GeekSugar

Do You Still Receive Chain Email Forwards?

GeekSugar — Sat, 09 Aug 2008 13:07:32 PDT

There was a time in my life where I really wanted to help that terminally ill child whose family was reaching out to me vial email forward, or grew seriously concerned about the risks of my deodorant giving me cancer. I call that time 1999, when chain email forwards were coming at me in all directions, namely from my friends, who also sent me email questionnaires about different aspects of their life, which were interesting the first 50 times I received them.

Now, my friends have realized how annoying and scam-worthy these forwards all were (though the questionnaire people moved on to MySpace bulletins). But that doesn't put me in the clear; it seems as some of my (let's say, older) relatives have finally "figured out" email, a certain email forwarding abuse has come with this newfound skill. So, I sort through them, scanning for anything new under the forward sun. Occasionally, if it's someone who won't be offended, I'll reply with the Snopes article disproving the forward they just sent. Hey, they have to learn too.

So tell me - are you still getting email forwards?

Source

6 Digital Etiquette Tips For 2012

Kelly Schwarze — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 06:30:55 PST

There's still time to break the bad habits of 2011 and kick off the year with a fresh take on the tech etiquette that may be driving your co-workers crazy and even have consequences to your health. Be a considerate digital user in 2012 by breaking these six technology habits.

Walking or driving while texting - we've seen the ad campaigns warning against distracted driving, but it seems every time we're on the highway, we pass a driver glancing at their phones instead of the road. The same goes for the busy city street pavements you pound during lunch for exercise. If you're texting or otherwise fiddling with your phone while walking, not only are you likely to be walking slow and annoying other pedestrians, your distracted movements may keep you from seeing an upcoming intersection, a clear recipe for disaster. Put the phone away for a few minutes and take in the scenery of the street.
Loud cell phone chats on the bus - the commute to and from work is rarely the highlight of an average day, but we're all in this together. Be kind to the other passengers and leave the loud stories of last night's date or the boss's attitude for when you get home.
TMI overload - your friends love keeping up with your life adventures via Facebook and Twitter, really they do! It's junior's potty adventures or how takeout leftovers made you feel today that gets people hovering their cursor over the Unsubscribe button. Play it safe and avoid talk of bodily functions on social networks.

See the rest of the tech etiquette tips to keep in mind for 2012 after the jump.

Ask Savvy: How Do I Write an Email to a Possible Mentor?

Savvy Community — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:15:30 PST

This reader posted in our Ask Savvy group - she wants to know how to write an email to a possible mentor.

OK, so I don't know if they are going to be my mentor or direct me to someone who can be but I was just having a conversation with a college professor and told her about my love for the arts. She has since asked me if I was in school and I said no. She said that if I like I could have coffee with her sometime and she has a friend in the field that I want to go in so that if I ever want to talk to her I can. It took me for ever to call her and she followed up by telling me that I can email her so that we can set something up to talk. But only if I want to.

She must have sensed my shyness or hesitancy. I want to go back to school but I'm nervous about it, I'm also not super social and don't regularly meet people I don't know for coffee (or even really good friends!) I'm not worried about her being a crazy person but I'm considering taking her up on her offer and I want to make a good impression.

Read on for more.

Holiday Wish Lists: Practical or Tacky?

LearnVest — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:15:58 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

Ah, the wish list.

It made a lovely debut when we were little, often addressed to a certain Mr. Claus. It had a good run for a few years, but retired itself in adulthood as the stuff of kids and dreams (with the exception of weddings and babies, when they take on the adult guise of “registry”).

And now that we are adults, wish lists (outside of those socially acceptable registries) are at best silly and at worst mercenary, right? That’s what many think.

Are We Becoming More Mercenary?

A recent New York Times story discussed the recent trend of the wish list-it’s back, along with more mercenary attitudes towards gift-giving, like a desire for gift cards instead of actual gifts. (According to the story, for the last five years, gift cards have been the most requested gift, according to National Retail Foundation surveys.) A study released earlier this year showed that people who receive gifts they had requested actually derive more pleasure from them and appreciate them more.

Read on for more on wishlists.

Guerrilla Guide to the Holidays: Holiday Etiquette

LearnVest — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 00:15:17 PST

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

As the holidays approach (just seven weeks away!), you’re only getting more prepared.

If you’ve been following our weekly Guerrilla Guide to the Holidays, you’ve already made your travel plans and selected the perfect gifts for everyone on your list.

And it’s only the first week of November.

Since you definitely don’t want to quit while you’re ahead, the next thing we’ll help you cross off your to-do list is . . . mastering holiday etiquette.

While it’s certainly a time of year to express appreciation, all those family visits and rites of gift-giving, whether with friends or coworkers, can also mean frayed nerves, stepped-on toes or general awkwardness.

But guess what? With a little preparation - and our guide to holiday etiquette - you can navigate the next few weeks with nothing but grace, gratitude and good cheer.

Handling Awkward Money Situations

Family and Money:

It’s the Murphy’s Law of Relationships: The people who love us most also have the greatest power to hurt our feelings. Combine the general sensitivity surrounding money issues with the kinds of probing questions that family members have a knack for asking, add a dose of holiday stress, and anyone can end up in an explosive situation.

But you can ward off fights with this simple, disarming tip: When someone inevitably asks, “When are you going to get a bigger house?” or “Why did you buy such an expensive purse?”, simply respond, “Thanks for your concern about my personal finances. You’ll be happy to know that I budget carefully and am in good control of my money, which is why I’m waiting to buy a bigger place/I was able to get this purse.” Then go back to eating your cookie.

Old Friends and Finances:

You come back home and want to see all of your best friends from high school-only now one makes three times what you do, while you know another just lost her job.

Here’s how to catch up with each, without letting money come between you.

5 Tech-Etiquette Mistakes to Avoid on Friday the 13th (and Every Day)

Kristy Korcz — Thu, 12 May 2011 10:29:50 PDT

Tomorrow is Friday the 13th of May, and while this day is usually associated with unlucky events, it doesn't have to turn into a tech-etiquette nightmare. National Etiquette Week is coming to a close, so let's chat about the five biggest tech-etiquette mistakes you can make tomorrow, and every day of the week.

Walking or driving while texting - Not only is texting while driving illegal in most states, texting while walking is just as dangerous to you and innocent walkers around you. If you must send a text while you're on foot, pull it over to the edge of the sidewalk and wait until you click "send" to keep moving. It'll save you time, embarrassment, and possible medical bills if you happen to slip, trip, or fall down on uneven pavement.
Using your cell in the bathroom - Chitchatting while on the toilet has been labeled rude, gross, and unnecessary by our readers, and it's just plain uncomfortable to have to listen to someone's conversation while you're doing your business. Save the calls for the halls, please.

See the rest of the list, including the most heinous, mobile-etiquette offender after the jump.

Tech Tips For Working Remotely

Kristy Korcz — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 10:46:30 PDT

According to a new study, telecommuting is on the rise. In fact, 56 percent of decision makers at US companies think that working from home makes employees more productive and 53 percent of CFOs plan on increasing telecommuting options at their companies. If you're part of the lucky population that is or soon will be allowed to work remotely, be sure to follow these tips for maximizing your home office and making sure you're following proper coffee shop office etiquette!

At Home

Have a designated work area - The couch may be comfy, but working while hunched over on your sofa isn't the best idea for your posture. Get a real desk, or at least work at the dining table so you can prevent a sore neck and back later on down the road.
Keep a clean workspace - Speaking of a designated workspace, there's nothing more distracting than working amongst cords, cables, papers, dirty coffee cups, and whatever else happened to land on your desk while you weren't working. Start the day off right with a clutter-free environment by making a point to clean off your desk at the end of each workweek. Monday mornings will thank you.
Ready, set, share - Set up a file sharing service with your teammates so you can keep on top of document changes while you're working. Dropbox and Box.net are both great services for sharing documents and files between groups.
Consider dual monitors - More desktop real estate equals more productivity. Since you've got a good desk, you might as well make the most of things by allowing yourself more monitor space to see your incoming emails, web browser, chat windows, and spreadsheets all at once. No more clicking around, searching for the right window!
Set your schedule - Schedules aren't there to make your life miserable - they actually help get things accomplished. Be sure that your working hours are clear with your boss (even better if they're flexible to start and end times), and take regular breaks to stretch.
Communicate often - If instant message is your preferred form of communication, be sure you're available during your working hours, and remember to set the "away" notification when you've stepped out. This will be a big help for your co-workers who may be looking for you.
Keep track of expenses - If you're freelancing or building your own business, be sure to document and save receipts for purchases. You can usually write off expenses for computer equipment, Internet access, and even part of your rent if you work from home. I recommend scanning all of your receipts and storing them in a cloud-based locker so if by chance your paper files get damaged, you'll always have a digital copy. Same goes for any important documents you need.

Planning on posting it up at your favorite coffee shop? Some etiquette tips you may want to keep in mind after the break.

3 Sticky Wedding-Related Email Etiquette Situations to Avoid

GeekSugar — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 02:07:06 PDT

Have you or someone you know fallen victim to one of these bridal email etiquette situations? When you're dealing with a busy wedding party scattered throughout the country (or even just scattered across your town), digital communication is a must. It keeps all of the bridesmaids and other VIPs in the know and is a quick, easy way for the bride, maid of honor, or anyone else to communicate thoughts, ideas, plans, and other important info to many people at once. However, it can also create problems. When you're writing while stressed, it can be far too easy to misinterpret the tone of an email (since body language is nonexistent), and then it's open season on hurt feelings. Here, three sticky email etiquette situations to avoid.

MOH on a power trip. If you're involved in a wedding, you know there is an endless amount of parties, gifts, and expenses associated with them. While she may be trying to help, an overzealous maid of honor may become a little pushy - especially if she's a planner.
How to deal: If you're dealing with one of these types, it's best to keep your correspondence professional and to the point. If she demands an RSVP to a party invite or gift contribution, and you can't give her one just yet, be honest. Quickly explain your situation, apologize, and stand your ground. If it's appropriate (like, if you can't make it to an out-of-state shower), be sure to explain your position to the bride, too. Just keep any potential conflicts out of the communication you have with the bride - if you have beef with the maid of honor, better to deal with it just between the two of you.

Keep reading for more sticky wedding-related email situations

Who Pays When It’s Business?

LearnVest — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 00:15:41 PDT

We're thrilled to present this smart LearnVest story here on Savvy!

You’re out to lunch with your mentor.

She’s always given you smart advice on everything from dealing with your difficult colleague to whether to accept that new job. You’re grateful and want to show your appreciation, but she’s older, wiser and, well, higher on the pay scale.

When the waiter drops the check at your table, you both glance down at it. What happens next?

Whether you’re a salesperson, freelance graphic designer or chairwoman of the board, business meals and coffee meetings are both key to furthering your career-and fraught with potential etiquette faux pas.

Now you’ll have one less to wrestle with: The guidelines in our chart below will help you navigate the world of power lunches with aplomb, no matter who’s sitting across from you.

Which Email Etiquette Offense Is the Worst?

Kristen Hawley — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 03:13:28 PST

In an increasingly digital world, email etiquette is becoming an important tool in the way we communicate. While most professionals are able to hold to a largely unspoken code of conduct, occasionally a breach of etiquette squeezes through. Here, four of what I think are the worst email offenses. Do you agree? Cast your vote!

Forwarding a forwarded forward
Usually reserved for mothers, grandmothers, and other novice emailers, the forwarded forwarded forward usually contains some sort of animated .gif and Comic Sans font.

Check out the rest and vote for the worst offender after the break.