Passive Aggressive Notes – have you ever sent or received one?

In my previous life, before Joe came along and the blogging started, I was a teacher for 12 years. And, in that time, I came across my fair share of passive aggressive behaviour in the form of notes. These occasionally came from parents who were using a liberal lacing of sarcasm in response to requests or letters about their children. But, more often than not, they were from supply teachers leaving comments about my class at the end of a cover period – advising me on what I needed to do to improve my class. Needless to say, most of these raised an odd giggle as I had absolutely no problems with my class, and were then dispatched to the class paper bin for recycling.

It is true to say that research from Data Label suggests that most of us will never send a passive aggressive note, nor will ever receive one, but that for those who do send them, getting their message across with humour is a big part of the deal. Data Label have recently created a very tongue-in-cheek infographic with all the hints and tips needed to create the perfect passive aggressive note, and include some funny examples, but, beware, 61% of people say that they would be upset if they were to receive one. (The instagram has been included at http://www.damncoolpictures.com/2016/04/the-art-of-passive-aggressive-notes.htmland you can enlarge the image there,  I have also produced a smaller version below too.)

What are your thoughts on sending or receiving a passive aggressive note? Do you think they are gentle, harmless fun, or do you think they can be genuinely hurtful and therefore, nastier than intended?

I’ll leave you with some food for thought. A friend once left one of those ‘clean me’ notes in a mutual friends home. She wrote it in the dust she had noticed on the top of the toilet cistern.  She always claims that she didn’t mean to leave it but left the bathroom before she wiped it off. It ended the friendship…

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