Why can't parents follow simple directions?

[Anonymous]

We are doing a slide show for the 5th grade promotion ceremony. We created a shared google photo folder and asked parents to submit a MAXIMUM of 4 pictures per child from their time at the school. Most parents did fine with this. But at least 3 different parents have submitted - I kid you not - at least 30-40 photos.

PEOPLE JUST FOLLOW BASIC DIRECTIONS!!!!

[Anonymous]

It’s a sign. Stop doing these. You just reminded me that we never watched the one for my oldest that the PTA put together when they left elementary school. He’s in high school now. Sorry if I sent in the wrong number of photos for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s a sign. Stop doing these. You just reminded me that we never watched the one for my oldest that the PTA put together when they left elementary school. He’s in high school now. Sorry if I sent in the wrong number of photos for that.

Don’t stop doing it. I love these. People don’t have to look if they aren’t interested.OP, just pick the first 4 submitted and move on. In fact, that’s what the directions shoukd say (for anyone else in subsequent years). “Parents, send in 4 pictures; if more than 4 are submitted, we will use the first 4.”

[Anonymous]

Because they are too busy to read the directions.

It's impressive that you only got 3 families who messed up!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a sign. Stop doing these. You just reminded me that we never watched the one for my oldest that the PTA put together when they left elementary school. He’s in high school now. Sorry if I sent in the wrong number of photos for that.

Don’t stop doing it. I love these. People don’t have to look if they aren’t interested.OP, just pick the first 4 submitted and move on. In fact, that’s what the directions shoukd say (for anyone else in subsequent years). “Parents, send in 4 pictures; if more than 4 are submitted, we will use the first 4.”

OP here. This is what we will do but its just rude and inconsiderate as it makes more work for the volunteers. It also screams "my child is more important than the other children and should be featured more heavily in the slideshow due to their level of importance." Its exactly the parents you would expect - the ones who think the moon shines out of their average kid's butt. Instead I'd love to say "If you send in more than 4 pictures, none of your pictures will be used." We are not talking 5 or 6 photos here. Some parents (and it wasn't just one or two people) literally sent in 30+ photos.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Because they are too busy to read the directions.

It's impressive that you only got 3 families who messed up!

But not too busy to scan photos from the last 6 years to choose the ones they want?

[Anonymous]

I am an elementary school principal. The majority of people do not pay attention to anything we send out, and then yell and scream at my staff when they miss information that we have shared repeatedly over a period of weeks.

I really don’t care if you read our newsletter, or visit our website. But I do care that you call and yell at people or give me an attitude like I should’ve given you a personal phone call to let you know that the deadline for yearbook orders was Friday, and now you’re mad that you have to pay shipping fee to order one late and have it mailed directly to your house.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
Because they are too busy to read the directions.

It's impressive that you only got 3 families who messed up!

But not too busy to scan photos from the last 6 years to choose the ones they want?

Yes. They read the directions wrong, and then think they're doing the right thing by picking tons of pics. It's typical.

[Anonymous]

I wish this was my biggest problem at work.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am an elementary school principal. The majority of people do not pay attention to anything we send out, and then yell and scream at my staff when they miss information that we have shared repeatedly over a period of weeks.

I really don’t care if you read our newsletter, or visit our website. But I do care that you call and yell at people or give me an attitude like I should’ve given you a personal phone call to let you know that the deadline for yearbook orders was Friday, and now you’re mad that you have to pay shipping fee to order one late and have it mailed directly to your house.

Exactly. I used to volunteer on the PTA board. We always debated how often to send reminders, because too many and it were clogging up every single parent's inbox, and too few and we'd have too many uninformed families.

People are just under a constant barrage of information in this day and age and end up missing key info. It's completely out of control.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Because they are too busy to read the directions.

It's impressive that you only got 3 families who messed up!

It takes seconds to read a sentence that includes “maximum 4 pictures.” They’re not too busy to do that. They’re too self-important.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a sign. Stop doing these. You just reminded me that we never watched the one for my oldest that the PTA put together when they left elementary school. He’s in high school now. Sorry if I sent in the wrong number of photos for that.

Don’t stop doing it. I love these. People don’t have to look if they aren’t interested.OP, just pick the first 4 submitted and move on. In fact, that’s what the directions shoukd say (for anyone else in subsequent years). “Parents, send in 4 pictures; if more than 4 are submitted, we will use the first 4.”

OP here. This is what we will do but its just rude and inconsiderate as it makes more work for the volunteers. It also screams "my child is more important than the other children and should be featured more heavily in the slideshow due to their level of importance." Its exactly the parents you would expect - the ones who think the moon shines out of their average kid's butt. Instead I'd love to say "If you send in more than 4 pictures, none of your pictures will be used." We are not talking 5 or 6 photos here. Some parents (and it wasn't just one or two people) literally sent in 30+ photos.

Settle down, Gladys! Maybe it just means they couldn't decide which pics were best so sent the whole lot and are letting you decide. So just pick four and move on. The extra work should take you about 30 seconds - surely you're not THAT busy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish this was my biggest problem at work.

Agreed. Elementary promotion ceremonies are stupid anyway.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It’s a sign. Stop doing these. You just reminded me that we never watched the one for my oldest that the PTA put together when they left elementary school. He’s in high school now. Sorry if I sent in the wrong number of photos for that.

Don’t stop doing it. I love these. People don’t have to look if they aren’t interested.OP, just pick the first 4 submitted and move on. In fact, that’s what the directions shoukd say (for anyone else in subsequent years). “Parents, send in 4 pictures; if more than 4 are submitted, we will use the first 4.”

OP here. This is what we will do but its just rude and inconsiderate as it makes more work for the volunteers. It also screams "my child is more important than the other children and should be featured more heavily in the slideshow due to their level of importance." Its exactly the parents you would expect - the ones who think the moon shines out of their average kid's butt. Instead I'd love to say "If you send in more than 4 pictures, none of your pictures will be used." We are not talking 5 or 6 photos here. Some parents (and it wasn't just one or two people) literally sent in 30+ photos.

Settle down, Gladys! Maybe it just means they couldn't decide which pics were best so sent the whole lot and are letting you decide. So just pick four and move on. The extra work should take you about 30 seconds - surely you're not THAT busy.

Holy sh!t talk about entitlement! Can’t decide which pics so let’s make someone else do it? So pick 4 and move on?
Who the hell are you people that think like this?!?

[Anonymous]

Anecdotal at best, but I was trying to submit for yearbook pictures, and for whatever reason, the program started downloading all the photos on my phone. And I think they probably got sent. So, I was mortified.