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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To hate receiving e mails that don't start with 'hello, hi, dear' or any sort of greeting at all

29 replies

Soopermum1 · 04/02/2012 22:11

It started with some alpha males with lack of (or lack of care for) social skills. Now everyone is doing it.

It's only 2 more keystrokes to type 'hi' before my name.

It just seems so rude, abrupt and shouty.

Has anyone else noticed this?

OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 04/02/2012 22:20

Which alpha males did it start with?

YANBU, I at least expect a greeting.

FunnysInTheGarden · 04/02/2012 22:24

YANBU, also loathe when folk sign off their emails KR, S (for example) how hard is it to type 'Kind Regards, Shaun'. So the email says 'Sooper, xxxxxx blah blah blah, KR,S' Most annoying.

Glittertwins · 04/02/2012 22:28

I get this routinely from colleagues in the US, never from anywhere else in the world though. It looks very rude.

Original poster
Soopermum1 · 04/02/2012 22:28

When I say 'alpha males' I suppose I mean some (mostly) men who are ruder and more dismissive face to face or on the phone, so I just put it down to them being twats, but I don't want to think everyone's a twat, but it seems to be infectious.

OP posts:
PurplePidjin · 04/02/2012 22:29

Yanbu, it's rude. Shows a complete lack of regard for the person addressed.

eurochick · 04/02/2012 22:29

I don't really care, TBH. But I always use a greeting, apart from repeated emails on a quickfire chain when I will use a greeting on the first one and then not bother because it seems false halfway through a "conversation".

TheCrackFox · 04/02/2012 22:31

Yanbu

Just seems so rude.

NewShooz · 04/02/2012 22:40

Yanbu it is a bit rude.

I expect the same with a phone call though...MIL and one friend of mine NEVER actually say 'hello', or 'how are you'? When I answer the phone to them, they just go straight off in to whatever they wanted to tell/ask me. Bugs me quite a bit actually!

AgentZigzag · 04/02/2012 22:42

If it's within a series of emails I'm having with someone I know, I won't say hello or anything because it's more like a conversation.

But if it's the first exchange or you don't email the person often then that would be very rude.

The opposite is posters who 'sign off' their posts on a forum with 'x' or their name I suppose.

(mwah)

COCKadoodledooo · 04/02/2012 22:44

What ZigZag said.

AgentZigzag · 04/02/2012 22:51

hugz 2 the COCK

(It's almost as though you've set up your MN name to deliberately make people type out 'COCK' into their sentences Shock)

FrizzyFrazzled · 04/02/2012 22:55

Yes, very rude. Makes me instantly not want to co-operate with whatever they are going to say!
Also really really dislike the sign-off "Best". So dismissive!

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 04/02/2012 22:58

I have been in correspondence with my local planning dept.
I recieved an email off of an officer who had no previous contact with me.
He starte it
'Hi, Shortened version of first name',

I am afraid I came over all cats bum, Lady Bracknell.

How rude I thought.
How unprofessional.

choppychopster · 04/02/2012 23:06

Not all that bothered if colleagues I email a lot don't use "Hi" or "Hello" at the beginning of an email. However I really dislike it if they just use my name at the start i.e.
Choppy,
Can you send me an update on x please? Blah...

Just seems even more abrupt than just launching in to what they have to say and is usually done by cock-swinging alpha male types. I could tell whether my old boss was in a good mood with me or not depending on whether he used "Hi" in front of my name.

MsVestibule · 04/02/2012 23:06

Mrs De Vere, you've been in contact with your planning department? You really must post about it sometime Wink.

Surely time for another update, I love 'em.

beanandspud · 04/02/2012 23:07

Hi Sooper Wink

YANBU. I hate it and I think it's rude. The worst is 'BRegs' as a sign off - why, why, why?

The only exception might be a trail of emails where someone starts, for example, 'Thanks beanandspud lalalalala...'

MosEisley · 04/02/2012 23:11

To me, this is type of greeting is acceptable from a work colleague who you communicate with by email often. So if this is what you are thinking of, YABU.

From a friend, it seems a bit rude, so YANBU.

(Reminded of email I sent to colleague on returning to work after mat leave, signed 'love Mos xx' Blush)

MosEisley · 04/02/2012 23:13

Crap grammar, sorry pedants.

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 04/02/2012 23:14

MsV dont worry MN will be the first to know when I have any news Grin

SleepyFergus · 04/02/2012 23:17

Depends on the situation to be honest. I don't tend to lose much sleep over it. It's not a letter, but a message system that has - perhaps sadly - become abbreviated. Like texting....I don't start every text with Dear/Hi or whatever.

EllenJaneisnotmyname · 04/02/2012 23:18

Interesting. In my correspondence with STB exH, I purposely don't bother with any 'Hi Dick,' or sign it off with my name as that would be just too friendly. (And I don't feel friendly.) That's OK, though, isn't it?

AgentZigzag · 04/02/2012 23:20

I have an OCD thing going on where I have to put 'xxx' after a text I'm sending Mos, it causes me no end of grief fighting it at inappropriate times Grin

AgentZigzag · 04/02/2012 23:22

Fuck yes Ellen!

That's when it speaks volumes about what you think about the person!

Hope you're OK (with the STBexH situation)

EllenJaneisnotmyname · 04/02/2012 23:26

Grin Special dispensation for STB ex Dickheads, thank you!

Sayit2myface · 04/02/2012 23:28

YABU and very old fashioned. Whenever I receive an email from someone who starts off with "Dear Sayit" I think the sender is automated, or a person with too much time on their hands, or someone who is not really used to communication by email. It just seems a little over the top. I mean, I already know my own name - just get to the point already!