For the Gothic birdcage - perhaps a very small bat.

I know people here have mentioned they sometimes accept meeting invites without sending a response. Are there meeting organisers who prefer that? Is there an attendee cutoff limit at which you'd prefer not to get them?

I ask because there's an evasive developer/analyst I've been asked to wrangle. He's in no way my responsibility--we're not on the same team, and I don't manage him. He doesn't return phone calls or emails, and sounds startled when I mention his deliverables during team meetings. I've been asked to get him back on track so they don't have to resort to official escalation and get him in trouble (because my role on this project is *officially* fixer).

I throw together a meeting that's really all about making sure he's got the right list of to-dos and to see if we can get dates from him. It's the last step before ratting him out to the boss (penultimate before formal escalation). Everyone sends a meeting response from him. Him I end up calling an hour before the meeting to work out if I have to put his ass in a sling or not.

Dude? Why?

Also--I've found here it's much more likely to be developers who don't send responses. But you don't have to say anything in them! It's not like contact avoidance comes into play! I just need to tally headcount, man. Help a person out.

He's not right because he's Stephen Fry (video), but it bears thinking about. I reserve the right to agree and disagree in parts.

Well, I concur with him but I'm on record as anti-presciptivist. Also, I find the kind of pedantry that Fry dislikes to be dull and contrary to the livelier impulses in language that he espouses.

But Fry argues against needing language "correct" on business signs, and then argues for correct language in a professional environment. When did a business become unprofessional? Ralph's isn't in my basement.

ita - it's possible that meeting notices get sent to his junk/spam folder. Or that he doesn't realize what they are. Or he ignores e-mail. Or, possibly, he's a jerk.

No, he read the invite. He accepted the meeting. He just chose not to send a response when he added it to his calendar. There are four people invited to the meeting. He's the guest of honour. I will not be overwhelmed by email traffic. Keep a meeting organiser informed, will you?

I rarely, if ever, send a response with my meeting acceptances.

I'm "at work". As in, we are having a craft fair today and I have a table set-up. Also have the work computer set-up. Will try to juggle. I've sold two ornaments so far. The gal with the embroidered toilet paper is back. Her table is directly across from me.

Man, it is chilly in the office today. I am wearing two sweaters and my infinity scarf and only just feel warm enough.

We got a big snow drop last night and it is still coming down. It a beautiful backdrop for the fair. I just hope the roads are clear when it is time to go home.

I never send a response if I'm just accepting. If declining I probably would