I hope you are well
Discussion
Why has it seemingly become the norm to start emails to people with this line? Especially from people who you hardly know. Pretty much every email I get from a client or supplier starts with this.
I am guessing it is some attempt to be reasonably polite but I doubt for a second anyone actually gives a juddering fk whether I am well or not. What do they expect me to reply?
Note: first person to reply to this thread saying "I hope you are well" can have 10 bell-end points :-)
I am guessing it is some attempt to be reasonably polite but I doubt for a second anyone actually gives a juddering fk whether I am well or not. What do they expect me to reply?
Note: first person to reply to this thread saying "I hope you are well" can have 10 bell-end points :-)
Pretty much.
It's a just a social courtesy - gentle, friendly start to the email rather than 'Oi! fk-knuckle!'
Maybe it does stand up to much logical analysis and
Adressee
Straight into Business Item 1
onto Business Item 2
Respond when you have something to respond with (because logically kind regards means bugger all)
Sender.
would be more straightforward.
But not much social convention is entirely logical. It does make the world a little less jarring though
It's a just a social courtesy - gentle, friendly start to the email rather than 'Oi! fk-knuckle!'
Maybe it does stand up to much logical analysis and
Adressee
Straight into Business Item 1
onto Business Item 2
Respond when you have something to respond with (because logically kind regards means bugger all)
Sender.
would be more straightforward.
But not much social convention is entirely logical. It does make the world a little less jarring though
Weird, I got one for the first time this morning from someone in a different organisation I've never met before. Clearly as she was asking me to ring her, the 2 things link together and indicate she's stalked me online, found out how devastatingly good looking I am and this is the prelude to me fathering her kids and the important work matter is just a pretext.
But probably not.
To be honest, I did think it a bit of an odd, but pleasant, way to start an email. If you get a lot of them though, I can see how that would be irritating.
But probably not.
To be honest, I did think it a bit of an odd, but pleasant, way to start an email. If you get a lot of them though, I can see how that would be irritating.
944fan said:
Why has it seemingly become the norm to start emails to people with this line? Especially from people who you hardly know. Pretty much every email I get from a client or supplier starts with this.
I am guessing it is some attempt to be reasonably polite but I doubt for a second anyone actually gives a juddering fk whether I am well or not. What do they expect me to reply?
Note: first person to reply to this thread saying "I hope you are well" can have 10 bell-end points :-)
It's the e-mail equivalent of starting a phone call with I am guessing it is some attempt to be reasonably polite but I doubt for a second anyone actually gives a juddering fk whether I am well or not. What do they expect me to reply?
Note: first person to reply to this thread saying "I hope you are well" can have 10 bell-end points :-)
"Hi 944fan, how are you?"
You can't use that exact terminology as most of the time you're not (or at least shouldn't be) using e-mail for conversation. So, it's kind of a rhetorical version of "how are you"
I hope that if someone phoned you up and said
"Hi 944fan, how are you?"
You know that they likely don't give a juddering fk how you are, but are simply being polite. If you wouldn't know how to respond to either e-mail or telephone versions of the conversation, you're a simpleton
944fan said:
Note: first person to reply to this thread saying "I hope you are well" can have 10 bell-end points :-)
Definitely agree with this bit and I cannot wait for someone to excitedly type this out without bothering to read your post.DOn't agree with your annoyance at that phrase though.
Its just a basic courtesy. Why do we say "Hello" to people? Its all nonsense and yet we have always been a courteous race and it feels a bit rude to launch into business without anything else.
Cotty said:
Just makes me worried that that have heard something I haven't.
Or did they think I looked a bit ill last time we met so they are checking up on me.
Or did they think I looked a bit ill last time we met so they are checking up on me.
Yup these niceties just lead to confusion. What we need is a complete lack of warmth and empathy in emails, Work correspondence especially should be almost Spocklike in its cold, distant directness.
I propose we start emails by writing what we really think.
"Hi 944fan, I hear you look like your trousers have shrunk., are you free for a meeting at . . . . "
"Cotty, I really can't be arsed having to meet you so please just email me the proposals for . . . "
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