AITA for signing a petition I thought was Anonymous even though I knew my friends where against it?

Picture an office in early September, where the hum of computers is drowned out by jingle bells and “Deck the Halls.” Desks sparkle with tinsel, and three coworkers are already in full Christmas mode—three months early! For one 26-year-old employee, this festive frenzy feels like a snowstorm in summer. Caught between holiday spirit and workplace sanity, they sign a petition to pause the Christmas tunes, only to stir up a workplace drama as frosty as a winter’s night.

This Reddit tale captures the clash of holiday cheer and personal boundaries, with a dash of office politics thrown in. The original poster (OP) thought they were making a quiet stand for peace, but when their boss spills the beans, friendships chill faster than eggnog. Let’s unwrap this story and see if the OP’s festive rebellion was naughty or nice.

‘AITA for signing a petition I thought was Anonymous even though I knew my friends where against it?’

It’s September, but you’d think it’s December in this office, where Christmas carols blare and desks glitter with holiday cheer. Frustrated by the early festivities, the OP makes a bold move that backfires. Here’s the story straight from Reddit:

Hi I’m sorry for my punctuation before we go anywhere I’ll make it short because I know it’s a stupid thing. So where I work I have three friends they are all obsessed with Christmas the problem is …..is 09/09/21 and they have there desk decorated already and will not for death or glory stop playing Christmas songs.

Another coworker started a petition banning Christmas song till at least 30/11/21 when it came to me I asked is this Anonymous he said yes just sign your name so the boss knows it’s real it won’t be shown to anyone.

Look I love Christmas but not in September so I signed and it got passed ,my friends marched into my bosses office and demanded to know who signed boss “left it out” and now they are mad at me for signing I have apologised for going behind there back.

But anytime I brought it up I was told “oh don’t be a grinch it’s fun” “ can never start to early Scrooge” I get it people love Christmas I do too but not this early. I apologise for any spelling mistakes and grammar. So Reddit aita for signing knowing it would affect my friends.
This office jingle jangle is less about Christmas and more about respecting shared spaces. The OP’s petition was meant to restore workplace harmony, but their boss’s blunder turned it into a friendship fiasco. Let’s dig into why this merry mess happened.

Workplace psychologist Dr. Amy Cooper Hakim explains in a Forbes article, “Shared spaces require mutual respect, especially when personal preferences, like music, impact others” (Source). The OP’s friends, wrapped up in holiday zeal, overlooked how their early carols affected coworkers. The OP’s petition was a reasonable boundary, but signing it anonymously behind friends’ backs stirred tension when exposed.

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This taps into a bigger issue: workplace etiquette. A 2022 survey by the Society for Human Resource Management found 68% of employees report conflicts over workplace decorations or music (Source). The OP’s friends might feel their festive spirit was squashed, while the OP sought a quieter September.

Dr. Hakim advises, “Address conflicts directly but kindly to avoid escalation.” The OP could have voiced their concerns before signing, fostering dialogue. Moving forward, suggesting a team vote on holiday music timing could rebuild trust.

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Here’s the comments of Reddit users:

Reddit’s verdict is as lively as a holiday party, with users chiming in on the Christmas music mayhem. Here’s what the community had to say:

IronNia − NTA you have right to have an opinion. Your boss is quite TA for revealing anonymous petition! Keep an eye on him/her!

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PEneoark − NTA. Christmas music sucks, especially in September.

JudgeJed100 − NTA and your boss is a major a**hole for handing it over like that.

snakesandcladders − NTA them decorating their own desks is one thing but playing music impacts everyone in the office and you’re entitled to have and express your own opinion on it.

Borgteddy − Absolutely NTA.. If they want to have Christmas in September they should do it at home, or in their cars. I wouldn't have that much of a problem with decorations, if they keep it confined to their desks, but the music has to go. The petition is reasonable and gives them a whole month for Christmas, wich should be plenty since it's actually only one day.

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HsinVega − NTA you're as entitled as they are to have an opinion when Xmas stuff should be up, if the majority of your office don't want it early that's it.. Also ppl blasting Xmas music in September are annoying.

CatnipParade − NTA. First off, Christmas music has a negative psychological impact. (Especially when it's started so early in the year.) And I'm being completely serious. There are actual studies on this.

Decorations are one thing. The music is torture. I'm talking, inspires violent feelings that it took me years to understand. I don't hate Christmas. But the starting it one month, two months, three months early?. I can't do it anymore.

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And that is why I am genuinely considering switching forever to Festivus. No music that creates homicidal feelings. No tree to decorate. Just a sturdy pole, the airing of grievances, and feats of strength.

BarrelOfTigers − I love Christmas, but it’s way too early to start. It’s obnoxious to play carols in September.. NTA.

lady0rthetiger − NTA how dare they deny spooky season! Also as a Jewish person, the very public obsession with Christmas is quite annoying.

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OrdinaryMango014 − I swear the people who do this act like it’s a personality trait. I like Christmas but that doesn’t mean I want to hear Christmas songs starting in September. Plus, there are only so many well-known Christmas songs. It’s bound to get redundant.. NTA.

These Reddit takes are festive and fiery, but do they jingle all the way to the truth?

This tale of tinsel and tunes shows how quickly workplace cheer can turn to chagrin. The OP’s petition aimed for peace but hit a sour note when anonymity went out the window. Have you ever clashed with coworkers over holiday vibes or office quirks? Drop your thoughts below—would you sign that petition or let the carols play?

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