The other day I sent out my monthly ezine, Better Writing at Work, to about 8,000 subscribers. I received a few "unsubscribe" notices, as I normally do. People unsubscribe when they are changing jobs or buried in email. I know their reasons because my ezine mailing program allows people to comment.
I was annoyed by this unusual unsubscribe comment, left by someone named Amanda:
"I teach a professional writing class at work, and I thought this newsletter would give me additional tips or writing skills we were not already teaching. It didn't."
Am I wrong in thinking this is a putdown?
When I am out shopping, I do not say to the shop owner as I leave the store without making a purchase, "I thought I would find good things in your shop, but I did not." When I review a menu in the foyer of a restaurant, I do not say, "Sorry. Your menu has nothing to offer me" before I walk away.
Amanda might have written "Not what I expected," or she might have not commented at all. Why put me down? Why burn a bridge with a possible colleague or professional contact? Why spread ill will?
Being mean-spirited just doesn't make sense to me.
What do you think?
Lynn
Syntax Training