My recent couple of goofs about accidentally replying to the list
instead of to the sender, as had been my intent should be a reminder to
all to be sure to check that before hitting the SEND button. My
mistakes came when in a hurry before leaving for work or late ant night
when tired and not as alert as usual. Everyone can learn from them and
be aware of when they are the most vulnerable to making such mistakes -
the "at risk" times may be different for each of us.
Fortunately I don't think that I said anything to cause embarrassment on
my part or on the part of others.
Beside being cautious about watching who Reply to Sender is directed to
when doing e-mails from subscribers, other e-mail cautions may be in order.
For one thing, e-mails may be much less private than you think.
Employers often monitor e-mails sent to and from work and sometimes fire
employees for sending or receiving personal e-mail message at work.
Reportedly the FBI can monitor e-mail messages. Hackers may snoop on
your ISP's servers. Some people have been very embarrassed by leaving
e-mail messages on their computer screen at home while answering a door,
or a phone call, and having another family member read something on the
screen that wasn't intended to be shared.
So the wisest thing is never to say anything in an e-mail about anyone
that you wouldn't want them to read -- just the old fashioned admonition
that it's not good to say anything about someone behind their back that
you wouldn't say to your face. We all know the wisdom of that. It's
just a specific variant on the Golden Rule.
And we all know that it's best never to gossip, whether in person, on
the phone, or in e-mails. Of course what constitutes gossip is somewhat
n the eyes of the beholder (or the ears of the listener). E.g. I'm
chatty; she's a gossip. I'm thrifty; he's a stingy tightwad. I'm
pleasingly plump; she's fat. Etc. But even tho we tend to make the
distinctions in self-serving ways, or are in denial, they are still good
principles.
Lastly, because e-mails contain no body language and no vocal
inflections that can aid so much toward telling us how somebody meant
something they said -- a neutral observation, a criticism, a threat, an
apology, etc.-- it's so easy to take offense where none was intended or
to magnify a suggestion into severe, personal criticism. And if someone
reads only one e-mail in a series, the overall context is missing,
making it easy for another reader to "take things the wrong way".