How to Tick Off a Contact and Act Like a Jerk in One Short Sentence

Maybe I’m just overly sensitive, but I got this note today from a PR rep regarding an idea for my newsletter. Things were going well – and I liked him – until he responded to my email about circulation. “You only have X subscribers?”

You see it, don’t you? It’s the word “only” – as if he feels he’s wasting his time bothering to be nice. There were other things, too. Like his signature. Up to this point, he’d used his full name and included contact info on each email. This time, he signed it with one initial. One – as if using any more would cost him too much. Also, he didn’t bother to use his cap button, nor spell check. The message was not even remotely veiled – you’re not worthy of my attention.

Guess what, champ? I have deep connections in this particular industry, and I have an elephant’s memory. I won’t forget your name nor your attitude. I hope to gawd you don’t act like that normally, for I doubt you’d make much of a public relations person if you did.

I can’t tell you how many ways from Sunday I want to tell him off. But I’m not into acting like a jerk just because someone else decides to play by those rules. I will, however, remember him and next time I see that name in my email, the message will be deleted without being opened.

I can understand that he wants to give his clients optimum exposure, and my triple-digit circulation wasn’t going to excite him. However, he doesn’t know that my newsletter prints a “best of” issue that shows at all the trade shows, where over 10,000 will see the contents. Oh, methinks if he knew that, he’d be a touch upset with himself for getting all high and mighty.

Rant over. I should be used to it by now, but sometimes I cannot help being amazed at how people choose to behave with others in their network.