The American Spectator

p> SCREEN SAVERS br> Re: Shawn Macomber’s Internet Cowards : /p> p>This article sums up so well the way people act on the Internet. Even years ago on the newsgroups it was that way. Eight years ago at work, one of my co-workers was boasting about how well he could flame people on the newsgroups he participated in. So I challenged him to a “flaming” contest to be judged by our other co-workers. He lost big time because, as you have noted in your article, he almost immediately descended into just swearing and cursing whereas I used wit and sarcasm to make him look like a fool (not that he needed much help). But most people believe like he did, the more crude you are, the more curse words you use, the better. I would NOT want to get into such a contest with someone like Bill Buckley. If more people studied and used language like Mr. Buckley they could quit their jobs with a resignation letter that would leave the old boss saying, “Did he compliment me or insult me?” br> — Jeff Cook br> Powell, Ohio /p>

Unabashedly you have a polluted inbox. Surely a sign of an occupational hazard. But the observations work the other way as well. From personal experience, many people have to send their notice of leave as the boss has not been in their office for 6 weeks. Many more work remote from the head man and have no choice. But a good deal of the time I chalk the degrading of the personal experience to Corporate America. Case in point — Oracle in their last round of layoffs sent the termination notices via FedEx next day air. No face to face with the HR person, just send your badge back in the provided return mailer. Your severance is in the mail.

p>Shawn, by the way email is such a retro way to do things these days. Internet Messenger is the way to go. br> — John McGinnis