The proper way to address people in our newsletters

[Marshal Halloway]

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.

[tombogan03884]

  He's either English or gay, either way he's a pompous ass.

[Kid Shelleen]

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.

[deepwater]

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)

[Timothy]

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...

[Sponsor]

[JC5123]

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.

[Pathfinder]

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.

[randy]

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

[Kid Shelleen]

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.

[Hazcat]

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.