I don’t know if this has ever happened to you, but it happened to me for the first time recently and I don’t think I really want it to happen again.
I’m going to call it “e-mail rage”, but I suppose it may come under many names, depending on who discovered it. I’ve managed to cool off a little bit, but none the less I am still pretty peeved – hence why it is a rage.
A few days ago I was asked to choose from a list of items on a website. So I went to the website, chose from the list, and sent my response back.
What followed was a couple of e-mails telling me that I had chose incorrectly and basically treating me like an incompetent idiot for being unable to perform this seemingly simple action.
I don’t know about you, but I don’t like being like an incompetent idiot in any way, particularly over e-mail, and from a source that I definitely would not expect it from. There has clearly been a misunderstanding, is it really so hard to clarify where I should be choosing from?
Anyway the e-mails angered me so much I am yet to reply, as every time I go to I get angry again and everything I write comes out in a way I would definitely not consider sending via e-mail. Maybe the other person should have considered this first too.
In my view it goes back to the same old problem: when developers are making the content for websites, they have to come out of the technical mind set (or there has to be a branch of the team which is away from it) and actually think about the human logic of the content that’s going into the text boxes. It’s good ole’ User Requirements again – it isn’t enough to think “oh we’re busy developing – um quick – what text box do we need when this item is chosen from the drop down list? – well just type in there ‘Wrong Answer!’ for now and we’ll sort it out later after we’ve got the page working” It really isn’t enough Chris…developers must think more deeply about the purpose of the web site and HOW it is being used. That’s why you feel insulted – you were getting the “default quick and dirty” replies – and what’s more…let’s add insult to injury: it’s not even a PERSONAL insult – any old user will do to chuck abuse at!