The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Marshal Halloway on July 01, 2009, 11:24:18 AM
-
Hi folks!
Received this email this am from one of our subscribers. Having done online promotion for the last 15 years, this is the first time I have been criticized for being informal. My goal is to inform, not to offend, but this gentleman obviously thinks that the use of first name only is offending. For many of you, this is not the biggest problem in the world, but I do find it interesting to learn what your opinion is. I also know it is a cultural thing. Where I come from, the use of only the first name even to a stranger is considered a compliment. It show comfortable friendship.
We try to be down to earth on Down Range TV, but if this approach is offensive to more than G.M., we want to know about it.
Sender's name has replaced by his initials.
From: G.M.
Date: 7/1/2009 8:09:43 AM
To: office@downrange.tv
Subject: Re: The Best Defense: Survival! - premieres July 1, 2009
Dear "Best Defense" production PR dept;
You recently sent me an email addressed "Hi Gxxxxxx" .....
I was tempted to begin my reply to your email with - "Hi, nit-wits!", however I shall refrain from doing so in the name of civility. However I would appreciate it if you would kindly read the rest of my reply carefully and learn something regarding the proper way to address people.
Didn't anyone ever teach you that it's extremely rude to address someone whom you have never met, by their first name? As it so happens, I like The Best Defense TV show very much, and I thoroughly enjoy almost all of Mr. Bane's work. I also highly respect Mr.Michael Janich's work and find much useful info in his presentations.
What I do NOT appreciate is some company sending me correspondence addressed with my first name, when it is clear that they have simply used one of those idiotic software mailing programs which pick-out the customer's first name and append it to a mass-mailing.
Please fire the people you hired to "customize", "invigorate", or "update" your PR/advertizing correspondence, as they make your Production company look like a bunch of twenty-something, clueless techno-ninnies!
Thank you, sincerely
G.M.
-
He's either English or gay, either way he's a pompous ass.
-
I totally disagree with GM.
I, for one, really appreciate the warm, welcoming and down home tone of everything to do with DRTV.
It makes me feel like part of the family. You guys are great....don't change a thing.
-
I always call my friends and FAMILY by their first name. and drtv is family. I too appreciate the way business is done here. sorry 'gm' doesn't like it, but then we all have opinions and choices. if I didn't like the way I was treated by the folks here on the forum I would not be here.
thanks,
Darrin. (my first name, only)
-
Are we on a first name basis?
Timothy, Tim, Timmy....pick one...don't bother me a bit! Delete the turd from your mailing list...
-
Sounds like some Harvard indoctrinated, holier than thou, elitist, socialist, pig!!!! No worth our time here. But feel free to invite him to the forum. We'll set him straight.
-
I understand GM, although I think personally he could have found a better way to express his displeasure. I was raised in the same manner, and yes I get peeved (how's that for showing my age?) when bank tellers or grocery clerk uses my debit card information to call me by my first name - especially when they are so much younger than I ( >:( ).
On the other hand - and this may be a good way to approach GM on it Marshal, is that some sites do use the first name in their emails to show that the email is not a phishing email, a way to show it is "safe" to click on any of the enclosed links. Just an idea.
-
Hi all! This is my first entry and it's all due to GM, I don't want to be rude, however, what a stuck up butt. He has to be born of an era that was from a much less friendly day. He is the kind of person who would look down on or dismiss the local servers, blue collar workers and anyone who was beneath him. To be blunt he's an ass
-
Hi all! This is my first entry and it's all due to GM, I don't want to be rude, however, what a stuck up butt. He has to be born of an era that was from a much less friendly day. He is the kind of person who would look down on or dismiss the local servers, blue collar workers and anyone who was beneath him. To be blunt he's an ass
Welcome Randy,
Head on down to the Down Range Cafe and look for the "New Members" thread. It'll give everyone a chance to get to know you and it's a great place for you to tell us all about you.
-
Sugar,
You know what my answer is. ;)
Seriously, this is one of those situations where ya can't win fer losin'. I say stay with informal, after all they signed up.
The only way I see around it is to have a "How do you wish to be addressed" box when signing up and that would probably be a PITA.
-
Welcome Randy,
Head on down to the Down Range Cafe and look for the "New Members" thread. It'll give everyone a chance to get to know you and it's a great place for you to tell us all about you.
Not to mention harass....errrr...say hello to ya! ;D
-
I think she wanted you to address her as "Senator"..... she worked very hard to get that title.
-
YES MAMMY
-
I don't know GM, but he/she sounds like a pompous arrogant windbag. I'm surprised his initials are Gm and not BO, now that I think of it.
Maybe next time you should address GM as "Dear Asshat". ;D
-
Fishwrap...don't give it another thought Marshall.
-
We are family here and if it offends someone for using first names only, well EXCUSE ME!!!! ::) ::)
No one here would ever say or do anything offensive :o
-
If you are sending out a formal email newsletter GM is correct. I don't want formality I want information that is brief yet precise.
It kind of reminds me of that old comedy routine – “My name is Raymond J. Johnson Jr.”
Oh, you doesn't has to call me Mr. Johnson!
My name is Raymond J. Johnson, Jr.
Now you can call me Ray
Or you can call me Jay
Or you can call me Johnny
Or you can call me Sonny
Or you can call me Junie
Or you can call me Ray-Jay
Or you can call me R.J.
Or you can call me R.J.J.
Or you can call me R.J.J.Junior
But you doesn't has to call me Mr. Johnson!
-
He's either English or gay, either way he's a pompous ass.
Or like John Lithgow says in terms of endearment, he must be from New York.
I've designed, built and sent a lot of email blasts and I can't remember any of them that used the last name of the recipient. All of the businesses represented were similar in that they were more laid back and friendly. In this newer online world, the fact that this person has signed up in any way to receive those emails is the initial handshake, so in the virtual sense, you've already met them.
Someone who would get offended about something like that has no business sending or receiving on a computer. Of course, it's not going to do any good to tell him that.
He also like almost all of Mr. Bane's work. He ought to know that most of us can bet that Mr. Bane would probably call him by his first name.
-
Well I'm tired of you all abbreviating my forum name. It is FullAuto (note spelling), not FA!
;)
Informal is fine with me! ;D
-
Sugar,
You know what my answer is. ;)
Seriously, this is one of those situations where ya can't win fer losin'. I say stay with informal, after all they signed up.
The only way I see around it is to have a "How do you wish to be addressed" box when signing up and that would probably be a PITA.
Uh, did you just call Marshal "Sugar"? Something you 2 need to tell us? And M'ette first maybe?
-
Uh, did you just call Marshal "Sugar"? Something you 2 need to tell us? And M'ette first maybe?
I think the Haz got an early start on the cheap tequila this morning!
;D
-
Tell GM to go pound sand.
-
"Surely you can't be serious."
"I am serious... and don't call me Shirley."
-
leave him be and he'll get over it, the rest of us have.
I just check on this thread to see how offensive we can get before we get yelled at by mom. ;D
-
Well I'm tired of you all abbreviating my forum name. It is FullAuto (note spelling), not FA!
;)
Informal is fine with me! ;D
Screw you, FA!
;D
-
I can understand his wish for formality. I need to be very formal at times, and at time I get criticized for being too formal. If he didn't want to be addressed informally he should have found a way to sign up in a more formal way.
If he is ticked because it is a mass e-mail .... Well ... EXCUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUSE ME !!! Does he honestly expect you to sit and had address each and every e-mail in a custom way?
I believe you need to listen to each and every comment you receive, signed or not. However, you need to weigh them for importance. If this is your first complaint in many years it needs to be filed away as Bad - 1, Good - X, No Response - Millions. Watch for a trend, but so far he is only one that is representing a handful. I would guess that each of us that is supportive of your style also represent a handful ... You're doin' goods have it so far!
-
I am surprised no one has referred G.M. to the complaint department yet
(http://kommein.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/complaint-department.jpg)
*Oldie but a goodie!
-
You could always address the next one "Hey Sh!thead" ;D
-
You could always address the next one "Hey Sh!thead" ;D
yeah! you called?
;)