Is using ALL CAPS ever acceptable in email? 12

[ParabolicTet]

A user sent me and my bosses an angry email with these words:

"I HAVE PROJECT DEADLINES!!! THIS IS PREVENTING ME FROM MEETING THEM!!"

Thankfully, the issue was something not due my fault or anything and easily fixable. It is fixed now. My question is this kind of writing ever acceptable? I find it unprofessional. The user who wrote this is fairly senior so I can't really talk "face-to-face" about it..

I think many engineers believe in the "squeaky wheel gets the oil".. This is taking it to an extreme in my opinion. Or maybe I am taking it to personally?

 

[IRstuff]

I use caps for EMPHASIS. However, my recollection is that you're in a service/support role here, and this sort of thing comes with the territory. I don't know why you would, or should, take it personally at all, since it was addressed both to you and your boss, and likely, would be structured identically regardless of who the recipients actually are. Some people are simply needy.

TTFN (ta ta for now)
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[SuperSalad]

It is unprofessional in my opinion. There may be circumstances that make it more acceptable, but it doesn't make it any less professional. I feel it reflects poorly on the individual, but again, that has A LOT to do with the context.

I find the use of an email's subject line to convey your message and leaving the email's body empty much more frustrating to me. I find a real lack of professionalism in that simple act.

Andrew H.

http://www.mototribology.com

 

[drawoh]

ParabolicTet,

All caps is SHOUTING. If it is okay to shout, it is okay to use all caps.

--
JHG

 

[ParabolicTet]

I find the use of an email's subject line to convey your message and leaving the email's body empty much more frustrating to me. I find a real lack of professionalism in that simple act.

This is fairly rare, but I actually appreciate it's efficiency as long as they end with <eom> ( end of message ).

 

[1gibson]

Definitely unprofessional, if you want to yell at someone just call them on the phone. Emails allow you to be more creative.

"I HAVE PROJECT DEADLINES!!! THIS IS PREVENTING ME FROM MEETING THEM!!"

Instead, try this:

"While I'd like to be able keep my project on track without relying on you, that is unfortunately not the current set of circumstances. Please see that X is taken care of by end of business today or advise when it will be completed. In the meantime, I'll work on pushing out my entire project schedule again."

 

[ctopher]

From my experience, someone that write all caps yelling like that in email will not do it to your face.
I have tested people this way, they back off.

Chris, CSWP
SolidWorks '17
ctophers home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[TheTick]

Sometimes, it’s time to shout. Usually if your polite tone was ignored the first time.

 

[SuperSalad]

Sometimes, it’s time to shout. Usually if your polite tone was ignored the first time.

A few other times it is acceptable to shout would be:

- when you need to let it all out and have several things you can do without.​

- while kicking your heels up​

- while throwing your hands up​

- while throwing your head back​

- while in the process of twisting​

- if the devil is present and beleaguering you in numerous ways​

Andrew H.

http://www.mototribology.com

 

[MrHershey]

I think many engineers believe in the "squeaky wheel gets the oil"

Sure and there's some merit to that. At least until the powers that be figure out the oil isn't helping and just replace the wheel instead.

 

[TheTick]

[sub]i wonder if doing the opposite would be more effective[/sub]

 

[MintJulep]

It is fixed now.

Apparently the shouting was effective.

This may have more to do with organizational culture than individuals.

 

[CheckerHater]

A few other times it is acceptable to shout would be:
-
-
-

BUT WAIT! THERE IS MORE!

"For every expert there is an equal and opposite expert"
Arthur C. Clarke Profiles of the future

 

[PEDARRIN2]

My response time is directly proportional to the loudness, vulgarity, etc. projected to me. Even if it is my responsibility, I require to be treated with respect.

So far nobody has fired me.

 

[ctopher]

WHAT DID YOU SAY THETICK?

Chris, CSWP
SolidWorks '17
ctophers home
SolidWorks Legion

 

[HamburgerHelper]

Pffff. They think I am going to read their emails.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you can't explain it to a six year old, you don't understand it yourself.

 

[SomptingGuy]

It's an age thing. Having a caps-lock key and knowing where it is gives away that your default programming language is FORTRAN.


Steve

 

[TenPenny]

It's unprofessional, but I had a boss who would yell, kick things, and once threw his desk phone across the office. At least an email can be deleted.

 

[Agent666]

My old man writes all his emails in all caps, he's 82 so I let it slide.

His handwriting is also all capitals, don't think I've ever seen him write something normally in lower case.

 

[hokie66]

I write in all caps, because that is the way I learned to letter on drawings. Now, even my all caps is illegible to some, but not to me. But I think all caps in emails, or on Eng-Tips, is just rude. But then, rudeness is not illegal...yet.