I had an experience recently where an individual sent me an email reply with no message–just an attachment. I felt let down, disappointed that my gracious communication had prompted what appeared to be a hasty, minimal reply. I wonder: Am I overreacting? Please share your opinion in the comments.
Here’s what happened: I had sent an email to a woman I’ll call Yvonne to get a blurb from her on a presentation she was going to make. I needed to incorporate her blurb into an article I was writing that would feature Yvonne’s presentation, among others. It was my first message to Yvonne, so I:
- Greeted her.
- Told her why I was writing to her.
- Gave a brief suggestion on the type of information she might include in her blurb.
- Told her something important about the setting where she would be presenting.
- Noted why I had copied someone else on my email to her.
- Ended with a warm closing and my name.
In response, I received an email with no message–just an attachment. The attachment was Yvonne’s short blurb.
Yes, I got the information I needed. But because it came with no greeting, message, closing, or signature–and no recognition that I was helping Yvonne by writing about her presentation–I felt slighted. When I later was asked by a third person to
help at Yvonne’s presentation, I declined.
What do you think about my reaction? Am I being oversensitive? Should I just write off Yvonne’s approach as efficient? By the way, Yvonne is not a famous person whose busyness or place above me in a social hierarchy might explain the lack of a personal message.
How would you feel about Yvonne’s email? I look forward to your opinion.
Lynn
Syntax Training
