AITA for quitting over email?

A 25-year-old volunteer thought she was doing the responsible thing when she decided to step down from a children’s scout group after realizing the role wasn’t a good fit. After a few weeks of online sessions helping with a group of kids, she concluded that leading activities for multiple children at once was more stressful than expected. Rather than disappearing or leaving abruptly, she chose to send a polite email thanking the leader and offering to stay until a replacement could be found.

What followed turned into a surprisingly confusing exchange. The leader responded by saying the resignation method was “unprofessional” and insisted the notice should be submitted as a physical resignation letter. When the volunteer asked for an address to send it to, the leader refused, saying sharing personal information would be unethical. Even after attaching a written resignation letter to a new email, the situation only escalated further.

‘AITA for quitting over email?’

After several weeks of volunteering, she realized the role simply wasn’t for her.

The response she received made the situation unexpectedly tense.

Even after trying to follow the instructions, the confusion only grew.

Volunteer roles often depend heavily on communication and goodwill between organizers and participants. In situations like this, expectations about formal procedures can sometimes become unclear, particularly when organizations rely on informal guidelines rather than strict employment-style policies. When a volunteer decides to step down, most organizations simply expect a written notice so that leadership has time to arrange a replacement.

From a practical perspective, email has become a widely accepted form of professional communication, especially during periods when in-person interactions are limited. The volunteer in this story not only provided written notice but also offered to remain temporarily to ensure continuity for the group. That gesture often signals respect for the organization and the children involved.

However, the leader’s response highlights another reality: managing volunteers can be stressful when staffing is already limited. Leaders sometimes react strongly because losing help means additional work and responsibility. Even so, insisting on a physical letter while refusing to provide an address creates a contradiction that leaves the volunteer without a clear path forward. Situations like this illustrate how simple procedural disagreements can quickly turn into unnecessary conflicts when expectations are not clearly defined.

Let’s dive into the reactions from Reddit:

Many commenters supported the volunteer and believed she handled the situation responsibly.

Others added brief reactions emphasizing that email resignations are completely normal today.

A few responses leaned toward humor while still questioning the situation.

This story highlights how even volunteer roles can become surprisingly complicated when expectations about communication are unclear. The volunteer believed she handled the situation responsibly by sending a polite email, offering assistance during the transition, and even attaching a formal resignation letter when asked.

At the same time, the leader’s insistence on a physical letter without providing an address left the process in an unusual stalemate. Situations like this raise interesting questions about professional etiquette in modern communication. Is email an acceptable way to resign from a volunteer role today? And if you were in this position, would you continue trying to resolve the issue or simply move on?