E-mail netiquette is the set of social guidelines that assist interactions across networks, namely the World Wide Web. Because there is no human contact and an urge to click "send" as soon as possible in e-mails and instant messages alike, it can be a difficult skill to learn and practice. But a brave few have gone above and beyond mastering these skills and have infused something of their own - a phenomenon known as the e-mail signature.
I feel it's safe to say most students here on Grounds can put together a respectable, sensible e-mail asking simple questions to professors or when forwarding notes to a friend. The problems start where the e-mail ends: the signature. Short, hurried e-mails replying to my mother's constant requests for how my day was or updating me on my brother's latest weekend antics are usually concluded with a simple "Bobby" or if I can spare the extra six seconds "Love, Bobby." In a more formal setting or when sending e-mails to professors who hold my future in their grade books and distribution curves, I'll often close with a "Thanks" or "Appreciate any help you could give me" followed by my name. Sounds perfectly fine, right? I've had unprecedented success and have yet to have a professor display my e-mail as a use-this-if-you-don't-want-me-to-respond example.
Just as I thought I had all the credits to Life Lessons 101, I was convinced I had Netiquette 101 down as well. Then some e-mails started pouring in from various older students in organizations I had requested to join or TAs who were reminding me of their untouchable superiority over me. Oddly, these e-mails were stamped with these lengthy, seemingly unnecessary signatures that told me much more than I ever wanted to know about them.
So I checked up on this. I had to know if this entire time I had been so ignorant to the fact that other people needed to know I served on the AMSA service committee my first year, which did little but make me feel like I was involved. To my relief, I discovered people do not need to know that and more so, they don't want to. An Organic Chemistry Teaching Assistant (who will remain anonymous due to the slim chance he may be grading my tests) recently sent out an e-mail informing us that he would be our TA, his scheduled office hours, that he plays club golf, and is a marching band drill instructor. Wait, what? Is this the right e-mail?
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