okay, there's that general british passive-aggressive mustn't-offend, and then there's this.

[fox]

got a broadcast e-mail the other day from the college office saying the application for college housing for next year is ready.  responded to ask them to put a hard copy in my mailbox, since i have no printer.

got a broadcast e-mail this morning from the Accommodation Secretary:

Please note per the accommodation policy, if you have already been resident in St Cross accommodation, you cannot apply for another years accommodation.

[sic].

so naturally, i responded -- Please clarify; who is eligible for the housing lottery? --  new students are (more or less) guaranteed housing, see, and there is then (i've been assured all year) a "room ballot", i.e. housing lottery, for those who want second-year housing.

she says:

Students that have not previously had any accommodation at St Cross College.  Please read the policy sent to you.

oh, i've read it.  it says

Continuing Students:  30 rooms to be reserved.  Applications will be given priority as follows:
-- College posts eg. Junior Dean, IT Reps, Site Assistants etc. will be given reserved rooms.
-- Students who have not had college accommodation previously

i didn't realize, i said (spelling it my own way, dammit, because i'm annoyed; normally i'd have spelled it with an s, 'cause when in Rome, you know), that "priority" meant the rest of us were completely barred.

she replies:

After the college posts have been filled, there are only approx 14 rooms left and students that have not had accommodation previously get priority.

Due to shortage of accommodation for new students, this is a new policy which has been approved by your student representatives in Common Room committee, Welfare Committee and Executive Committee.

I can only suggest that you put your name down at the University Accommodation Office.

none of which is the point.  my name is down in a lot of places, one of which is the University Accommodation Office.  but if i'm not allowed to apply for college housing, under a new policy approved by student reps etc., that's fine -- only the application should say so.  don't tell me you're "reminding" me of something i've never been told before, and don't tell me the policy clearly states something it doesn't state at all.

i said:

I'm pursuing a lot of options.  :-)  I'm just saying, "X group of students will be given priority" doesn't mean the same as "Y group of students are not permitted to apply."

Comments

[axiom_of_stripe]

don't tell me you're "reminding" me of something i've never been told before, and don't tell me the policy clearly states something it doesn't state at all.

grar!

*pokes the housing office with sharpened sporks*

[shezan.livejournal.com]

You're onyo something there. It's definitely British in tone, and yes, it's definitely condescending in such an annoying way.

[darthfox.livejournal.com]

the thing is, i can normally parse the condescending correctly. if it had said "students who live in college accommodation in their first year do not normally live in college in subsequent years", i'd have understood that, because "not normally" means "don't ask, because we'll say no".

but "X has priority" has never yet meant "Y isn't allowed". rar.