Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Sent an email with God Bless as a sign off

129 replies

ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 10/05/2022 20:52

I wasn't sure where to put this.

I've just received a work related email from an outside organisation with some very useful contacts and project opportunities.

The author signed off as stated in the subject line. I don't care one way or another and shall follow up as usual.

I've never seen a work email signed off in this way. Would you think it not really the right thing to do? I can imagine someone somewhere would complain if they were petty enough.

So it's not me being unreasonable but do you think the sender is? It doesn't bother me, would it you?

OP posts:
FlissyPaps · 11/05/2022 03:31

Reply back and sign it off with “Amen”

daffodilsareinbloom · 11/05/2022 03:56

@ImJustMadAboutSaffron this almost happened to me the other day. Our internal email system has a new predictive text function and as I went to type my typical close it suggested something similar. It definitely could be an error! Thankfully I caught it, but it would be easy not to. It truly shocked me!

DailySheetWasher · 11/05/2022 04:11

FarmGirl78 · 10/05/2022 21:24

Yawn. OP, are you the person who tries to get Christmas holidays called "Winter break" incase it offends someone, when no-one actually is offended? This is where society is losing the plot. If anyone has issue with it let them take it up with your emailers boss. You don't have issue with it so just walk on by.

Did you even read the OP and the replies?

Nobody is trying to ban anything.

Personally I wouldn't be offended, but I'd think the sender was a twat. Same as if they sign off 'she/her', or write incase as one word.

Recycledblonde · 11/05/2022 04:49

Recently I had a reminder email from the company who cleaned my oven signed 'Blessings, Nick'. It didn't worry me but I admit I found it slightly odd.

alltheteeshirts · 11/05/2022 04:49

As others have said, my reaction would depend on the role that was carried out by that person, and the organisation they worked for.

I'd raise an eyebrow but not say anything if it a sales manger from a catering company. I'd kick up merry hell if it was a medical professional from a family planning clinic.

Quirkycarrot · 11/05/2022 04:51

mubarak86 · 10/05/2022 22:12

I am a firm believer in God but there's a HCP that deals with my ds regularly and he always says God bless as we leave and I'm not entirely comfortable with it. He doesn't say it to anyone else and as we are Muslim I can only assume he thinks we are in need of some sort of guidance/prayer.

Perhaps they see you as a fellow believer in God and that's why they say it? I'm also Muslim and that's how I would take it.

Oblomov22 · 11/05/2022 05:41

I would quite like it.
Much better than
(Identifies as male nonsense I'm currently getting)

Magenta82 · 11/05/2022 05:54

gillybean2 · 10/05/2022 23:00

Had this recently on an email reply to an enquiry to my electricity supplier. The sender also called me by my first name even though I hadn’t signed off with it in my message.
I was a bit bemused by the god bless and overall impression of the email so asked if it was company policy to be so informal. I thought it was somewhat inappropriate to use a religious sign off on a professional email but wasn’t hugely bothered but was slightly more bothered about the use of my first name when I hadn’t invited that (and am not known by my given name anyway).

I wasn’t sure if I was being unreasonable and was left feeling bemused. When I mentioned the god bless sign off to work colleagues they burst out laughing and agreed it wasn’t very professional.

It's more professional than the email I got from eon which was full of emojis and signed off
"your energy girl"
"Her first name"
I replied asking why they were employing children and if I could speak with an adult.

AbsolutelyLoveIy · 11/05/2022 05:57

Are we policing everything now? 🙄

no I couldn’t care less

given so many people blaspheme constantly, me included, am surprised anybody would notice or care

TheMoth · 11/05/2022 21:48

I once spent a weekend alternating marking with writing Xmas cards. We used to sign to show we had marked.

Much hilarity ensued on the Monday, when a couple of the kids found:"love, The Moth" at the bottom of their Mockingbird essays.

OMG12 · 11/05/2022 21:51

I’d be more concerned about a person getting worked up about this than the person sending it.

NightmareSlashDelightful · 11/05/2022 21:51

I wouldn't complain about it, but this would really piss me off. It comes across as extremely patronising.

StupidUsernameUnavailable · 11/05/2022 21:57

@Rockbird

Totally agree. A client once said it to me at the end of a phone call and it made me feel really lovely and happy. Kept me smiling all day and I'm not religious at all.

LondonQueen · 11/05/2022 21:58

I would find it quite strange.

110APiccadilly · 11/05/2022 22:02

Is there any chance they're from a different cultural background? I know some Nigerians who would definitely have thought nothing of signing off with, "God bless," for instance. That's culturally normal for them.

roastedsaltedpeanut · 11/05/2022 22:08

Breath of fresh air! I like it!

All I ever see is kind regards. Or just regards for passive aggressiveness.

I don’t like best wishes. Always feel like they should elaborate on the nature of the wishes and I shall decided whether they are the best.

Wishing you could eat whatever you want and never get fat
Mike
LOVE THIS

wishing you never have to worry about the kids’ homework
Mike
LOVE THIS

wishing you to finish the work immediately
Mike
NOT SO KEEN ON THIS

Original poster
ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 11/05/2022 22:10

110APiccadilly · 11/05/2022 22:02

Is there any chance they're from a different cultural background? I know some Nigerians who would definitely have thought nothing of signing off with, "God bless," for instance. That's culturally normal for them.

Yes she is! I've been off today, but will be getting in touch with her tomorrow.

OP posts:
lljkk · 11/05/2022 22:14

I'd take it as kind hearted in and benign in absence of any other information.

whatinthenameofhen · 11/05/2022 22:16

It's better than 'stay safe' or 'be safe' .

Original poster
ImJustMadAboutSaffron · 11/05/2022 22:47

whatinthenameofhen · 11/05/2022 22:16

It's better than 'stay safe' or 'be safe' .

Yes I saw quite a few of those two years ago. Often with a hashtag.

OP posts:
BobbyeinArkansas · 11/05/2022 22:55

I’d think you were my late granny, who signed everything off with god bless.
it’s not particularly professional but I have to say it wouldn’t bother me.

Wincher · 11/05/2022 22:57

Ha I work for a religious organisation so this is a pretty standard sign off where I work! Either that or just ‘Peace’. I rather like it.

Babdoc · 11/05/2022 23:05

Would you prefer Goodbye, which means “God be with you” ?! We are a Christian country, and all our traditional farewell greetings derive from that.
Adieu likewise, and Gruss Gott, for the French and Germans respectively. Not to mention “Bless you” when sneezing.
If you don’t believe in God, the blessing will simply be a harmless pleasantry, surely? Or do you feel it is somehow insulting to have someone wish you well? Life is too short to be offended by the well meant civilities of others, surely?

MagnoliaXYZ · 11/05/2022 23:06

I'd generally feel a little uncomfortable about it (only because religion as a whole makes me very uncomfortable) but I wouldn't complain, wouldn't even say anything about it to anyone. One of my friends at work often signs off his texts/emails to me with 'God Bless' as he knows how I feel about religion.

That being said, if I was emailing the hospital padre, then I would see it as entirely normal.

Stravaig · 11/05/2022 23:08

Just enjoy the diversity!

love & light
blessings
all the best
warm wishes
thanking you
hope & healing

Saying what you actually mean/feel is a good start.

I signed off 'curious, and irritated' to MNHQ yesterday. Hope they don't start a thread about it!