackcap Status: SAS Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 87	I've never heard of these before, but they sound pretty self-centered alright. They would definitely be straight in the bin if I ever got one!

02-09-2009, 10:56 AM	#4 (permalink)
Celerian Status: Sweet Apathy Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Reynoldsburg, OH Gender: Male Age: 23 Posts: 108	I find them to be irritating. I understand that some people like to write these out just to give extended family or family from out of state a heads up on how everyone has been doing, and sometimes you really don't want to bring everyone down, so you leave the problems out. If you're going to do these, you should really have a family agreement that everyone's family should write up a "check-up" letter and everyone sends them out. That seems alright. Its just when one person does it every year, it makes them seem like a self-centered braggart.