What would you do if you got this email from your boss?

[progmom]

Hi Progmom,

1) Do not freak out
2) When you're done freaking out, here's what I'd like to discuss re: this email. (...boring work stuff deleted here)

[DS1]

1. Hate my boss for the baby-talk bullshit

[ScreamingMeemie]

2. Not give him the freak out that he/she is looking for.

:hi:

[Ignoramus]

3. Your boss knows your DU handle?

Wow, I'd be freaking out.

On the other hand, maybe he's a flirtin'.

[progmom]

4. no...my name is really progmom.

you mean....you're not really named Ignoramus?? :wow:

[billyskank]

33. You mean you do your radio show under a pseudonym?

:o

[Wapsie B]

5. I don't know what it pertains to

or how serious the matter is but I'd be concerned. Then resigned to the fact that whatever happens, happens.

[kick-ass-bob]

6. Freak out. He knows about DU.

:scared:

Biteme.

[progmom]

8. she did see my bumper sticker

i'm screwed. :scared:

[kick-ass-bob]

10. i thought you had a he-boss.

:shrug:

Oh, that must be the other 'progmom'

:shrug:

[progmom]

11. no - it's always been a she

at least since i got on DU... :shrug:

[terrya]

7. That's an extraordinarily unprofessional email.

I've never seen an email like that from a boss to an employee. If this is some weird example of "humor", it's in questionable taste.

[ET Awful]

9. If it was from my boss, I'd probably laugh my ass off.

My boss can be pretty cool :)

[progmom]

12. lucky you!

:)

[bridgit]

13. suck it up & put your 'big girl pants' on...

always be ready to make some changes for 'the team'; whomever they are, they seem to know just where your button is

[progmom]

14. i wear my big girl pants every day, bridgit!

no freaking out here. ;)

[bridgit]

15. but are you ready to make changes...

for 'the team' :shrug:

[progmom]

17. i live and die for the team

and eat, drink, sleep, sweat, and vomit for the team. i am the team. an army of one. giddy-ap.

[bridgit]

19. then that is where your foible may well lie...

you need to own your very own universe in which to carry out your world view down below perhaps where us commoners live

Stand up
You've got to manage
I won't sympathize
Anymore

And if you complain once more
You'lll meet an army of me

You're alright
There's nothing wrong
Self sufficience please!
And get to work

And if you complain once more
You'll meet an army of me

You're on your own now
We won't save you
Your rescue squad
Is too eshausted

And if you complain once more
You'll meet an army of me

[Heidi]

16. I'd inform Boss . . .

that if he really gave a fat rat's a$$ about whether I freak out, he wouldn't use the term "Do not freak out" in emails. :shrug:

[bridgit]

30. Heidi, you are correct...

http://www.emailreplies.com

[blondeatlast]

18. You can't win either way. He/she tells you "Don't freak out,"

then assumes that you did anyway.

Damned if ya do and damned if ya don't.

In conclusion. freaking out is definitely warranted.

[merh]

20. What a sad little boss you have.

Playing mind games on Monday. Guess she had a dull weekend.
I'd save the email, but I wouldn't freak out. :shrug:

:hi:

[gmoney]

21. Is the issue?

The "Don't freak out" part, or did she actually address it to "Progmom" ?

[progmom]

23. no. i replaced my actual name with my DU name

the issue is the freaking out part.

[gmoney]

29. Oh, in that case...

I'd just take it as a lame attempt at humor and move on to the meat of the message. Nothing to freak out about, unless it IS something to freak out about.

P.S. Still crushing on this picture... :loveya:

[Misunderestimator]

22. So, was it really boring, or was it something for which freaking out would

be warranted? :)

[progmom]

24. it is something that could warrant freaking out

if one were inclined to react that way.

[Misunderestimator]

28. Well I hate that kind of passive aggressive crap no matter where it comes

from.... It's like... "Don't flame me...." followed by a bunch of racist or sexist crap. Like in GD...

[progmom]

32. yeah - i hate that too

;)

[bertha katzenengel]

25. ME: I'd totally freak out RED, man.

:scared:

You'll have to let us know what it's about.

[stellanoir]

26. Oh progmom

How lame. Firstly, she is saying that if you have a reaction, she doesn't want to hear about it. Secondly, she infers that a reaction is probably inevitable which suggests one of two things: either that she's unconsciously acknowledging that a reaction is warranted, which is also an admission of a violation, or she's suggesting that you are in essence, a hysterical psycho woman.

Or she might just think it's a very weak stab at humor but either way, it's wickedly mean spirited.

I don't know. . .on one hand you could be condescendingly haughty and hold up a hard copy of the e-mail and inquire, "Do you really think this is professional ?"

The other extreme would be to hold up a hard copy of the e-mail and say, "Are you really trying to frigging freak me out. . . , or are you just stupid. . .?"

The moderate approach would be to merely suggest that you'd like to discuss this matter calmly at her earliest convenience.

But screw that.

PM me with details if you desire more specific prognostications.

Just don't give her the satisfaction of freaking out and I really think you should discuss it in person rather send a reactionary e-mail. Just bare in mind that Mercury is retro and you don't want to have to eat your words in a couple weeks.

Good Luck with it dear.

[progmom]

31. I left her a voice mail.

Calmly explained why there was really no cause for a freak-out, and that she should follow up with me if she needed more details. :)

[ghostsofgiants]

27. Tell your boss that progmom isn't actually your name?

Or maybe start referring to him as progboss.

:shrug:

[caty]

34. When someone says do not

freak out--I freak out. When someone says "trust me"--I don't. When someone says don't jump to conclusions--I:bounce:

[GOPisEvil]

35. I cringe at every e-mail from my boss.

:scared:

[jane_pippin]

36. I get messages from my boss like that all the time only...

with more spelling mistakes and no useful information in them whatsoever.

I just ignore them, but my guess is your boss is actually, oh what's the word I'm looking for, engaged in the daily goings on of the business.

Still, I wouldn't freak out until you really need to freak out.

[RedCloud]

37. Growl at her for calling me progmom!

Nerve of her showing me someone else's e-mail.

I get enough of this "let's become cutting edge" and all those trendy no-speech boss nonsense, and then to make me her thought patrol police with no pay raise to boot.

[yvr girl]

38. Your boss is a freak

But then, you already know that.

[billyskank]

39. ...aaaaaaaAAAAAAAAHH- FREAK OUT!!!

:smoke: