The ever-popular "Reply to all" email function... (Read 1035 times)

Yep. I JUST did it. Knee-jerk reaction to a client email. There has been a long standing "relationship" issue w/this client and I did nothing to help the cause today. The person in question sent an email in to us, copying everyone under the sun, and basically came right out and called me a liar. In a furious 45 second span I responded in kind, w/the intention of sending it ONLY to my boss w/my take on the situation. Instead, my dumbass, in the heat of battle, hits the "reply to all" button and fired off a rather, ahem, terse explanation of how things went down. The fallout should be...interesting. I am such a dumbass.

Oh my. Good luck with that. I hope everyone on that list is understanding.

I'm sure your boss will understand. He might just think you're a bozo who hasn't yet mastered e-mail communication.

If his boss is anything like the people I work for, he hasn't mastered email communication, either.

After spending so much time on this site, I find myself trying to look for the "Modify" link after I send an email, only to realize that once they're sent, they're sent. Some email programs allow you to retract sent mail (though usually only internally). See if you can do that. Also, when I'm composing an email, I usually blank out the TO: and CC: fields while working on it (unless it's way too inconvenient). Something to consider, especially if it's an emotional situation. Forces you to take a breath before sending knee-jerk emails. It doesn't just happen on email. I remember reading something about a phone conversation between Paul and John that occurred during/after the break-up of The Beatles. Apparently, they were arguing on the phone. Paul reportedly hung up, and immediately tried to call someone else. In the heat of the moment, he instead dialed John accidentally and said, "You'll never believe what f*****g John Lennon just said to me." There was a long pause, then John said, "Paul, this is f*****g John Lennon."

Outlook has a work Offline option where hitting the send button just copies the email to the outbox, giving you a chance to delete before synch'ing. Just Sayin.

As a well traveled peer once eloquently stated "F***em and feed 'em fish heads"

I have done this once (and it was enough!)--now, If I want to reply to someone on the email, I hit the forward button. Several years ago, a coworker sent out to our group an email about the company picnic, and how the ladies in another group thought it would be a good idea to have a potluck. Since the pcinic was already being catered, I thought this was a rather dumb idea...so I hit the reply all, stating as such--something like "Why in the hell would I want to bring a potluck dish to a catered affair?". I didn't notice that the lady's name who had brought up the idea was on the cc:. The fallout was not pretty..even after I apologized. The ladies mafia had it in for me for quite awhile. I think now, about 11 years later, most have forgotten.

LOL That sucks.

I heard a story once at my work that a woman had emailed her resume, applying for a job, and saved our boss as a contact. Later, she sent a very pornographic picture and joke to everyone on her list, forgetting that the boss was on there. Needless to say, she wasn't hired.

D'oh!