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January 20, 2008
No solicitors
Today I got an email from a friend. It began with a greeting and a personalized comment, then the next paragraph launched into a long, detailed description of a trip my friend was taking along with a request for money. It's a charity trip to Africa or something or other. The whole method of the email left a sour taste in my mouth.
Here's why: the asking for money part wasn't separated from the personal part of the email. I don't mind getting fundraising emails from friends, because I'll usually donate twenty bucks or something. However, I think it is paramount that any sort of form letter not be presented as personal correspondence. Instead, either make it an obvious mass mailing, or if you're going to send it to another person, say "and here's an email about my trip to Africa." I'm not a nameless schmo, I'm your friend! Show me some e-mail love. I would much prefer something like, "Hello [friend's name], how are you? blah blah blah. Also, you might have heard I'm going to Africa. Here's a little message about that..."
Generally, I think it's poor form to pass off a form letter as personalized correspondence. I mean, hell, if you do that on an online dating site, it can make you infamous. (Note the form letter nature of his email.)
In short, I have no problem getting form letters, just so long as the sender doesn't attempt to pass it off as addressed solely to me.
entry no. 1062
Posted at January 20, 2008 11:00 AM