www.inkthinkerblog.com — I’m not sure if it’s a failure of the public education system or perhaps a consequence of constant overstimulation and overconnectedness that makes people incapable of following simple instructions or using basic common sense these days, but I need an answer soon — because I can’t take this anymore!
Case in point: Today I got an e-mail that was a direct reply to the most recent issue of Notes in the Margin, which went out yesterday, asking if I was really Kristen King. “Yes, my name really is Kristen King, but I may not be the one you’re thinking of. Did you need something specific?” It turns out that the person, for some reason that is truly beyond my comprehension, thought I was Olympic hockey player Kristin King.
Let’s review:
- She SUBSCRIBED to my newsletter, presumably through one of my FREELANCE WRITING WEBSITES.
- She RECEIVED the newsletter, which is all about FREELANCE WRITING.
- She e-mailed me at KRISTENKINGFREELANCING.COM to ask if I’m really KristIn King (which she spelled with an E when she asked, btw).
So I clarified that no, I am not that KristIn King, I am this KristEn King, and she responds, “Then stop e-mailing me.” Dude, you SUBSCRIBED to my newsletter, E-MAILED me asking a QUESTION, to which I responded promptly and politely, and now you’re being snarky? How about, “Oh, sorry.” Or even saying nothing and just using the unsubscribe instructions at the bottom of the initial e-mail, which, I reiterate, YOU REQUESTED? Seriously!
Early this year and into last year, I also got about 6 months of e-mails for another KristIn King when I got a new e-mail address, despite repeated appeals to a large group of people who kept e-mailing me and replying-all ad nauseam that they stop sending me messages because it was the wrong address. Eventually that KK did e-mail me and apologize (which I thought was quite classy!), but I even had one person argue with me when I told him I wasn’t who he thought I was! Dude, I think I know that I have no idea who you are. Back off.
Maybe it’s just the Internet that is making people stupid… What do you think? Are you seeing this kind of thing? Leave a comment.
Tags: freelance writing blog, freelance writing, freelance, writing, advice for freelance writers, mistaken identity, e-mail etiquette, notes in the margin, olympic hockey player kristin king, olympic bronze medalist kristin king, kristen king, inkthinker
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I see this aggravating phenomenon all the time, even in publishing. I’ll write clients e-mails asking specific questions that require specific answers, and sometimes they don’t answer all of my questions or even read my entire message. Or I write messages conveying specific information, and they reply with a request for the information that I just gave them.
Argh! It’s called reading comprehension, people!
Yes, yes, yes! Get a clue, people!
Where is Miss Snark and her clue gun when we need it? ;) I miss her daily.
kk
Urgh. I know of which you speak, Kristen. What a ridiculous waste of time with the person emailing you. I think people are so frenzied with emails and web they don’t take the time to really read something and understand it. Plus they write emails and other communication so it’s half-cocked and half-readable. What this all does for me is remind me to slow down and ensure my own communication is clear and thorough. Doesn’t help with the aggravation tho :)
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There’s something larger at work here, Kristen. There’s this need by some people to be in charge, in control, RIGHT at all times. I had that one guy argue with me over what my last name was (he knew better than I did who I was, I guess).
Like Katharine said, they’ll read and respond to some, but not all. Is that passive-aggressive, or is that rushing through? Is it avoidance? What the devil are they on about? It caused me to drop one client. I asked a specific question – three times. On the third attempt to get an answer, I pointed out that the question I originally asked did not relate to the answer provided, and I was mad enough that I pulled it out in bullet form and asked again. Got his back up, but I got my answer.
Of course, I’m the one who’s being bitchy. ;))
@QRW – Good for you: turning it into a learning opportunity. I just get MAD! :)
@Lori – I remember your telling me about both of those instances! If people had even an inkling of how foolish they sound sometimes, they would talk about 50% less. ;)
In the case cited in your article, I think it’s just stupidity. Having a computer and Internet access sometimes causes us to assume the person on the other end has some basic intelligence. And by basic, I mean above average.
Right now I’m attempting to reconcile what their world view must be like, what with all those magic bits flying around teh Intarwebs, and such. In the immortal words of Keanu Reeves, “Whoah.”
Like, dude.
@John – I think assuming even AVERAGE intelligence anymore may be a stretch. Well, actually, I guess the average may be falling… But really, basic survival skills! Being able to use common sense and communicate on a simple level are truly basic skills! Sheesh.