Response to nasty emails

[rgd]

Use Billy's method.

No matter how many nasty emails I get, rather than give them the satisfaction of knowing they got to me, I type:

I appreciate your response. It's readers like you that help keep our coverage hard-hitting, informative and vibrant.

Thanks for reading, and have a great day!

XXXXX XXXXXX

The exclamation point usually works wonders. And I can't count the number of times I've gotten shameful responses back from the emailers, who apologize for losing their temper and go on to admit how much they read and enjoy my work.

It's satisfying each and every time it happens.

What's also good is if someone leaves a phone number and then you call it. I'd have several cases when the person is so glad to get a phone call that they seem to have forgotten why they were mad in the first place. People just want to be heard.

 

[DisembodiedOwlHead]

"The jerk store called, and they're outta you!"

 

[Smasher_Sloan]

1. Anytime you reply, assume the person will post it on every fan message board. Don't think it's a private message.

2. If you write something nasty/obscene, the idiot will send it to every editor at your paper and as many advertisers as he can find. It's not worth it.

3. Always wait a full day before responding to any e-mail from a reader. That snappy answer that seems so perfect now might not be quite as good tomorrow.

4. Ignore all the unsigned ones and the ones hiding behind "WolfpackFan1" and the other obvious fake/bullshirt names.

5. If someone sends a well-reasoned, intelligent, respectful comment, answer in kind. I've gotten some reader e-mails that were helpful.

6. When in doubt, ignore it. You'll never get in trouble for not replying.

 

[Trey Beamon]

Dear reader,

While we may disagree, I appreciate your opinion and that you took the time to write. I assure you I read and consider every email I recieve. Thanks for corresponding. Please feel welcome to do so again.

Sincerely,

James Thomas Pinch

Bingo.

 

[Claws for Concern]

"The jerk store called, and they're outta you!"

 

[TheSportsPredictor]

I'm gonna write that guy a rude email and see if I get that form letter back!

 

[joe king]

Dear reader,

While we may disagree, I appreciate your opinion and that you took the time to write. I assure you I read and consider every email I recieve. Thanks for corresponding. Please feel welcome to do so again.

Sincerely,

James Thomas Pinch

Bingo.

Except spell-check it (receive).

 

[publicenemy]

I don't do it that often, but I've had a number of satisfying episodes where I've received diatribes, really nasty shirt, and responded politely and in a reasoned way, and gotten an extremely contrite, "I'm sorry I was so nasty" re-response.

Killing 'em with kindness can be a lot of fun.

i do the same thing. i go out of my way to thank them for their thoughts and for taking time to write. i try to explain why we did what we did and that we know that we can't please everyone every day. all this is typed while i'm thinking, "you sorry @#$%^&*". it's remarkable the high percentage of responses i get thanking me for writing back and there's usually an apology attached.

 

[Smallpotatoes]

When I started out I replied to nasty e-mails, as politely as possible but eventually saw the futility in trying to debate these people via e-mail, especially when God only knows who else ended up seeing my replies.
I went through a phase where if somebody had a beef and wanted to discuss it, I invited them to call me. They usually didn't, but once somebody did and it was 40 minutes of my life that I never back. I like to think I "won" the argument when she got her cell phone bill for that month.
I usually just try to respond in a way that cuts off all debate as firmly and politely as possible and if they really have a problem with the way I'm doing my job, I leave them my boss's number.
With unsigned e-mails I have from time to time replied "I'm sorry, you have me at a disadvantage. You know who I am, but I don't know who you are. That doesn't seem fair, does it?"
I get a lot of e-mails using the word "disappointing" or "disappointed"
I feel like replying "Life is full of disappointments; get used to it."
But I guess I could lose my job for that.

 

[Double J]

Dear Reader,

Suck my deck.

Sincerely,

(insert name of co-worker you hate)

 

[Gomer]

But I use the spell-check, Gomer. And yeah, where is ol' Toothy?

MISTER Gomer to you, beeyatch... and he's here, on-line...

I'm hurt and honoured at the same time.

As for replying, I think it's important to note who the complaintant is. I often get into e-mail jousting of this nature because the person complaining is involved with the sport I'm writing about (manager, coach, etc.). I don't think I'd spend much time replying if it were just "looser fanboys."

Often I find it useful to find out exactly what sets someone off, and to work the situation in my favour so they end up with a better understanding of how and why I do my job the way I do. (And yes, sometimes I gain a better understanding of why they're pissed off that helps my own writing as well.) Down the road, that makes them better sources to deal with.

 

[Tom Petty]

Dear Reader,

Suck my deck.

Sincerely,

(insert name of co-worker you hate)

genius. but now i know it's one word, it might turn into "suck my deck, motherforker."

signed shotty