Unprofessional E-Mails

[Guest]

Travelling Man

 

I think you're wrong. There's nothing 'with it' about poor spelling and sloppy texting.

 

A salutation or greeting is respectful. Does it really take so much energy to say, 'Dear So-and-So' or at least 'Mrs/Miss/Mr' ?

 

I am in my mid-30's and am often caught between the older, more formalized ways of doing things and the rush-rush, more casual ways of doing things.

 

Both sides would do well to learn from the other.

 

Your comment about 'get on the bus or get run over by it' is shallow-minded and thoughtless. Younger people have to learn to work with older people and vice versa.

 

While the older generation learns to deal with email, texting, IM's and other new technology.....the younger generation could learn a great deal about courtesy and respect.

 

 

If you take any interest in social trends, by the way, you might read up on how over-indulgent parenting is creating a generation of rude, bratty and entitlement-minded children (try googling 'helicopter parenting' for a recent Times article, I believe it was).

 

Do you know how bratty and rude Americans appear to many other cultures?

 

If you deal with international clients, why not ask them what they think of your 'get on the bus or get run over' philosophy?

[JayKay]

By the time someone is an intern in a hospital, they are supposed to be able to function as an entry-level professional.

 

Travellingman, these people need to communicate with all health and medical staff; doctors, social workers, psychiatrists, etc.

 

Most high level professionals they need to deal with ARE from an older generation. They will assume you are an inexperienced dweeb if you don't understand how to string a sentence together properly.

 

You can use medical shorthand if you want, but I think using terms like 'kewl' and 'cu' should be reserved for your friends.

 

You try telling the head of pediatrics that she should just chill out and deal with poor grammar...because, hey! It's part of the times! It's hip! It's new! It's modern!

 

(Moderator removed inappropriate remarks)

[BeFree]

Smoochie face, Lil Hon and I luv,

 

You all said it. We can just pray this fad will pass. I really feel bad for anyone who thinks this is appropriate behavior. Meanwhile, I will enjoy my job security as long as it continues.

[SmoochieFace]

Smoochie face, Lil Hon and I luv,

 

You all said it. We can just pray this fad will pass. I really feel bad for anyone who thinks this is appropriate behavior. Meanwhile, I will enjoy my job security as long as it continues.

 

I dunno... I wish I could be optimistic but from what I see it's just gonna get worse and worse with each passing year. More and more kids strung out on all these lil electronic doodads writing in abbreviated *teenspeak* and not getting a *real* education and staying at home eating and drinking junk and not getting any exercise. You know where this is going.

 

By 2050... we will be a nation of lazy, slovenly, illiterate, computer-addicted robots.

[BeFree]

 

I should tell you how funny that is, I will tell you in a way that makes me "get with the times"

 

OMG, LOL...you so funny.

ROLFLMAO...OMG.

 

k, gotta go cause I'm like late for a meeting. UM, see ya!

[SmoochieFace]

By 2050... we will be a nation of lazy, slovenly, illiterate, computer-addicted robots.

 

Oh, forgot to add... and dragging those dumbass wheeled thingies behind them because they are too lazy to pick up a measly two-pound bag.

[Lil Honey]

*chuckling*

[BeFree]

That be some funny sH** Smoochie!

[Lil Honey]

Smooch, you are so silly (see the Arthur comment . . . yes, I noticed LOL ). When I was going to school, there were folks wheeling their little carts around. The funny part came when I would be going up or down steps and they were straggling behind because they still had to pick the d@mn things up on the steps.

 

That looks as goofy as a person walking down the street holding their dog.

[BeFree]

:lmao:

[bluechocolate]

But these casual, poorly spelled, poorly punctuated emails come across as very rude and unprofessional to us grizzled veterans.

 

They come across that way because they are rude & unprofessional. In my professional capacity there is no way you would communicate like that. Yes, internal emails would be casual, but even then I can't recall ever having to put up with text type, lack of punctuation or missing salutations & signatures. Perhaps that because they were smart enough to know that if they wanted to get ahead & get the quickest response then they'd better present themselves in a professional manner in all of their communications, especially written ones!

 

In your situation I'd be tempted to have a form response that went something like,

 

Dear Sender,

 

I'm sorry but I didn't understand your email. In order to avoid confusion & further delay please resubmit your communication using full & proper spelling & punctuation & include a subject line. Be sure to include your full name & contact details & I will get back to you as soon as is convenient.

 

Regards,

JayKay

ph.

fx.

[BeFree]

Bluechocolate,

 

That is brillant. I think I may have to use that form email. The really funny thing is, the Sales Coordinator I have that has this problem typing professional emails, asked us if she could step down to a front desk position today. Apparently, she can't handle having to be professional.

[bluechocolate]

Bluechocolate,

 

That is brilliant. I think I may have to use that form email.

Cheers! Of course you'd be smart enough to know when it's use is appropriate - for instance I wouldn't send that to a client or a superior.

The really funny thing is, the Sales Coordinator I have that has this problem typing professional emails, asked us if she could step down to a front desk position today. Apparently, she can't handle having to be professional.

She deserves a brownie point for that. Perhaps in a demoted position she'd stand a better chance of honing some of those skills she currently lacks?

[Outcast]

earns to deal with email, texting, IM's and other new technology

 

It's not about 'the new technology'. It's as easy to write properly in emails and IMs as it is in any other situation - you have a full-sized keyboard at your disposal. If you are silly enough to insist on communicating using your phone - then try the voice function LOL.

 

Nor is it about dealing with 'the older generation'. In a world where the economy is global rather than national, people need to speak a form of English that their overseas customers will comprehend. It's more than foolish to restrict yourself to communicating with the very few who will understand the newgab if you claim to be a savvy businessperson.

[Bogun]

One thing about this internet-geek speak way of spelling that bugs me, is that it might make it marginally faster for the retard to write it, but it makes it harder to read it. The advantage of having a common language that everyone in the country is educated in is that everyone can understand it, but if you have people choosing to spell words and abbreviate phrases in anyway they choose, you lose this.

[littlekitty]

I use both email and IM to speak to collegues in Europe and the US. Not once, ever, even during casual conversation, have I had someone use 'textspeak' to me!!

 

It is not 'cool' or 'the next big thing', it's lazy use of the English Language and does not make you look in anyway professional.

 

I don't believe this fad will last that long!

[Mz. Pixie]

It's not a question of youth or age. It's a question of courtesy. It takes much longer to read umpty-thousand and three variations of words than to read the words as they're supposed to be spelled. Because the spelling is left to each individual, you have to learn a new orthography for each person you communicate with, which takes up time which could be spent in more productive endeavours.

 

Those who excuse this pathetic inability to write properly are just condoning laziness and sloppiness. It's not 'with the times', it's just slovenly.

 

Every time I see that sort of writing, I deduct 60 IQ points from that individual in my estimation of him.

 

BRAVO!!!

 

I also agree with the poster who said that you should let the client set the tone so to speak. Unless there is anything inappropriate going on, of course.

 

Where I work we've actually had to have a seminar of sorts about how to communicate through e mail in a professional manner. I am amazed at some of these people who are highly educated who would never think of running spell check on their e mails!!

[bluechocolate]

I am amazed at some of these people who are highly educated who would never think of running spell check on their e mails!!

It is amazing, isn't it? I was also continually amazed that highly paid professionals didn't understand the difference between a conversation & an email & would happily fire off irrate emails at the drop of a hat not realising that the written word can have so much more impact than the spoken (at least in an office environment). How many times have people prayed for an unsend button I wonder?

[Lil Honey]

the written word can have so much more impact than the spoken

 

REALLY. That sounds like a good signature line.

[bluechocolate]

REALLY. That sounds like a good signature line.

Feel free.