Comments on: R U 2 Casual w Your Biz Talk?

By: This Week in Search Marketing Staffing - 8/4/08

This Week in Search Marketing Staffing - 8/4/08 — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 20:15:44 +0000

[...] mouth. Frank Reed has summed up this problem in a great post for Marketing Pilgrim titled, R U 2 Casual w Your Biz Talk? With the growth of instant messaging and txt messaging, many college graduates have end [...]

By: Patent Baristas » Friday IP Round-Up

Patent Baristas » Friday IP Round-Up — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 20:06:44 +0000

[...] politeness” or “You aren’t important enough for real dialog.” See related Marketing Pilgrim post “R U 2 Casual w Your Biz Talk?,” which refers to a Wall Street Journal post [...]

By: Brian

Brian — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:20:07 +0000

I like this acticle. I agree that using text slang is absolutely terrible for business. I have yet to see text speak on a resume, but I am sure I will one day.

I think part of the problem is that communication vehicles are seen as casual. Blogging is something that is casual, texting on phones is casual. The speed at which you communicate is directly related to how casual that communication is.

I work for a business networking website, konnects.com, and some people do use text speak when they are describing their business. I don’t think people realize the potential impact using text speak has on their professional life.

Brian
http://www.konnects.com

By: Spinfield

Spinfield — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 20:59:15 +0000

This is interesting, because I was just discussing this issue with someone the other day. He was an older gentleman who has been in the business world for many years. He said that he will not even read e-mails he receives written with shortcuts. He said it was extremely unprofessional and almost offensive. I totally agree with this statement. It is great to have shortcuts if you are in a hurry or talking to close friends. However I think it is extremely important to be able to know when it is and when it is NOT appropriate to use shortcuts. Great article! Spinfield's last blog post..What is Web 2.0?

By: Frank Reed

Frank Reed — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 17:30:45 +0000

Todd, I see your point. Thanks for checking in. Frank Frank Reed's last blog post..Blog With The End In Mind

By: Todd Mintz

Todd Mintz — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:29:47 +0000

I would defend adding people who interviewed you to social networks though not until the job “decision” has been made…and I would start with LinkedIn and only gravitate to Facebook depending on the industry and level of connection that was made with that person.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:36:07 +0000

@Andy – I couldn’t resist . I’m sure Frank got a chuckle as well, considering how badly I butchered “text speak”. Hopefully it reiterated the validity of the points made in this post and the WSJ story.

By: Nicole Price

Nicole Price — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:23:14 +0000

This needed to be said from all roof tops by all responsible people. I am glad that you have taken the bull by its horn and come out with a strong post. I hope that the users of such sloppy communications are reading this. Nicole Price's last blog post..Custom T-shirts

By: Marifer

Marifer — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:04:12 +0000

haha..I would never do that. But I’m saving your post as a reminder anyways Thx 4 ur post!

By: Andy Beal

Andy Beal — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 15:03:02 +0000

I suspected at least one comment would be in text shorthand. @Scott, thanks for not letting me down.

We talk extensively about this in Radically Transparent. How you compose your emails, says a lot about your reputation.

By: QualityGal

QualityGal — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:41:41 +0000

I haven’t yet turned 30, but I feel so old sometimes when I encounter “txtspk” everywhere. My red pen twitches – or at least the hand that holds my red pen twitches. I hate that it has become acceptable for people to communicate this way. Even when text message my friends and family, I use real words.

The idea of using r, u, gr8, or <3 in business communications is just cringe-worthy. Though I have used “ZOMG” sarcastically in a blog entry…

QualityGal’s last blog post..I Feel Lucky and have big Dreams, and we?re up to 40 now.

By: Andrew Miller

Andrew Miller — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:34:11 +0000

Frank – great pickup on this article. I read it as well and got a little chuckle out of it. I have worked with several interns recently that don’t quite seem to grasp the professional courtesy that “real-life” jobs require…and I work in the Internet Marketing field where one can get away with a little more chat-speak.

The article didn’t really explore the numbers behind this phenomenon too much, but there are certainly some buttoned-up interviewers that still send proper thank-you cards or emails. There have always been slackers in the real world and I assume this is just a continuation of that trend.

Natural selection will maintain the balance of life, so to speak. The weak (mannered) will be thinned from the (corporate) herd.

By: Scott

Scott — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:33:15 +0000

IMHO, u r st8tn gd pts. Der is a tm & plc 4 txt spk esp w/ IM w/ peops u kno.

By: Frank Reed

Frank Reed — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:27:52 +0000

Ginny,

That is my worst nightmare.

By: Frank Reed

Frank Reed — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:26:27 +0000

Barbara,

I like your passion around the subject. I did dial back my “real” feelings a bit. Go to the WSJ and read the article in full if you want to get even more upset! I didn’t even get to mention that one of the recruiters complaining about this is with KPMG which hires Ivy League types to big paying gigs right out of school. Imagine you hire a new graduate who will be front facing with good size customers and their e-mails consist of emoticons and rah, rah !!!!!!!!!! stuff. KPMG is not going to tolerate having to explain that away. Also, anyone who has hiring authority wouldn’t in their right minds OK this kind of silliness because THEY will end up on the street. Phew!

By: Ginny

Ginny — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:23:06 +0000

Maybe it's because I'm a former newspaper reporter, but I can't stand it when anyone uses texting shorthand in an e-mail. I'm relaxing a little when it comes to instant messaging. More often then not, I still feel compelled to make sure my IMs are properly spelled and punctuated, but I'm starting to relax a little about that. It will be interesting to see what the future holds when it comes to business and correspondence. Maybe when today's youth are in charge, something like this will be the norm in corporate e-mails: OMG, I <3 your idea. Can u come c me 2 discuss? Ginny's last blog post..Exploring Durham’s Scrap Exchange

By: Barbara Ling

Barbara Ling — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:15:59 +0000

NO NO NO!

You’re WRONG WRONG WRONG!

You write:

“Does this sound harsh? Well, I suppose it is.”

BZZZZT! El-WRONGO! You’re not harsh ENOUGH! Instead, you should have written something akin to:

“People who indulge in the utter brazen soul-searing stupidity known as ‘chatspeak’ in real life interactions are truly deserving of meeting my pet pirahna named Fluffy and engaging in their conversations via that venue.”

Super article and it should be said far more often!! Stumbled – everyone should read it.

Enjoy, Barbara

Barbara Ling’s last blog post..SURVIVING the Circle of Love (and smashing your fears to teeny tiny bits)

By: Don Draper

Don Draper — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:15:38 +0000

Along the same lines, I see a lot of people in business (especially the younger set) that make the assumption that everyone they talk to shares their politics. If I'm thinking about buying something, I really don't need to know your political views. Confronting your customers with your love for Obama or McCain risks offending roughly 50% of your sales, since it's a close race. Bloggers should think about that. Perhaps they're just trying to create good Digg bait, but having a google search on your name produce 1,000 submits to Digg of how you love a candidate can't be helpful. Likewise profanity, religion, etc. You kind of have to wonder about how the college kids that are posting huge amounts of controversial stuff on these social networks are going to explain some of this in their job interviews when they get out. Using your real name and saying what college you go to in a profile is like sending out a resume these days. Don Draper's last blog post..Add the ProBlogger Friends List the Easy Way

By: Cosmixxx

Cosmixxx — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 14:04:19 +0000

This is excellent, I really enjoyed the article! Cosmixxx's last blog post..Fascinatia discobolului