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I hate it when people use thanks for everything. What, you're thanking me for reading the email announcing the re-org? It reads as mindless and weird. I'm a "b
by civilized 5y ago
I hate it when people use thanks for everything. What, you're thanking me for reading the email announcing the re-org? It reads as mindless and weird.
I'm a "best" guy. It's never inappropriate. Whether I'm promoting you, firing you, reporting up on progress or problems, "best" always works.
(I'm not saying it's the best closer in all situations, but if you hate thinking about closers, it's the best generic choice. And the best boss I ever had always used it.)
Best,
Some guy on the internet
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- nuclearnice1 5y agoWhy does thanks read as “mindless and insincere” but best “always works?” Superficially, they seem about the same. Yours, &c., nuclearnice
- civilized 5y agoBecause thanking someone means you're grateful for something they did or that you'll hope they'll do. It doesn't really apply to every email. In contrast, expressing best wishes always makes sense unless you hate the recipient's guts and want them to know it. Thanks, civilized (See? It makes no sense.)
- variaga 5y agoEvery message you send is implicitly requesting something though - the time and attention of the person reading it. Time is one of the most precious commodities we have - it seems appropriate to thank people for spending it on you. Thanks, variaga
- deleted 5y ago[deleted]
- ineedasername 5y ago"Best" what? These things may be somewhat culturally determined (including office/corporate culture). To me, "best" reads as mindless as any other. In fact, they all read as mindless to me, probably because in most cases they literally are mindless. You choose one and write it automatically in nearly every message. That's not to say they're useless. Politeness in social interactions is filled with formulaic, almost ritualistics niceties. I just don't think there's all that much difference in meaning between these common formulaic responses. Take care, Another Internet Rando
- egfx 5y ago“Best” is the worst. Like it’s the best you’ve got. And there is no interest or room for negotiation, development or debate. “Thanks” likewise isn’t very good and sounds too impersonal and somewhat dismissive. I started using “thank you” for a more sincere, serious tone in business communication. I use it because “regards” irks me for some reason.
- dsr_ 5y agoOriginally, "My best wishes to you and yours".
- mellavora 5y ago> I just don't think there's all that much difference in meaning between these common formulaic responses. My father agrees, and for a time his standard greeting to colleagues were these words: "Friendly Noise" I've tried it a few times. I get strange looks at first, but people adopt.
- vidarh 5y agoOn moving to the UK and for the first time using English "full time" it took me longer than it should have to get used to "how are you?" as merely a "friendly noise". At first I found it incredibly rude how people would ask me a question and then keep walking while I stopped to start answering their question.
- 5y ago
- throwawayboise 5y agoI can't stand "Best" as a closer. "Best wishes" is OK, as is "Best regards" but "Best" on its own is going to get your email into the "deal with it later" queue.
- mellavora 5y ago"Best" is standard practice with Germans, and shows a degree of intimacy-- implying the two parties know each other well enough that an abbreviation is fine. Given my interactions, I'd be cautious dead-queueing an email on this criteria.
- bavell 5y agoTotally agree but instead I use "Regards". Always works and I never have to think about it. Regards, Another guy on the internet
- Fissionary 5y agoMy English teacher thought that "Regards" sounds rude (like starting your emails with "John," instead of "Dear John,") and that one should always use "Best regards" instead. Seems like there's a lot of nuance here.
- kayxspre 5y agoThe previous workplace of mine sets the signatures of my email to start with "Kind regards", and I continue to use it after I left that workplace. I now take a freelance job, and if the contact person isn't really nice to me, I would simply sign "Regards" (not "Kind", as my mood isn't really kind). Glad to hear that it can be viewed as a less polite form.
- another-dave 5y agoIf someone is rude to me, I go the other way & up passive aggressiveness to 'Kindest regards'.
- ck425 5y agoI don't read regards as fundamentally rude but I do read it as very cold and formal, which can come off in as rude or passive aggressive depending on the context. I wouldn't bat an eye if a letter from my bank or a formal HR communication signed off with "Regards". But if a colleague from another team or a senior leader ended an email with "Regards" I would find that rude. That said I've spent the last two years working in the public sector and have come to learn that the standards for communication and presentation are very different here. I'd still consider it rude from a colleague who worked in my directorate (it's a tech directorate) but if it was from someone outside my directorate I'd give them the benefit of the doubt. Though in those cases I also tend to be aggressively informal/casual in my responses.
- zmalski 5y agoIn defense of using thanks for everything, the "thanks" (at least in my case) is meant more as a "Thanks for taking the time to read this email" and less "Thanks for reading this email" Time is the valuable part there, and someone dedicated the bit of it they have on this earth to read my email.
- npteljes 5y ago"Best", to me, sounds like if someone said "Have a day!". It feels like something's missing.
- latexr 5y ago> Whether I'm promoting you, firing you, reporting up on progress or problems, "best" always works. “Best” is shorthand for wishing the other person well. Using it while firing someone could be seen (to use your words) as “mindless and weird”, a meaningless and reflexive dismissal which may rub the recipient the wrong way (“if you cared about what’s best for me, you wouldn’t have fired me”).