As a teacher, I've noticed lately I want to grade people. Tell people how to improve their lives. Give constructive criticism (okay, I don't always want to give constructive criticism...).
Honestly, if people are making me angry or irritated just by how they act, I'm probably not the only one getting turned off. I'd be willing to bet money (you know, if I had any) that what bugs me probably bugs potential employers, friends, and lovers.
For example: people who write emails that are about a paragraph long yet only one poorly-constructed sentence. You get a big fat F, but if you re-write that email properly, maybe I'll give you another shot at a better grade.
Why the F? It isn't just because it makes you look illiterate, buddy. It's because you're being disrespectful to someone by not putting the time into properly punctuating. It's because you're wasting time that you don't own when people have to try to decipher what you meant. It's because there are a lot of people out there who know how to communicate clearly, respectfully, and with a strategy... and I'd rather work with them than struggle to work with you.
But not all the grades I'd hand out would be bad. A friend definitely got an A today when she agreed with someone about finding Korean men attractive.
"You know what it is," she confided. "It's because they tan."
A+.
Because there's value in laughter, too.
What are some grades you would hand out?
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6 comments:
I very much agree with you. I find it a little insulting when people don't bother making their note/text/email grammatically sensible! Also, when I was in school and taking a test, if I had no clue what the correct answer was, I'd just write something funny down. I discovered that an amused professor was much more gentle on me.
Wonderful logic - it's all about the intent and effort - in all aspects of life.
Especially tanning!
People would get F's if they used their phone in a restaurant while you are eating. And can someone tell me why I am the one that has to give my mother the evil eye about this one!
BTW thanks for stopping by the other day!
Now you've made me self-conscious about composing this comment. :P
I hate it when I write a very well composed e-mail message to a superior , complete with a salutation and a signature, but the reply not only omits the salutation or the signature, it's just a one liner with uncapitalized "i"'s. Sometimes the reply is just one word (e.g. "yes")!
My other pet peeve is people who misspell "definitely" with an "a". I stop reading at that point.
Thanks for stopping by my blog, by the way!
I'm a copy editor, so I am constantly judging people's grammar, spelling, etc. I even use editing marks in the way I view people. I don't like you? A little mental loopy-loo and I've edited you out of the conversation.
Okay, apparently I only commented on this in my mind, because I really thought it happened in real life.
Anyway, I was just at Walgreens to have an ink cartridge refilled. I approached two employees behind the counter who were having a casual chat. They both looked at me and continued their conversation. Once they had finished, one turned to me and said, "Can I help you?" I so badly wanted to say, "Too little, too late. You get an F!" But I didn't.
P.S. I've got a treat for you at my blog.
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