Ever have one of those days where you just want to rip someone a new one?

Me too. Regularly.

Yesterday I was happily browsing along, applying to gigs. I sent an email to a potential client, (showcasing my rockstar writing skills) and moved on to the next job application.

Later in the day, I checked my email, to be greeted with a nasty reply about sending unsolicited email, the consequences thereof, and potential legal action.

HUH?

I fired off a quick but hateful response, pointing out that I paid for access to a list of jobs, had applied to one of them, and this was not my fault in any way. I believe the word asshole was used.

Ok, the word asshole WAS used – several times.

Then I thought better of myself, saved the email as a draft, and went to make a pot of herbal tea.

Later, feeling a bit calmer, I returned to the email.

I redrafted a polite reply <the word asshole was NOT included> explaining that I was feeling pretty upset by the situation myself. After all, I pay a yearly fee for access to writing jobs, and I had assumed that those jobs were all…um….people looking for writers.

My mistake.

List owner’s fault – not mine.

So, that was the gist of the email.

I recieved a response at the speed of lighting from the client who’s email had been on the list, apologizing for his  grumpiness. Apparently nasty news in the mail and a flooded email inbox had made him a bit snarky.  Again, the word asshole was used. As in, “Sorry, I was an…”

Crisis Averted.

Today, I got an email from the same gentleman, offering me work.

The moral of the story?

Don’t call people assholes. Even if they’re behaving that way – could just be a bad day.

The real moral?

Be professional in all your business communications, or it’ll bite you in the….