It appears the idiocy present on the internet is getting worse. I sent off a bunch of emails to textile companies in an attempt to locate bolts of Silk Dupion appropriate for the bridesmaids dresses.

And it was all fine, till I got this reply from Alan Jones Agencies in Newton:

To: Elly
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2008 12:29 PM
Subject: Message from Yellow Online – Silk Dupion

SORRY WE CAN ARRAGE A SHIPMENT FROM INDIA , BUT DO NOT HAVE STOCKS,
REGARDS / ALAN JONES.

Now, receiving a message in capitals really really irks me. I think it’s lazy, unprofessional, and rude. It’s almost as annoying as people who email you in ‘txt-speak’, or don’t use the spell check function. As I had to reply to him anyway, I figured I’d mention it.

To: Alan Jones
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2008 13:04 PM
Subject: RE: Message from Yellow Online – Silk Dupion

Hi Alan,

Thanks for that, but I think I’d rather find a supplier that stocks Silk Dupion.

Also, just for the record, typing an email in capitals is considered rude, and unprofessional. You may want to refrain from doing so in future.

Cheers,
Elly

Mm. It’s entirely possible I wasn’t as nice as I could be about it, but whatever. It was just an FYI, and it couldn’t have hurt. But then I got a reply:

To: Elly
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2008 12:29 PM
Subject: RE: Message from Yellow Online – Silk Dupion

REALLY. YOU HAVE A GOOD DAY THEN.

Nice thumb in the nose gesture. Especially with the ‘good day’ comment. I guess I *could* have been nicer, obviously he took offense and was determined to ignore my attempt at internet etiquette. Fine, no problem. So I replied, this time with Wiki at my back, and with appropriate bolding of my own thumb to nose gesture:

To: Alan Jones
Sent: Monday, September 08, 2008 13:04 PM
Subject: RE: Message from Yellow Online – Silk Dupion

Fantastic sales technique, really.

Taken from Wikipedia, so you don’t just think I was taking a dig – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caps_lock

“On Internet chat systems, forums and Usenet, typing a sentence in all capitals is considered rude, the large letters akin to shouting or yelling within the social context. On a more practical level, text written in all capital letters, a result of engaging the caps lock, may be difficult to read.[1] The ‘Caps Lock Theory’, is often referred to in Internet chat forums and states that there is an inverse relationship between a person’s use of the caps lock and their knowledge of a particular subject“.

Cheers.

The internet wins. If you don’t know how to play nice in the playground of sales, then be prepared to get pwned with bad publicity and jokes at the expense of your intelligence.