No Need to Respond to Rude E-mails

September 24, 2008 by Judith

I’ve never sent a rude e-mail. I may be sternly professional when in the cross-hairs of someone who e-mailed me in such a manner that I felt I needed to respond to set them straight. I’ve never name called, used formatting to show aggression or to make a point. I choose my words carefully, make my points with clarity and sign off in a professional manner.

However, to those who are downright rude with no legitimate reason in doing so — I don’t respond at all.

Just because you have an e-mail address or a Web site does not obligate you to have to respond, defend or cajole every knucklehead who may come your way. There are those e-mails that due to lack of e-mail etiquette, punctuation and grammar come of terse or rude unintentionally. Those folks get a response with a pointer to my site so they can avoid future misunderstandings.

But then, there are the jerks. We’ve all run into that person who you just can’t win with. They will be rude, name call and accuse simply to be a bully because they have no basis for their point of view other than to resort to nasty digs. That approach in of itself speaks volumes as to their overall lack of character. Feel sorry for those that have to communicate in that manner to make their point. Go back to them in a kind (or sternly professional) manner with your reply and take the higher ground.

By doing so, you set an example of how those with an education, who care about how they are perceived, who know how to use technology with courtesy, knowledge and understanding handle themselves. Maybe, just maybe, by example, they may learn something!

Share (You know you want to...)

Comments

2 Responses to “No Need to Respond to Rude E-mails”

Ashley on December 10th, 2009 4:44 pm

Thanks for this article. This has encouraged me to take the higher ground and not react to a rude ad hominem comment a reader left me. I can let it go and not let it affect my day. Keep up the good work.
Judith on December 10th, 2009 4:52 pm

Hey, Ashley:

Glad to be of service!

You wouldn’t believe the rude and demanding e-mails I receive on a daily basis. Luckily most are through private e-mail — not here in the comments. Even if they were comments, and I’ve had a few too — I would do exactly as you state and if I did respond, I would do so based on the facts and information — sans emotion.

Most who post those type of comments are called “trolls” — they do so only to get you upset and wait for your reaction. If you don’t play into that, they are left out there looking like the knuckleheads they are!