Grr. Email etiquette.

anonemouse · April 23, 2008

Why is it apparently so freaking difficult for some of my students to use good email etiquette when they email me? Are people just not being taught the stuff anymore? Do they just not really understand that they are "talking" to an authority figure, one that controls their grade? How hard is it to run a spell-checking program, or at least capitalize a word or two and use one or two punctuation marks in your freaking paragraph? My god, these are supposed to be college students.

And the complete lack of respect some of them show! A few semesters ago, I had a student that literally sent me five emails in a period of less than 36 hours. It got to a point where I was VERY tempted to just completely ignore her. I didn't, though I would have loved to. This semester, I've got a student that insists on calling me "Lauren" in his emails to me, and it really rubs me the wrong way, even though I've not said anything to him.

Now, don't get me wrong, I've got a lot of students that are really, really great, and they're a lot of fun to teach (they actually ask questions and want to understand the material). I don't talk about them as much on here because, well, who wants to hear me gush about my favorite students? But damned if those few bad apples don't ruin the experience sometimes. :blushing:

Southern Missy · April 23, 2008

Maybe when you give out your email you should also give out pointers on email etiquette, such as a piece of paper with your address on it and 1,2,3...

I definitely agree with you that a student should not think he is on familiar enough terms with you to be calling you by your 1st name.

abbyduvic · April 23, 2008

I thought this was a where people come to talk about land band issues.

What does this have to do with that??

Southern Missy · April 23, 2008

Abby, this is the rants & raves section **Off-Topic Debate Area** so it gives us a chance to discuss something other than the band since that shouldn't be life-encompassing! :tt2:

ReadySteadyGo · April 23, 2008

Email seems so unformal, I think the email guidelines would do well for them. For you and for the future.

tapshoes · April 23, 2008

As someone who is in the position of hiring new graduates, I would be thankful if you (and all other instructors) would prepare a primer on email etiquette for your students! They are in an organization in which to learn not only the specific subject area but also how to succeed in their field. For most this includes the 'soft' areas of organizational behaviour and communication. Email is a form of communication.

Given the number of applicants for the limited number of positions within my organization, individuals sending introductory emails (and their accompanying resumes) that contain spelling errors or are poorly written do not receive consideration as potential employees.

There is a significant gulf between the tone and language of email between friends and that used for employee/employer or even peer/peer.

Addressing you by your first name is disrespectful, unless you have given that instruction.

All future employers thank you if you decide to provide a simple 'life lesson' to your students!:tt2:

abbyduvic · April 23, 2008

Please excuse me, I'm new here and should keep my comments to myself.

I did not realize there was such a section here at Lap band Talk. I tend to look for informative, upbeat, and positive information when I can make time to visit forums like this. My mistake; again please excuse me!

Fanny Adams · April 24, 2008

"This semester, I've got a student that insists on calling me "Lauren" in his emails to me, and it really rubs me the wrong way, even though I've not said anything to him. "

LOL! You'd hate to teach college in Australia then :redface:. It would absolutely never have occurred to me to call any one of my college or university lecturers by anything OTHER than their first name. I don't believe I have ever addressed anyone, be it a university Dean or corporation CEO, as Mr or Miss So-and-so, since my high school days!

kathystrick · April 24, 2008

How about the use of "professional sounding" email addresses? As someone who also works in education, I have a hard time responding to an email from a student with an address such as, thickandsexy69@emailme.com. Not very professional looking when you are corresponding with colleges, jobs, etc.

Marimaru · April 24, 2008

By the time someone is in college I'm not sure about you teaching them proper email etiquette. I might however say something at the beginning of the semester about it, like "since we are all adults here, I expect to receive emails in a professional tone, with proper email etiquette, and I wont answer them otherwise" and leave it at that, and then follow through. When bitched at for not answering, you can always say "Oh, I'm sorry, I thought an email with "hi" in the subject and 2 lines with no punctuation in the body was sure to be spam. Perhaps you should have put more thought into it".

I too get amazed by the emails I get from some of the people I WORK with. We're a technology company, so email is just kind of another part of what we do and people still don't get it. I would think, if nothing else, that the emails that you receive on a daily basis would be some kind of clue as to what you should send!

anonemouse · April 24, 2008

By the time someone is in college I'm not sure about you teaching them proper email etiquette. I might however say something at the beginning of the semester about it, like "since we are all adults here, I expect to receive emails in a professional tone, with proper email etiquette, and I wont answer them otherwise" and leave it at that, and then follow through. When bitched at for not answering, you can always say "Oh, I'm sorry, I thought an email with "hi" in the subject and 2 lines with no punctuation in the body was sure to be spam. Perhaps you should have put more thought into it".
I too get amazed by the emails I get from some of the people I WORK with. We're a technology company, so email is just kind of another part of what we do and people still don't get it. I would think, if nothing else, that the emails that you receive on a daily basis would be some kind of clue as to what you should send!

Yeah, that's about how I feel about it. By the time a student is in college, I shouldn't have to give them a tip sheet on how to create an email with a proper, professional appearance. If I teach a lecture class this summer (I find out tomorrow or early next week if I will be doing it), I may be forced to give one out just to avoid the irritation. It really burns me, though, to know that I may have to do that.

I just don't understand why some people don't realize that email is just a substitute for one-on-one conversation, and that they should treat it as such. In other words, don't write things in an email that you wouldn't say in a face-to-face or phone conversation with your boss or instructor/professor, and that includes the manner in which you say/write something, as well as your actual vocabulary (i.e., watch your tone; people don't have the benefit of seeing facial expressions, body language, etc. over the internet). Email is only informal if you're talking to your friends and family as friends and family. You use proper formatting, capitalization, punctuation, check spelling and grammar, etc.

plain · April 25, 2008

thickandsexy69@emailme.com.

LMAO....

"Mr Smith, as your doctor, feel free to contact me any time with any questions. My email address is monstersausage69@xxx.com"

I can honestly say I'd never considered how important an email address might be, until you posted that, kathystric...

ReadySteadyGo · April 25, 2008

Well coming from the crap highschool that I did. I made straight A's but still knew nothing. You might not feel you should have to pass out just some tips, but it might really help some of your more lost students out. Like I was in college. :thumbup:

Marimaru · April 25, 2008

Email address gets my attention too. I had a friend who worked for a lady and they did all of their email correspondence with @aol.com email addresses. With how cheap and easy it is to set up your own domain (even with just email and no site), I was pretty appalled that people would use that or @yahoo or @hotmail for a business.

miztrniceguy · May 2, 2008

i use hotmail for my email, because i never have to change it. if i move, change providers, etc it still is the same. yes, i can use an email with our own domain name, but if that ever goes defunct then have to change .

i cannot keep track of my dad's email, as they keep changing providers. was aol, then earthling, then embarq, now something else. drives me nucking futz!