Quoting Others

Tea at Trianon, quoting others, but enunciating principles that she has well demonstrated, asks us to consider the importance of kind words in an unkind world.   I hold with her principles so closely that I'm considered something of a misfit--for example, I also hold that a salutation in an e-mail as well as a valedictory is a way of recognizing and honoring the person with whom you are communicating.  I know in business it is an unfashionable idea to consider that a person is deserving of respect, after all we have phrases that range from "resources" to "commodities" to "human capital" to describe those with whom we work; however, if we take just a moment to recognize that when we write, we write to a person--a person who, by virtue only of being a person, is deserving of our respect whether or not that person has chosen to show the same, we are making the world a better place by a small margin.  And all of that selvage eventually adds up to real capital--goodness.


Unpopular, and demanding, I know.  But certainly not beyond the capabilities of anyone who uses the electronic medium to communicate--even in those business e-mails and communications, but especially in those that are social.

If Ms. Vidal should see fit to add more, I might go further and discuss my theory of how one should begin one's emersion in acquaintance.  Hint: it involves progressively more antiquated words such as Mr., Mrs. Miss, and Ms. (depending upon the preference of the person being addressed).  And then we can talk about the marvels of Sir, and Mame.  Think of them as sort of English versions of Japanese honorifics.

While on the topic, you may want to visit Miss Janice for both elegance and etiquette.