You’re Invited To A Party!

Suppose you plan a big dinner party.  You hire a caterer, bring in a decorator, plan on entertainment, and really invest some money.  "This is going to be the hottest thing that has happened in years," you smugly tell yourself.  Then the phone starts to ring.  People whine and dance around the invitation, hesitating to come right out and say, "We're not coming," but you quickly translate their "We're not sure," and "We've got to go out of town," and "Our grandmother is having a birthday" excuses into reality as you ask yourself, "What is going on here?"