To think “Gently,....” is weird stage directiony English?

[RickiTarr]

If you want to say something gently, say it gently,

You don’t have to preface a gentle comment with “Gently,...” if it’s genuinely gentle, and you don’t make a tactless comment by sticking “gently...” in front of it.

Why is this suddenly a thing?! I’m not seeing “Comedically, you should hit him in the head with a melon.” Or “Heartlessly, you should just get a grip and take in ironing.” So what’s this “Gently,.....” nonsense all about?

AIBU to think it IS nonsense?

Haha yes, I’ve seen this. It really makes me laugh. The pomposity!

[quote SchrodingersImmigrant]@WorraLiberty I gently agree my darling 😁[/quote]
😂 🤮

I think I know what you mean OP. Phrases like "may I gently suggest that you've completely lost the plot, you cunt?"

The use of the word "gently" here is an attempt to pretend that person isn't being confrontational.

See also: fuck me gently with a chainsaw.

Or: fuck you gently with a chainsaw.

That kind of thing, yes. 😁

I've seen it a few times and it properly grates on me. Much like posters prefacing posts with 'be gentle with me'.

YANBU. I hate it with a passion.

Do not go gently into that bun fight.

Oh sorry, sorry, this is one of my foibles. Awks!

Said gently, natch.

Also am fond of moist, Tele, pooh when it is a bear, um um um oh YES partial to a nom nom, at least I don't talk bout babies BOCKLE bleurgh.

I use it, but only in emails or when texting.

"Just a gentle reminder that I would appreciate everyone remembering their books for book club".

It's generally well-received because you're letting the person know that it's not an order, and you don't want to seem harsh. It's just a request or a comment and not the end of the world.
Tone is often misunderstood online. Sometimes being clear that you mean it in a nice way is needed.

Do not go gently into that bun fight.

Rage, rage and have them howling through the night.

I work in a school and we are forever getting emailed "A gentle reminder to ....."

Makes me as it obviously means YOU HAVE NOT DONE THIS DESPITE BEING TOLD A ZILLION TIMES

@CalishataFolkart

Do not go gently into that bun fight.

Brava! 😊 👏🏼 👏🏼

@FlibbertyGiblets

Oh sorry, sorry, this is one of my foibles. Awks!

Said gently, natch.

I think I worked the worst of it out of my system this morning. 🙂

Yes I know what you mean. I can't pin it down to one poster though unlike the person upthread.

I'm another one who doesn't like oh sweetheart. I see it a lot on the relationship board and it seems so patronising.

I wouldn't say anything as I know it's meant sincerely.

I don’t think there’s one discernible poster. Someone is being very mischievous.

The gentle reminders gave me the rage at work, as they were always about future due dates that I was well aware of and had no risk of missing. Honestly, if you wanted the thing three days earlier you should have moved the deadline! Remind me if I forget, but don't preempt if I've never forgotten before.

I don’t know what you mean

Will rtft for a clue

@Armadollo

Do not go gently into that bun fight.

Rage, rage and have them howling through the night.

😂

Gently, it’s not fucking tele, which makes me want to kick people’s teeth in. Gently.

Might start opening posts with “softly softly catchee monkey”.

I’ve never heard this and still clueless!

Gently, it’s not fucking tele, which makes me want to kick people’s teeth in. Gently.

It’s not. If you also acknowledge that Pooh is a bear, I’ll let the gentlies go this time.

It’s “Do not go gentle into that bun fight…”
Not gently.

I think it’s OK. People seem to not understand or write properly now - and then other people take offence. If you write in caps you are accused of shouting. If you put full stops on your texts you are being rude.

People write a lot more than they used to - on forums like this, for example - and don’t always explain themselves properly and get the tone wrong, and then other people get cross. So it helps to give a cue at the start to indicate that the writer is not being very critical. If you met them in real life and were speaking, you would have all sorts of verbal and visual and facial clues to help you.

Emojis aren’t a good substitute. There’s a lot of “semantic code” in them and they often make the writer look a bit childish or idiotic.

"Just a gentle reminder that I would appreciate everyone remembering their books for book club".

But why wouldn't you just say 'hey all, looking forward to the book club, don't forget your books 😁'?

I find the word gentle to be either patronising or ambiguous.

Emojis aren’t a good substitute. There’s a lot of “semantic code” in them and they often make the writer look a bit childish or idiotic.

Cheerfully childish or idiotic, though, not deranged and disingenuously condescending. You just have to make choices sometimes. 🥴