e-mail etiquette

Curio · 26 Apr 2007 at 20:03

This may seem like a silly question....but I've got the flu and my brain isn't working properly.......man, the dreams I had last night during the worst of the fever :eek:

Anyway...

So I'd like to e-mail somebody I know from work. I know their e-mail addy - but I only found it by accident during one of my duties at work.....I'm not sure if they actually make it "public" or not. Would it be bad manners, or even downright creepy, for me to e-mail them? I mean, we're pretty good work chums so I don't think they would mind.....but what if they're offended and think I went snooping or abused my position at work? I would have just asked for their e-mail addy, but they're away for a while now and I'd really like to contact them. Maybe my first line should be "I hope you don't mind..." etc, etc?

I'm thinking I probably shouldn't, just in case. Opinions?

Akira · 26 Apr 2007 at 20:09

Curio said:
I only found it by accident during one of my duties at work....

I'm thinking I probably shouldn't, just in case. Opinions?

Although you're quite vague, I would assume that privacy restrictions would compel you to ignore what you find that you don't specifically need in the course of your duties. I'd ask them or a colleague for the address, I wouldn't use it until you had a reasonable route to discovering it. Atm I don't think you have.

DAVEM · 26 Apr 2007 at 20:12

Curio what are you doing in Madison, are you at U Wisc? Been there in the past, gets very cold during the winter!

Easy · 26 Apr 2007 at 20:14

Given the circumstance you have made those discoveries, my suggestion is that you dont. (Like Akira pointed out)

Elmer · 26 Apr 2007 at 20:22

Yup agree definitely ask first.

Ja (: · 26 Apr 2007 at 20:29

I doubt he will care unless you start sending spam his way.

Killa_ken · 26 Apr 2007 at 21:03

Doubt he will mind, just start as you've said... Hope you dont...

tom_nieto · 26 Apr 2007 at 21:13

Is it honestly any worse than sending them a letter through the post after finding out their address? If you've got a genuine reason to contact them, and you're not a creepy stalker then go for it. If you're asking a girl out on a date or trying to chat them up, I can't imagine a worse way of going about it (I think this is where this is heading).

Curio · 26 Apr 2007 at 21:19

tom_nieto said:
If you're asking a girl out on a date or trying to chat them up, I can't imagine a worse way of going about it (I think this is where this is heading).

Nooo, it's not heading that way! I'm happily married for a start

I think I'll hold off and ask when they get back - it's not a life or death situation. Thanks for the replies.

Curio · 26 Apr 2007 at 21:21

DAVEM said:
Curio what are you doing in Madison, are you at U Wisc? Been there in the past, gets very cold during the winter!

I live in Madison now - my wife is from here. I met her when she was studying in England (Warwick Uni) but we couldn't afford to live over there (plus other reasons) so here we are

As for the winter.....yes, -26c is a little nippy

tom_nieto · 26 Apr 2007 at 21:31

Curio said:
Nooo, it's not heading that way! I'm happily married for a start

I think I'll hold off and ask when they get back - it's not a life or death situation. Thanks for the replies.

Haha, sorry! It's usually the way OcUK goes

It was just the way you used "they" the whole time.

Majago · 26 Apr 2007 at 23:45

Personally I don't see a problem with you using it - as long as you've got a genuine reason for emailing and you could surely have just gotten his email address from another colleague anyway?