Community Newsletter: Q&A: Share with us some of your e-mailing etiquette
- 11/2/07 9:51 AM
email etiquette
by BnBs - 11/5/07 12:02 PM In reply to: Share with us some of your e-mailing etiquette by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Hi, everyone
The major thing I've noted in my experience with email, both personally and professionally is that it is great for sharing information but a poor vehicle for problem solving between people. There's something about email comunication that allows us to say things in a way that we'd never say to someone face to face. If not direct bad manners, there's a tone that seeps into the language and the result is often a downward spiral into upset rather than moving towards resolution of a problem. There are clearly some exceptions to this, i.e. collaborative problem solving, but correcting someone about what they've said or taking issue about some position they've taken usually leads nowhere via email. Trust this is useful.
Email Etiquette
by maggiekate48 - 11/5/07 2:04 PM In reply to: Share with us some of your e-mailing etiquette by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I never, never,ever include the entire address list on a forwarded email. I copy & paste the email in a newly composed email, add one "to" address from my add. book and bcc everyone else I want to send it, if I think it's noteworthy and should be forwarded. Would that some of my friends would be so considerate.
If you get Snopes'd, you get Snopes'd
by Mosephus - 11/5/07 3:54 PM In reply to: Share with us some of your e-mailing etiquette by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Frankly, someone who sends out blanket e-mails on Microsoft payouts, cute homeless puppies, or new cell phone scams without verifying the stories on snopes.com deserves any e-mail spanking they receive.
Here's the ultimate e-mail etiquette: Don't be a moron. If you are and you get caught, shut up and take your medicine.
Email etiquette - big topic
by rickeclectic - 11/6/07 8:39 AM In reply to: Share with us some of your e-mailing etiquette by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
1. Understand when to use email, phone, live discussion, and written documents. Different communication vehicles are best suited for different needs.
2. Avoid being inflammatory. Otherwise, don't use email.
3. Think carefully who you WANT to get the email and who SHOULD get the email.
4. Use cc, bcc and forwarding wisely.
5. Remember, email is potentially public record.
Replying and Etiquette
by orangeinheaven - 11/6/07 8:58 AM In reply to: Share with us some of your e-mailing etiquette by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I don't think you should be offended at the originating person or others scolding you, nor that they include your email address in the "To" line. And you most lilely should not email the other recipients if you do not know them. Most people I know don't have the computer or internet savvy to use bcc for email address privacy. I do two things: when I send an email to multiple email addresses I type the first line in the body as such - your email addresses have been typed only in the bcc section for sending to ensure your privacy - and also when I get an email with a lot of addresses, including mine, in the 'To' section where I don't know those other recipients I send an email to the originator asking them to please use the bcc for multiple recipients to be safe, private, and spam free. The most difficult person to ask this of was my mother, lol, but she caught on quick and complies.
The scolders were most likely embarrassed that you emailed back to them not knowing them, and also scared for the same reason. Put yourself in their position. Of course, I just had a similar incident emailing a story that was only about 80% correct, but knew all of the recipients and most know each other also. One person emailed me (not replied to all) and stated the incorrect portion and a website to check such things so I sent an apology and thanks, then emailed a correction to the entire group. I am guessing that you may have thought you were handling the situation properly but stepped on some toes and may need some etiquette or sympathetic ideas so you won't have this same experience again.
Bottom line: ALL MULTIPLE RECIPIENT EMAILS SHOULD HAVE THE ADDRESSES IN BCC SINCE YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE THAT EMAIL IS GOING NEXT - and if you want security to follow, ask the recipients to do the same AND copy and paste the email instead of forward OR when they forward to delete the section that has your email address as originator. Always be sympathetic to other emailers, they will get embarrassed for not being as tech savvy as you but if you handle it right you will get thanked and not scolded.
I hope this helps some of the readers, I had to learn this stuff myself 
Email Etiquette
by Conde Nado - 11/6/07 11:59 PM In reply to: Share with us some of your e-mailing etiquette by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
Don't forward all the goofy emails, powerpoint presentations, cute pictures of animals and kids and attached movies and other junk that come with zillions of email addresses attached - just delete. Delete, delete, delete.
I like KISS - Keep It Short and Sweet (thanks to Post #242)
Try to respond quickly, even if just an acknowledgment reply.
Keep your business emails business, and your personal emails personal.
"The Truth About Email"
by Galactic Cannibal - 11/7/07 9:16 AM In reply to: Share with us some of your e-mailing etiquette by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
N reply to "The Truth About Email" and most of the Other Posters on this thread.
Wow TTAM u do go on and on .
Relax dude, 100 years from now we won't exist.
Meanwhile switch to strong ALE dude.
OP's same advice to U lot.....
"e-mailing etiquette" will eventually be defined in TIME and by Governments.
Just try emailing free-speech in CHINA...or Burma etc
Surf's up Dudes, catch ya later.
Galactic Cannibal
Share with us some of your e-mailing etiquette
by dizzyqueen - 11/7/07 11:29 AM In reply to: Share with us some of your e-mailing etiquette by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
No matter how funny or interesting an item is DO NOT FORWARD IT, even to ONE person. if it is funny enough or interesting enough, they will get it from five other people anyway.
I have a famous name that is obvious in my personal email, and even if if I use an address without my name, the recipient probably has my name attached to that address in his/her contacts list. I got tired of getting unfunny (or "too cute") emails from people I don't know, because they are replying to "all" whom the one person I sent the original message to forwarded it. I even received requests for money for an "emergency" from people who assumed I am the very rich person who shares my name.
One cannot trust other people to be as considerate as in the use of BCC. The proper etiquette if you must forward an email is to forward it to yourself, and BCC anybody else. I think 95% of internet users must have no idea of what BCC even means! ;o)
What about the reverse situation?
by Baroness loraca - 11/11/07 1:59 AM In reply to: Share with us some of your e-mailing etiquette by dizzyqueenSuppose I want to find out if in fact someone is bcc an email to me? can I find out from the header? IOW, can someone bcc me and I not know it say on netscape browser? Also, is there away to find out if a person is sending more than one email using more than one name from the same computer to you?
Be Careful FWing or CCing Messages to Others
by Mr.Nobody - 11/12/07 2:01 PM In reply to: What about the reverse situation? by Baroness loracaBe very considerate whenever forwarding or carbon copying to others messages that were sent only to you. If you're not sure if it's okay with the original senders, check with them first. Despite all the advice of "don't write anyone anything you wouldn't want to see in a newspaper", most people emailing you think they are sending you a private communication. Don't break that privacy unless you're sure it's okay.
How to know if you've been BCC'd (sent a "Blind Copy")
by dizzyqueen - 11/21/07 12:52 PM In reply to: What about the reverse situation? by Baroness loracaLook at the message header. If the "From" and "To" lines both show the name of the person who sent it to you, AND the "CC" field is blank, or does not include your name, a Blind Copy has been sent to you. No other recipients will see your name, and if they "Reply to All", you will not be included in the replies they send.
Proper etiquette: A "thank you" note to the sender is in order! :o)
My e-mail etiquette & handling others
by gadget girl - 12/1/07 7:17 PM In reply to: Share with us some of your e-mailing etiquette by Lee Koo (ADMIN)
I personally do not like forwards and only forward info from one related party to another (business or family).
I politely told my children to not include as one of the "twelve people..." telling them I just delete it.
I treat e-mail as a fast and short letter. It still is permanent; it is just not written in fountain pen.
Think about what you e-mail and whether the information should be passed along in a different manner. Do want it on the Internet years down the road?
I cannot remember the exact title, but Bill Gates wrote a piece about e-mail & e-mail etiquette that is included in the 8th grade literature book at the school I work at.
Pet peeves (me or people I know) include typing in capitals (mostly teens dislike this); poor spelling & capitalization (spouse); replying with questions after the event has gone by (me).
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