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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Why do people get so upset over such trivial things?

40 replies

americangirls · 22/09/2026 11:37

I work in the NHS.

I emailed someone who has, apparently, left the team some six months ago. Still in the same trust.

I was not made aware of this change as I float between different departments. I had copied in the generic email address too.

No harm no foul, right?

Wrong! I have now had three very stroppy, very rude emails:

  1. the original recipient, very snappy and harsh. Copying in the band 4,5&6
  2. the band 5 - again very rude, apologising profusely to the original recipient for the “distress” this must have caused
  3. the band 6 - again rude, telling me to update my records and ensure that I do not, ever, email this person again

AIBU to think this is a huge overreaction?! There was no data breach, no harm, just an email that could’ve easily been a “sorry, I’m not in the team anymore ☺️”.

OP posts:
americangirls · 22/09/2026 12:15

RosesAndHellebores · 22/09/2026 11:53

Oh dear. How can NHS staff have time for this nonsense when they continually complain about how overworked and under resourced they are?

To be fair this was weeks ago now it’s just irritated me!

OP posts:
AlwaysExtraHot · 22/09/2026 12:06

takealettermsjones · 22/09/2026 11:40

Sounds like they left under a cloud. I don't think it's about you.

Would they still be in the same trust if this were the case?

That aside, what a waste of senior staff's time that sounds like.

BillieWiper · 22/09/2026 11:56

Yeah definitely not you. I'd be googling their name and tribunals! Obviously something bad happened.

dontcookwontcook · 22/09/2026 11:53

I’d raise a complaint about that but that’s because I’m a bitch. I’d say it was distressing being spoken to disrespectfully so publicly by 3 different team members
a simple mistake doesn’t require berating 3 times and also, they received an old re an old job, so what?

RosesAndHellebores · 22/09/2026 11:53

Oh dear. How can NHS staff have time for this nonsense when they continually complain about how overworked and under resourced they are?

americangirls · 22/09/2026 11:52

DarkSunshine · 22/09/2026 11:49

Did you email back saying you hadn't been informed of the change in staffing and you had no reason to believe you needed to email a different member of staff?

Yeah I’ve done that now. Just seems so rude to me!

OP posts:
concertinacornflake · 22/09/2026 11:52

You've got upset enough to start a thread about it!

But presumably there's some back story you're not privy to. Dont dwell on it, not your problem.

DarkSunshine · 22/09/2026 11:49

Did you email back saying you hadn't been informed of the change in staffing and you had no reason to believe you needed to email a different member of staff?

TheTortiePuffinNeedsHerBreakfast · 22/09/2026 11:47

There must be a story you aren't aware of. Nobody is that heavy handed otherwise

belchingalong · 22/09/2026 11:47

Very odd. It’s completely normal to get emails about previous teams you’ve worked in. You just reply and and say “sorry not there anymore” or the admin replies to the email sent to the generic inbox.

I do find the tactic of CC’ing everyone into a reply to make your point quite amusing!

NotAnotherScarf · 22/09/2026 11:46

Personally I couldn't resist pointing out that it was an error, contacting my manager and going home with 'stress '.

PollyBell · 22/09/2026 11:44

I just think some people need drama in their life and move on

QueenOfAccountability · 22/09/2026 11:43

Whose job is it to ensure that the email addresses for each team are kept current and correct? Because thats the person to blame for this.

randomchap · 22/09/2026 11:41

There's probably some massive back story you're unaware of. I wouldn't give it another thought.

Although extrapolating from this example to "why do people" question seems a bit mad

takealettermsjones · 22/09/2026 11:40

Sounds like they left under a cloud. I don't think it's about you.