What message... at the Tone....?

You know... this is a tough one.

How many times do we read tone or attitude into an email?... I know I am very prone to it.

I tend to assume that someone is coming off with the most rude and angry "tone" as I read an email

Seth taught me a trick of reading every email imagining the sender with a smile... Pretending that, maybe, they didn't mean to sound as 'snarky' as they did. I know when I have to write customers I try and make myself physically smile while I type.. Crazy, I know...

I made a purchase on Etsy last night.. my first. The seller contacted me via email..

I thought her tone was rude! I was thinking, "Gosh, why is she being like that?" Then I thought, "I don't know how's she's being... it's only letters! She was only explaining her policy to me, which she has probably typed out a hundred times!"

I thought, "Man, how often is it is received as rude when I email a customer, quickly as I can, when I have 50 emails to return?"

Anyway.. not sure why I am typing this out.. I guess, just as friendly reminder for myself to consider how little can actually be communicated through text! ..... It's hard to "hear" what is being said.

Do women 'read' a different tone from a woman's email vs. a man's email........ or is it just me?

I try to add smileys :) and friendly words to make sure that the right 'tone' comes through.

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