Thu. Nov 30, 2006
Regards, Later, Or Nothing At All
There’s an article in the NY Times that I found interesting, “‘Yours Truly, the E-Variations.” It’s about the various ways that people “sign off” in their emails, and how those variations are sometimes perceived by others.
I don’t know that I’ve put a whole lot of thought into it, but I do know that I have settled into three basic variations; “regards, Reid” is my standard. I’ve always felt it was formal enough, yet warm enough, but not cloying (“sincerely” seems … fit for print but not for digits). If it’s someone I correspond with quite a bit, and I know that I will be again later, I use “later, Reid.”
And if I’m either in a hurry (like when sending someone a URL), or, a bit miffed but making the required reply … I use nothing at all. They get the standard signature at the bottom of every email that has my name, email, etc. ... and that’s it. “Many e-mail users don’t bother with a sign-off, and Letitia Baldridge, the manners expert, finds that annoying. ‘It’s so abrupt,’ she said, ‘and it’s very unfriendly.’”
Exactly, Letitia.
But that’s really pretty rare. Just the same, I now wonder how people react to “regards” or “later” ... both of which the article fails to mention. Maybe that should be my first clue.
At any rate, I’m heading out of town for a couple of days, so …
later,
Reid
Published 07:56AM, Thu, Nov 30 2006
Category: Internet
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Peanut Gallery
Since about 1983, mine’s been a very simple semi-joke that C prorammers get:
Todd++;
Cheers!
Let’s see, normally you hear that one at a Christmas party, so I guess it means, “Drink up!” Or maybe it means “I just finished an email and it’s time for you, my cheering section, to chime in.” Or maybe it means, “I just finished an email and my personal cheering section is sending applause your way”. But beyond all that, without delving into every obscure meaning I can find, I normally realize that the person has finished their email, and has managed not to slight me, at least as far as the closing goes.
“Roadkill has its seasons, just like everything. It’s possums in the autumn and farm cats in the spring.” Tom Waits
~~~~~~~~~
rturner, pretending he’s Tom Waits for purposes of this post.
emcee: “While you’re out, could you pick up an offensive coordinator and a couple cases of Stickum?”
As for offensive coordinators, I did pass by the vicinity of Auburn. But Jim Grobe of Wake Forest would be my preferred choice. Of course, this is sort of like talking about who would have been in Gore’s cabinet if he’d taken office.
As for Stickum, I’m afraid it has gone the way of the salt tablets they used to make us take after football practice in junior high; they’ve decided it’s no longer advisable (or legal, in the case of Stickum).
Todd: “Todd++;”
rturner: “Cheers!”
And the two of you point out something I guess I hadn’t thought about, that is true of most of these “yours truly” variations.
These signoffs are all things human beings do not commonly say to each other face-to-face. Other than at that Christmas party.
Which reminds me, has anyone signed up for the War On Christmas yet? Is it going to be on TV again this year? (and, my what a fun comments thread on that one)
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Like pronouns, a good sign-off takes into account gender and number.
For men, I typically use:
“Thank you again for not resenting that I’m better endowed than you,”
For women:
“No thanks, I’m married,”
For groups:
“Kneel before Zod,”
For spam:
“Send three cases C.O.D.,”
.
At any rate, I’m heading out of town for a couple of days, so … later, Reid.
While you’re out, could you pick up an offensive coordinator and a couple cases of Stickum ?