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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Polite reminder

27 replies

alexw · 28/10/2015 21:13

Aibu to think that even ur an email begins ' a polite reminder to...' It's not a polite reminder but a nag?!

OP posts:
TheoriginalLEM · 28/10/2015 21:15

depends what they are "reminding" you to do

KingJoffreyLikesJaffaCakes · 28/10/2015 21:17

'Polite reminder' is a wanky phrase.

If they word it politely then saying 'polite reminder' is totally unnecessary.

If they don't word it politely then they have no business writing emails.

Original poster
alexw · 28/10/2015 21:18

To complete a task when the deadline is still 6 days away!

OP posts:
susielovessocks · 28/10/2015 21:19

I hate a polite reminder. It makes me feel bloody anything but polite.

MelanieCheeks · 28/10/2015 21:24

meh, not something to get het up about.

Alfredoshoes · 28/10/2015 21:31

I hate 'gentle reminder'..

FudgeLoverYum · 28/10/2015 21:31

I don't think it's a nag because it's very likely that many people would forget or leave to the last minute. It probably works better for them and ensuring whatever it is is finished on time to send them out.

It is annoying if you are aware and prepared but I guarantee there's at least one person who is useless and without a prompt they'd be even more so.

Polite remind is eye roll worthy, more so because 'Just to remind everyone' sounds better with the original email subject in. I don't like the term nag though, especially if it's not repeated and repeated.

LynetteScavo · 28/10/2015 21:37

If I get a polite reminder email I probably
won't go it at all.

AnnaMarlowe · 28/10/2015 21:47

Whether it's unreasonable or not depends whether you are habitually late with things or not.

One of my colleagues thinks I'm a 'nag'. I think he is a lazy, disorganised, inconsiderate arse I may have issues about this

blueshoes · 28/10/2015 21:52

Some people need (and appreciate) reminders. They can just be busy.

NickNacks · 28/10/2015 21:53

I use 'polite reminder' when contacting parents to tell them they haven't paid me for childcare as per our contract. I am politely reminding them the due date has now been and gone but if they want to think I'm nagging or not being polite then so be it....

Ilikedmyoldusernamebetter · 28/10/2015 21:57

It's like saying "I am quietly amused" - once you've said it like that, you've somewhat negated the politeness or the quietness :o

Its just one of those odd/awkward/ill thought through phrases that have somehow crept into common usage though... its no more or less a nag than if the word polite were left out I suppose.

GruntledOne · 28/10/2015 22:00

YANBU. It's almost as bad as those stupid "Polite Notices" about parking which Any Fule Kno are a pathetic attempt to con people into thinking they're police notices.

LeftMyRidingCropInTheMortuary · 28/10/2015 22:07

YY re "police/polite" notices.

waitingforcalpoltowork · 28/10/2015 22:10

i would rather they said a polite nag

FingerOFudge · 28/10/2015 22:10

yanbu. The phrase completely winds me up - I don't think someone else can tell me they're being polite, I will be the judge of whether their email is polite or not. If I need reminding, remind me! Feel free to be polite, of course Smile

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 28/10/2015 22:18

Aaaahhhhh fuck I send "gentle reminders" quite often at work.

I'm a wanker aren't I?

HeartsTrumpDiamonds · 28/10/2015 22:20

In all fairness it is almost always after the original deadline has passed...

JeanSeberg · 28/10/2015 22:21

If folk could be relied on to stick to a deadline we'd have no need for reminders. Ask yourself why you've been sent it.

Muddlewitch · 28/10/2015 22:23

We get 'gentle reminder' emails at work. I don't mind it really. I take it as "I'm not telling you off, yet..."

hettiebaby · 28/10/2015 22:32

I have a problem in my job in which quotations aren't returned on time ever! A couple of days before its due in I send a reminder asking for them back, this works as people tend to forget.....I never say "polite reminder" though, that's strange.

celtictoast · 29/10/2015 00:08

YANBU.

It's not polite to call yourself polite, it's immodest and smug to compliment yourself on what you see wrongly as your own politeness.

"Polite notice" and "polite reminder" are not polite things to write.

reni2 · 29/10/2015 00:09

Almost all polite reminders I have ever read were really rude, often passive aggressive in tone and usually petty. Roughly the opposite of a polite reminder.

SuperT3d · 29/10/2015 05:26

We have a polite reminder email do the rounds every now and then when someone ignores the sign saying no poos in the upstairs loos as the water pressure isn't strong enough to remove said turd from the bowl. It sits there until the cleaner shoves a load of bleach down the loo and breaks it up :-o

FudgeLoverYum · 29/10/2015 08:46

I do wonder, we all just use the email sent originally and write essentially this is a reminder or to remind you all- does that annoy people? I mean I can't change it, it's policy for the company and nothing to do with me but I wondered if it's the reminder itself or the polite part.