So many islands, so little time

Expat Tech
Tips & hints for computers users living in the REAL world.

Sunday, June 09, 2002

Email etiquette

Here's how to mind your email Ps & Qs. See the full site for the details and explanations. Most of these are good general email practices, but the list is oriented towards corporate/business users, so some of them don't apply to personal use. The ones I think are bogus have a ** next to them with my comments in italics. My favorites are in bold.

Be concise and to the point
Answer all questions, and pre-empt further questions
Use proper spelling, grammar & punctuation ** (make a good attempt, but don't sweat it too much. Clarity is the issue. At least this is true for personal emails.)
Make it personal
Use templates for frequently used responses
Answer swiftly
Do not attach unnecessary files ** (This is critical for those of us living overseas and using low-bandwidth connections)
Use proper structure & layout
Do not overuse the high priority option
Do not write in CAPITALS
Don't leave out the message thread
Add disclaimers to your emails
Read the email before you send it ** (You really look stupid when you reply and don't address the issue.)
Do not overuse Reply to All
Mailings > use the bcc: field or do a mail merge
Take care with abbreviations and emoticons
Be careful with formatting
Take care with rich text and HTML messages
Do not forward chain letters
Do not request delivery and read receipts
Do not ask to recall a message.
Do not copy a message or attachment without permission
Do not use email to discuss confidential information ** (unless you are using SSL mail or PGP or the like)
Use a meaningful subject ** (this isn't always easy to do)
Use active instead of passive
Avoid using URGENT and IMPORTANT
Avoid long sentences
Don't send or forward emails containing libelous, defamatory, offensive, racist or obscene remarks
Don't forward virus hoaxes and chain letters
Keep your language gender neutral** (Oh, give me a break.)
Don't reply to spam
Use cc: field sparingly

11:01:11 AM

categories: Expat Tech

Trillian

I wanted to chat with Scott "Mr. Fuzzy" Johnson when I saw on his weblog that he was . Scott uses Yahoo's IM software and I already had a Yahoo account, because I use their email service, but I hadn't installed their instant messaging software. So, download, install, have problems, get it working, finally chat with Scott (very smart guy, really generous with his time.) What a hassle. I'm sick of installing so many IM bits on my computer. I don't want them all running all the time. Too much memory eaten up, too many bugs, too many crashes, etc. Then I saw someone (I forget who you are, sorry) post about a new version of Trillian that was just release. This is the instant messaging Swiss knife. It supports AOL's AIM and ICQ, Microsoft, Yahoo, and IRC. I'd used it before, but uninstalled it for some reason I don't remember. Well, it is running like a gem and I've chatted with a couple of folks that I'd lost contact with (via chat at least) since I'd stopped using ICQ and AIM. Cool. Now, MS Messenger is no longer running and Trillian is the only IM software for me!