Mister Manners – if you have something important to say, say it in person or on the phone

Emails. They are as hideous as they are marvellous. You can type anything. Anything you like – and then send it to someone in a matter of seconds. But we’ve all learned that in most cases, once you send it, you can’t take it back.

It’s been a while since I’ve done a Mister Manners session and I’d like to kick this one off with a tale: I always remember that time when I worked an office job, where I sent an email calling my immediate supervisor “an idiot who regularly confuses me for his secretary” to my immediate supervisor, instead of to my friend three offices down.

It’s true. I would never have said that to his face and probably should’ve walked up the three offices to tell my friend in person. That whole experience taught me an important lesson. If you have something important to say, say it in person. And failing that, try using a telephone. Emails and letters install a type of forever on what you may say in the heat of a moment. Regret’s a bitch. Smarten up.

So in the spirit of that and after a summer of disasterous relationships, I offer the following public service announcement for your consideration:

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