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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how literally you take these statements?

194 replies

KneadingKitty · 09/03/2022 10:28

If someone said to you "can you make a couple of copies of this please?" how many copies would you make?

If someone sent you an email and marked it as "urgent", what does urgent mean to you? How long would you think was acceptable to reply?

First thought of the top of your head rather than properly thinking it!

OP posts:
mumda · 09/03/2022 12:11

Always ask questions back to the "make copies" type request.

Urgent = read me.

BigHairyCoconut · 09/03/2022 12:13

A couple of copies - 2

Urgent -right this minute

Meandthesky · 09/03/2022 12:14

A couple I would do 2 copies unless it was clear that a couple wouldn’t be enough for the purpose

Urgent I would at least look at it immediately and then decide exactly how urgent it was based on the contents and action needed.

FinallyHere · 09/03/2022 12:19

It would depend very much on who told me things are urgent.

I have a great boss, who usually leaves me to sort out priorities so if they, or their PA, say it's urgent, it will mean very time sensitive so I'd take that pretty seriously and not even go to the loo (if I could hang in) til it's done.

Can't remember them actually ever doing this so there's that, too.

Anyone else, I would prioritise their urgent as 'as fast as reasonable, given everything else in the queue. If they always mark it urgent, usually to cover up their own lack of foresight, I might not move it all that quickly.

It's only fair to mention that it's more usually me giving out work and I would always discuss what was reasonable given what else we have in hand.

A couple of copies would very much depend on who was asking. Vanishingly few occasions nowadays for anyone wanting it needing paper anything so rather than do a few extra, I'd probably check that thru really need the copies and exactly how many.

If I were asking for copies, I'd specify how many I needed.

On the wider question whether you are being unreasonable taking instructions literally: working for someone with whom you don't see eye to eye, don't respect or feel well treated by is miserable. Start looking for a job where you will be valued and appreciated. Good luck.

rookiemere · 09/03/2022 12:40

Your boss needs to communicate much more clearly. A couple is not 5 and if I ask for anything urgently I also say when it's needed by.

rookiemere · 09/03/2022 12:43

In future I would ask asshole boss. How many copies do you need ? and When does this need completed by ?, or in fact better "I've made two copies let me know if you need more" and " I can do this by lunchtime but means y and Z will be delayed until tomorrow- is that the right priority? "

BarbaraofSeville · 09/03/2022 13:14

If 'a couple' doesn't mean two, they need to specify. Making 5 copies when two are only required is wasteful.

'Urgent' could mean anything and depends entirely on context and competing priorities.

One of our administrators had a notice on their in tray that said 'you leaving it to the last minute does not compel me to give your request priority' which is fair enough when people were asked to send requests for them to produce work two weeks before it was needed but they'd still have people run in with 'if you wouldn't mind, I need this for tomorrow just as they were leaving the office for the day.

PeacefulPrune · 09/03/2022 13:22

5 copies.
Within the hour

ZenNudist · 09/03/2022 13:24

2 copies
Urgent I would look at as soon as I saw it but I don't always check email e.g if I am in meetings. I would acknowledge quickly but reply as appropriate depending on the content of the email.

Some people mark everything urgent so they stop bring a priority.

SignOnTheWindow · 09/03/2022 13:33

Does this person expect everyone to read their mind?

YADNBU.

navydear · 09/03/2022 13:38

No way is a couple of copies just two.
At least five and ask if more is necessary??
If there were a couple of people standing around, I would never think just two or else you would state there are two people standing around.
If two copies were needed then whoever needs them would obviously will u make two copies.
So a couple of copies mean a few more, five seems appropriate.
Urgent would mean asap and definitely the same day

Abouttimemum · 09/03/2022 13:41

Two copies.
I get urgent requests all day so I’d do it the same day rather than straight away.
If I send an urgent request I put a deadline on it to be clear.

WorraLiberty · 09/03/2022 13:43

@navydear

No way is a couple of copies just two. At least five and ask if more is necessary?? If there were a couple of people standing around, I would never think just two or else you would state there are two people standing around. If two copies were needed then whoever needs them would obviously will u make two copies. So a couple of copies mean a few more, five seems appropriate. Urgent would mean asap and definitely the same day
But a couple literally means two Confused
Original poster
KneadingKitty · 09/03/2022 13:44

@navydear

No way is a couple of copies just two. At least five and ask if more is necessary?? If there were a couple of people standing around, I would never think just two or else you would state there are two people standing around. If two copies were needed then whoever needs them would obviously will u make two copies. So a couple of copies mean a few more, five seems appropriate. Urgent would mean asap and definitely the same day
Why say a couple then, if a couple means two? Why not specify 5 or at the very least say "a handful" ?
OP posts:
WorraLiberty · 09/03/2022 13:45

When you toast the happy couple at a wedding, you're not toasting 5 people Grin

housemaus · 09/03/2022 13:45

2, but I'd do 3 just in case.

And, ASAP, but it would depend who's sending it. Urgent from my business partner would mean, within a few days. Urgent from a client would mean today.

Chichimcgee · 09/03/2022 13:46

2 copies
Within 48 hours

ImplementingTheDennisSystem · 09/03/2022 13:46

2 copies
30 minutes

Chichimcgee · 09/03/2022 13:47

@navydear

‘You make a lovely couple’ would be really weird if said to 5 people lol

MrsHumphrieswife · 09/03/2022 13:49

A couple is two.

If someone asked for two copies (by asking for a couple) when they really want five, the problem is with their knowledge of the English language, not your comprehension of it OP.

stuntbubbles · 09/03/2022 13:51

2 copies.

Entirely depends on who’s sending it and whether their urgent overrules my urgent.

RuthW · 09/03/2022 13:51

2 copies
Would deal within 24 hours unless I thought it was more urgent than that.

knittingaddict · 09/03/2022 13:52

2 copies.

I would look at what they wanted me to do and assess how "urgent" it really was. Really urgent? I would get going on it within the hour.

Hidingin · 09/03/2022 13:53

A couple means two, but I’d definitely do 5 in that case
Unless I knew the situation (eg it’s a meeting agenda and I know there are 8 people in the meeting - I’d do 8 or 9 copies then)

Urgent - again I’d just use my own common sense. Is it something for a meeting happening in an hour? Is it something happening in 2 weeks
I certainly wouldn’t leave it past the end of the day but I’d try to get it done within an hour, if it came from my boss.

stuntbubbles · 09/03/2022 13:53

@navydear

No way is a couple of copies just two. At least five and ask if more is necessary?? If there were a couple of people standing around, I would never think just two or else you would state there are two people standing around. If two copies were needed then whoever needs them would obviously will u make two copies. So a couple of copies mean a few more, five seems appropriate. Urgent would mean asap and definitely the same day
Couple generally does mean two in British English. I know my American colleagues use it to mean several.