this post was submitted on 18 Nov 2023
828 points (98.5% liked)

me_irl

5239 readers
1 users here now

Selfies for the soul.

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

alt text

tweet by @Grace_Segers:

"Me, writing an email:

I'm using an exclamation point so you know I'm friendly and excited! But now I'm using a period so that you know I'm not crazy. Here's another sentence with a period as a buffer, proving my normalness. Thanks so much!"

all 37 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] DirkMcCallahan@lemmy.world 72 points 1 year ago

I feel horribly exposed right now.

[–] Nastybutler@lemmy.world 59 points 1 year ago

As someone who works in sales, all my emails to customers are in this exact format

[–] bfg9k@lemmy.world 40 points 1 year ago (3 children)

And here's a vaguely annoyed sentence but I won't put a full stop at the end of it so that it seems like it's just an offhand comment and not a dig at you

If I put a full stop at the end it seems a bit too blunt.

[–] Empricorn@feddit.nl 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

You think punctuation comes across as critical/blunt, so you just... don't end sentences? I guess it doesn't matter much for texts or social media or wherever, but that reasoning is just... wild.

[–] livus@kbin.social 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Ohhhhhh. Penny drops.

I always interpreted those as meaning "so exasperated with you I can't even finish my sentence".

[–] MudSkipperKisser@lemmy.world 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Of late punctuation seems to be interpreted as aggression I will not participate in the madness full stop exclamation point period

[–] livus@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I don't. know. whether, to, be, dismayed; or: delighted!

I must be coming across as super aggressive and alpha.

[–] thejml@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Or you’re just William Shatner.

[–] livus@kbin.social 4 points 1 year ago

Or... Walken!

[–] tias@discuss.tchncs.de 2 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

And here I am reading it and just thinking "it's hard to take this buffoon seriously, he doesn't even take the time to ensure proper punctuation before sending emails."

When you neglect to ensure clarity of your emails using proper spelling, grammar and punctuation, you steal time and energy from all the receivers who have to spend extra effort trying to understand what you're saying. I find poor language to be arrogant and disrespectful.

[–] xX_fnord_Xx@lemmy.world 3 points 1 year ago

Lol rite? Cu Monday!!!

/S

[–] moormaan@lemmy.ca 32 points 1 year ago

OMG, I feel so seen rn 😳

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I used to have to respond to all the reviews people posed on the website where I worked and I was encouraged to use more exclamation points. I hated it.

[–] PotjiePig@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

In one short comment you've made me go from vaguely appreciating a friendly, prompt and punctuated reply to a review, to making every exclamation punched message smell like sweet sticky corporate sarcasm.

Thanks. I'm a new me.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 7 points 1 year ago

In my case, it was less sarcasm and more depressed resignation. But a lot of the job involved pretending to be happy. Which sucks.

[–] LazaroFilm@lemmy.world 13 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (4 children)

I use emoji in my work emails.

[–] Isoprenoid@programming.dev 11 points 1 year ago

It's the only way to show that you are a true professional. πŸ₯‡

[–] LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago (3 children)

okay but in your work emails do you say "for fuck sake," or "for fucks' sake?" It's an important distinction so that you sound professional.

[–] MotoAsh@lemmy.world 10 points 1 year ago

I say, "for fuck's sake" so they know they're dealing with my last one if they're paying attention.

[–] FlyingSquid@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

What's the MLA standard these days?

[–] usualsuspect191@lemmy.ca 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Not all ways of viewing email supports emoji J

Gotta use emoticons instead :)

[–] LazaroFilm@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Β―\(ツ)/Β―

[–] Damaskox@kbin.social 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I as well tend to use them in a bit more professional situations as well.
I want to show off as a relaxed person who doesn't take even work that seriously!

[–] LemmyKnowsBest@lemmy.world 5 points 1 year ago

on my rΓ©sumΓ© I substitute the bullet points with emojis to ensure I stand out from other applicants, and so the hiring managers know what a pleasant fun person I am.

Recruiters writing an email:

Oh my God the drugs kick in and I'm overwhelmed by bullshit! I'm diarrheaing it all into my keyboard and mention non benefits and try to sell on site working as hybrid! Here's a joke so lame your toenails will curl up while reading! Oh God, now the drugs wear off and I need more!!!

Thank you for explaining this!

I have learned a bit...

Nice post.

[–] Alter_Id@kbin.social 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] Damaskox@kbin.social 6 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

I tend to use lots of emojis so folks know how I feel (that I'm not in a bad mood) because misunderstandings have happened before.
Sometimes I however also use an exclamation mark as saying something happily, without emojis. I know this can mean the contrary to that what I intend to say to some message receivers.

.

Make sure you explain calmly to folks what you think/feel if they question or even attack against something you let out! Misunderstandings are stupid, they can be avoided and fixed, and people's days can be not-ruined ❀

[–] Sabre363@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Then there's my emails, which are just "k".

[–] MudSkipperKisser@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Please tell me that’s not how you respond to an email with several questions in it…..

[–] Sabre363@sh.itjust.works 8 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] MudSkipperKisser@lemmy.world 6 points 1 year ago (3 children)

I just drop kicked a kitten and that’s on you

[–] Sabre363@sh.itjust.works 4 points 1 year ago

I take no responsibility

[–] Empricorn@feddit.nl 3 points 1 year ago