h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yesterday was our works Christmas party. It was supposed to be something special. I hadn't wanted to go; quite honestly I don't see the point in them, and I have better things to do than listen to the CEO's blabla. The girls in the office persuaded me, though, and as I had been the one to suggest the venue, I felt some perverted sort of obligation to take part. I only had the soup - a whole meal would have been too much for me.

At one point there was an unprecedented speech-making session as some of the employees were presented with gifts for special achievements - among other things, being with the company for ten years or more (the company itself is only 12 years old - I have been there 11 years.) I had been jocularly grumbling that no one got recognition for their 10 year service, so now they had finally noticed, was anticipating my name coming up - they were calling them out in order of the date they started. My name didn't come up.

They then went on to present gifts to others who had done things worth honouring. When my young colleague who had organised the whole event, was called up, she reminded the PTB that they had forgotten me. So I was mentioned as an afterthought. No one was listening. I couldn't even hear my name mentioned, and had to guess that I was expected to go and accept my gift. The CEO even mentioned that he had had to be reminded about me, instead of glossing over that bit and just making the speech he normally would have made.

The chap who started here directly after me has an unfortunate name, and unnecessary and embarrassing comments were passed on this. The CEO was obviously so keen to get to these tactless witticisms that he completely skipped over out the person before him on the list (i.e. me).

The gifts contained bottles of wine and tins of bratwurst. Even for the Turkish colleagues, two of whom were presented with these, as they have been here even longer than me. That, I found, was almost more embarrassing and thoughtless than my own debacle.

I got on the next tram home.

Needless to say, I didn't sleep well, especially as my husband, who had been on another Christmas do with his sports club, was throwing up all night. Something he ate, or a bug that is gong around.

We were recently warned at work about talking about the company, colleagues, bosses, etc., on social media.

So here is a question: Is h2g2 "sodial media" and can they find me here and accuse me of anything? (especially as I am posting from work, but in a foreign language).

If the CEO's presiding over a balls-up like that, it's no wonder he doesn't want you talking about it on social media.

Wow, and I thought it was bad enough for our regional director to forget the name of my colleague in front of the Director General (what with our office being right opposite his, and the fact that we interact with him every single day)...

As for your question, even if h2g2 counted as social media, you haven't mentioned the name of the company you work for, so I can't see how we could link it with them.

And you haven't said your own name, either. Even though many of us know it.

And we're not going to tell them.

What a shower of prats you work for. Have you seen The IT Crowd? They have a boss like that.

they are a right shower and make mine look like fun, efficient guys to work with

I don't go to ours anymore and find it much more relaxing to be at home doing nothing

Thanks for your sympathy everyone.

It's not as if I was an anonymous face in the office to them, as we really were only a handful of people ten years ago and everyone knew everyone else really well. Over the past couple of years, however, the Financial Manager has been calling me the wrong name (there are two of us with similar names) and, of late, has given up trying to remember a name at all for me. The debacle on Monday evening was the tip of the iceberg.

And when I think of how we used to sit here till 11 pm getting their damn orders processed.

Perhaps your irreplaceability should be given a small demonstration?

Sounds awful. And the afterparty doesn't sound like fun either. I don't consider H2G2 to be social media, but none of my RL friends know I'm here at all.

On the other hand if this isn't social media what is?