A colleague sent out an announcement about good news to a whole slew of email lists including departmental lists, college lists, etc. There are a LOT of people on the lists.
I hit reply and congratulated the colleague, and wished well. I'm sure some other folks did that.
But yes, a surprising number of people hit reply all, so that we can all read their messages of congratulations. Really.
And of course, were I to send something out suggesting that perhaps reply all is not necessary, I would be the worst and meanest, nastiest, most despicable person ever.
But people, most stuff broadcast widely does not require a reply all to share your congratulations.
Ugh. I hate when people reply all for this kind of thing. I already get between 100-200 emails every single day. I don't need more of that.
ReplyDeleteI soooooo agree with you!!! It also always feels like it's more of a performance -- Look everyone! I'm congratulating so-and-so! -- rather than just an expression of congratulations.
ReplyDeleteJust don't hit, "Reply-all" when you tell them to knock it off. Because even worse than the congratulations are the arguments about appropriate use of the "reply-all" button.
ReplyDeletethis is a classic of modern life! i don't mind so much for congratulations. but i'm on a large list-serve, where people frequently just reply-all by accident, and then they say what-the-hell-all. bleah. i have on some occasions been The Lecturing Cohort, in extreme circumstances resorting to ALL CAPS to convey the message that PLEASE DO NOT MAKE US ALL HATE YOU BY CONTINUING TO BE A JACKASS ABOUT REPLIES.
ReplyDeleteMailing lists or big groups of emails should be put in the BCC slot for just this reason. No one can see the address, so therefore no more accidental "replies to all"!
ReplyDelete