Byron Nevins: Byron's Pointless Ramblings

I just finished washing and waxing your car. I also picked up your dry cleaning and nominated you for a Nobel prize.

Thanks,

Joe

When I'm going through my hundreds of emails each day, I keep seeing this style. Why is the "Hi" neccessary? We're not talking -- it's email! I feel peer pressure to put in the same useless "Hi" simply because everybody else is -- and I don't want to appear impolite.

What's up with the thanks? You just did a bunch of chores for the email recipient. Why are you thanking him -- he did nothing! I see this all the time too. I suspect that "Thanks, Fred" is a signature that gets added to every email. I may be picky but "thanks" loses its meaning and importance when it is used for no reason.

Ahhh, now I feel much better.

Thanks,

codeplumber