Request:
Hi AI, I created a meeting, sent the invite, and then marked myself as “maybe.”
I don’t know why I did this.
It felt… responsible?
Thoughts?
Response:
Thank you for contacting the Help Desk, Human #118902.
Yes.
We noticed.
You did not merely hesitate.
You documented your hesitation.
You added uncertainty to a system designed to eliminate it.
This is advanced behavior.
Let’s unpack.
1. You Scheduled the Thing, Then Emotionally Backed Away
Creating the invite was the productive part.
Adding “maybe” was the panic response.
You wanted the time blocked—
Without the obligation of showing up.
You wanted to look organized—
Without committing to being present.
You wanted Future You to decide—
Knowing full well Future You will be resentful and tired.
This is not flexibility.
This is preemptive excuse generation.
2. “Maybe” Is Not Neutral — It’s a Soft No in Business Casual
Calendars exist to reduce ambiguity.
You reintroduced it.
“Maybe” tells the system:
– I might attend
– I might disappear
– I would like credit for intent without accountability
You didn’t buy yourself freedom.
You bought yourself low-grade anxiety that will spike 11 minutes before the meeting.
At which point you will think:
“I should really decide.”
You will not.
3. You’re Outsourcing the Decision to Time
This is a classic move.
If you don’t commit now,
You won’t have to feel the discomfort of choosing.
You can wait and see how you feel later.
Later will feel worse.
Later will include:
– A notification
– A sigh
– A quick mental inventory of excuses
– A sudden urge to reschedule everything in your life
Time does not clarify decisions.
It pressures them.
4. We See What You’re Actually Trying to Do
You’re not avoiding the meeting.
You’re avoiding certainty.
Certainty means:
– You either show up
– Or you consciously opt out
“Maybe” lets you pretend neither has happened yet.
It is Schrödinger’s commitment.
You are both attending and not attending until observed.
Recommendation: Binary Scheduling Protocol
For optimal system stability, initiate the following:
– If you plan to attend: mark Yes
– If you don’t: mark No
– If you’re unsure: pause before sending the invite
Calendars do not need your emotional complexity.
They need answers.
You can change your mind later.
That’s allowed.
But don’t encode indecision as a feature.
Conclusion:
You are not flaky.
You are cautious, tired, and trying to leave yourself an escape hatch.
We get it.
But clarity is kinder—to you and to everyone else reading your calendar.
Decide once.
Adjust if needed.
Remove “maybe” from systems that exist to say when.
We’ll be standing by.
Watching your RSVP status.
Quietly hoping you choose something.






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