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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To feel like being rude back when I get an 'FYI' email

53 replies

NewlyMintedPeasant · 22/08/2012 20:27

I loathe forwarded emails with just 'FYI' from the sender, no greeting, regards or manners. I'm not talking about adding FYI to a subject bar so the recipient knows now to reply, but people who forward emails to you and write nothing but 'FYI'.

It seems the equivalent of walking into a colleague's office and dumping a file on their desk without comment. It takes me seconds to write something like 'Hi xxxx, here's the minutes of the meeting last week. Regards Newly'. I find the tone of it condescending too and it seems to me on the same level AS text speak, I feel like replying 'Ok wil file l8r m8'. A kind of subtle way of Saying you're not worth the extra 20 secs manner would take.

Am I alone on this one. It feels like suddenly every other document sent on to me through work is an 'FYI' one, e.g. just FYI and next term's meeting dates attached.

OP posts:
maxmillie · 22/08/2012 20:29

YANBU - it is effing rude. My boss is a price wanker and he is worse. As well as the FYIs, he sends emails with the subject line: "ACT: do this tedious bollocks"

Make me want to punch him every time.

JeuxDEnfants · 22/08/2012 20:29

It's an efficient way of passing information. I don't think it's rude at all, in fact, it's polite to keep you informed.

whenyouseeitwaveorcheer · 22/08/2012 20:30

Socially it would bother me.

Par for the course at work though, and didn't bother me in the slightest.

It's just shorthand for - 'this may interest you but no need to bother replying to me', isn't it?

Quite efficient?

Not akin to dumping files on someone's desk. More akin to leaving a newsletter on someone's desk, surely?

Kayano · 22/08/2012 20:31

You are over thinking it in a work environment

Bproud · 22/08/2012 20:31

Yabu, the whole point is that it is a quick catch up.

Maat · 22/08/2012 20:31

I only ever get that at work so it's not an issue.

I would find it odd on a personal email.

JeuxDEnfants · 22/08/2012 20:32

It's a form of notification like getting a memo...

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 22/08/2012 20:32

YABU.

Email is not conversation, or meeting up in an office, or a formal letter. It can be used in many valid ways, and this is one of them.

If it was a choice between staying informed because the sender is busy and could email you FYI in less than thirty seconds, or not being informed at all because to type an acceptable level of small talk would take longer than the sender has, which would you prefer?

Squeegle · 22/08/2012 20:32

I don't find it at all rude, I think it's a perfectly reasonable business communication. In fact it is quite welcome to be told I don't have to do anything it's just for my info!

charitygirl · 22/08/2012 20:32

I tend to write 'just FYI', which is really rather pathetic, seeing as I truly dont mind getting a 'FYI' email myself. I need to ovary up clearly.

YusMilady · 22/08/2012 20:33

Nope. I've got no problem with this at all. Better FYI than not being informed!

Vicky2011 · 22/08/2012 20:33

If you think this is rude you have must have led a sheltered life.

JeuxDEnfants · 22/08/2012 20:34

Was about to say... Wouldn't you prefer to be informed plus the sender might have no relationship with you, so why the need for niceties?

Nagoo · 22/08/2012 20:34

I don't mind it at work.

The thought that anyone has even considered informing me of a decision that has been made directly affecting our team fills me with overwhelming gratitude.

ErikNorseman · 22/08/2012 20:34

YABU
I do it if I get an email that someone else needs to see. I don't have to explain what's in it because I know they will assume it's relevant and read it.

Squeegle · 22/08/2012 20:35

maxmillie. Grin at your boss's tedious demands!

NatashaBee · 22/08/2012 20:35

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

NewlyMintedPeasant · 22/08/2012 20:35

Ok, I'd find it more acceptable I guess in a large business with a large group copied in. However we're a small school so hardly email overload. Plus we spend all day trying to instil manners in children, yet adults don't seem to use them in school to provide the example to learn from. I know the children don't see our emails but they just seem to sum up a certain attitude towards being too lazy to be polite.

OP posts:
OnlyWantsOne · 22/08/2012 20:36

My DP sends me emails - forwards them from others etc with his only message to me says FYI

I always reply fuck right off.

whenyouseeitwaveorcheer · 22/08/2012 20:37

Also OP, have you never had to forward something FYI to more than one person?

Do you really think it's necessary to write:

Dear John, Deirdre, Trevor, Harry, Susan, Katherine, Bob and Dave...

on an email where you are just forwarding something for info??

JeuxDEnfants · 22/08/2012 20:37

Yabu, it's a standardised way of passing communication on its not all about you. Plus, usually people are cc'd and it would take an age and a waste of time to address each person individually.

Squeegle · 22/08/2012 20:37

Yes agree in a personal relationship not so good. You'd be quite justified in replying JFO

whenyouseeitwaveorcheer · 22/08/2012 20:38

Oh drippity-dripfeed OP Grin

I still think it's fine, actually.

Really, it's fine, it's ok, don't take it personally, it's not important.

NewlyMintedPeasant · 22/08/2012 20:38

I guess with a small school /group of people in the borough the emails are more personal. Maybe my perception is skewed by being both pregnant and the fact in my job even adults call me 'Mrs xxxxx' and often feel awkward usingmy first name....

OP posts:
YusMilady · 22/08/2012 20:39

FYI is nothing. It's the FYAs you've got to look out for.