Letter to Paul - From a mate of mine

[James]

He's also completely right.

It's nothing to do with snobbery, if he writes a letter that he wants to be taken seriously then why not just take a minute or so to make sure he'd written something legible.

If I received a letter that looked as the the writer hadn't bothered to take the time or effort to read back and make sure it made sense then why would I take the time to read it?

How about because you're paid to?

Letter writing is a skill that not everyone has, but it doesn't make their views less valid, it doesn't mean that they're thick and nor does it make them lesser people. Snobbery is exactly what it is if you're making that kind of judgement and dismissing the content of the letter out of hand as a result! It's the same as refusing to talk to someone with a difficult accent isn't it, really?

The CEO of any organisation should ensure that all correspondence from 'customers' is treated with respect, however it is presented. It's at least a part of his job after all!

[TonyD]

We're the fourth most decorated club not the fifth. Unless you're counting the bloody Charity Shield.

This was the biggie for me.  But full marks for taking the time to complain.   

[Billy Walker]

The official website says we are the fifth most successful side?  I was under the impression we were currently the fourth most successful.

[Dave]

Snobbery is exactly what it is if you're making that kind of judgement and dismissing the content of the letter out of hand as a result! It's the same as refusing to talk to someone with a difficult accent isn't it, really?

No, it's not the same as not talking to somebody with a different accent. It's not even close to that.

I'd liken it more to somebody turning up to a job interview in shorts and flip-flops. It might not make that person any less suitable a candidate but you are going to leave an impression that you are judged on.

Letter writing isn't something that comes easily to everybody, but if there were something I wasn't very good at that I needed to do I'd probably ask someone for help. If I couldn't write a letter and wanted to write one that I wanted to be taken seriously I'd ask a friend or colleague to sense-check it before posting it. And particularly before passing it around my friends looking for praise.

[James]

Snobbery is exactly what it is if you're making that kind of judgement and dismissing the content of the letter out of hand as a result! It's the same as refusing to talk to someone with a difficult accent isn't it, really?

No, it's not the same as not talking to somebody with a different accent. It's not even close to that.

I'd liken it more to somebody turning up to a job interview in shorts and flip-flops. It might not make that person any less suitable a candidate but you are going to leave an impression that you are judged on.

Letter writing isn't something that comes easily to everybody, but if there were something I wasn't very good at that I needed to do I'd probably ask someone for help. If I couldn't write a letter and wanted to write one that I wanted to be taken seriously I'd ask a friend or colleague to sense-check it before posting it. And particularly before passing it around my friends looking for praise.

I'm not looking for a fight Dave, not by any means, but it's nothing to do with a job interview. It's like complaining to any supplier. The customer should be taken seriously whatever his dress, accent or writing style and the employee on the end of it is paid to respect that!

We'll agree to differ. UTV!

[Vanilla]

Snobbery is exactly what it is if you're making that kind of judgement and dismissing the content of the letter out of hand as a result! It's the same as refusing to talk to someone with a difficult accent isn't it, really?

No, it's not the same as not talking to somebody with a different accent. It's not even close to that.

I'd liken it more to somebody turning up to a job interview in shorts and flip-flops. It might not make that person any less suitable a candidate but you are going to leave an impression that you are judged on.

Letter writing isn't something that comes easily to everybody, but if there were something I wasn't very good at that I needed to do I'd probably ask someone for help. If I couldn't write a letter and wanted to write one that I wanted to be taken seriously I'd ask a friend or colleague to sense-check it before posting it. And particularly before passing it around my friends looking for praise.

True. If a letter is received with poor grammar, a judgement will initially be made on that basis (probably ridicule) before the content is actually addressed. The manner of any response, or lack of, will no doubt be tinged with mild condescension as they will have concluded that the author is inarticulate.

[Mister E]

I'm all for good grammar, but don't put the guy down for it. Sometimes the content, the emotion, are more important than those rules and conveying that, in whatever way one can, is the real nub of things.

True enough but, like it or not, in a business setting such basic errors in English give the impression that the writer doesn't have a clue and therefore immediately takes away a lot of the impact of the letter.

I do take your point and you're right, but he's not a business is he? Anyway, I've no wish to fall out with anyone, but 'cutting a little slack' to people when passions are running high is not a bad thing to do. The alternative just smacks of 'superiority' and is unnecessary in most contexts, certainly in this one. That's just my opinion, I'm not picking a fight.

Capitalising the "V" in Villa would have been a nice touch, though; it is - after all - the main topic of the letter.

[Dave]

I'm not looking for a fight Dave, not by any means, but it's nothing to do with a job interview. It's like complaining to any supplier. The customer should be taken seriously whatever his dress, accent or writing style and the employee on the end of it is paid to respect that!

Fair enough, I would rephrase my point more towards standards and society as a whole rather than this particular case.

Obviously if this chap is a unsatisfied supporter then fine, he should get a letter responding to his concerns. But I'd put money on it that if the letter gets as far as Faulkner's desk, he will be reading it with the assumption that the writer hadn't even thought to check back what he had written before angrily stuffing it in an envelope. Which he clearly hasn't. And the writer will have put a judgement in the reader's mind because of that.

That's all I'm saying.

[Mister E]

Would my fellow posters please proof-read to ensure I am at the National Literacy Standard Level 2 before I post this letter to Mr Faulkner.

Dear Paul

FFFFFFFFFFFNNNnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnGGGGGGGGggggggghhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yours sincerely

Witton Warrior
(not my real name)

I will performing this as a piece of street theatre in the North Stand car park at the Bolton match.

Peace.

Brilliant - just LOL

[Ad@m]

The customer should be taken seriously whatever his dress, accent or writing style and the employee on the end of it is paid to respect that!

But surely you've heard of the phrase "First impressions count". 

Like it or not, first impressions count for a huge amount when it comes to your credibility.  Writing a letter in the style this one was written gives a poor first impression.

[claret and blue blood]

What an absolute load of bollocks from half the posters on here , the guy is obviously as frustrated as I am pours his heart out to a disinterested wanker who appointed McShite and you lot slaughter him for forgetting to put a comma in the wrong place. Use your energies to do something similar and deluge them with letters personally written in your most eloquent style.

[Ad@m]

you lot slaughter him for forgetting to put a comma in the wrong place

Not at all.  It was remembering to put that comma in the wrong place that's the issue! 

[James]

The customer should be taken seriously whatever his dress, accent or writing style and the employee on the end of it is paid to respect that!

But surely you've heard of the phrase "First impressions count". 

Like it or not, first impressions count for a huge amount when it comes to your credibility.  Writing a letter in the style this one was written gives a poor first impression.

Only to those judging the writer, not the content of the letter.

In a job application/interview, yes it makes a big difference because the writer's ability is being judged. In a complaining situation the writer is a 'customer', his ability with grammar and writing style is not relevant, it's only the content that matters. To dismiss such a letter based on that is judging the writer as unworthy of a reply which is snobbery and is wholly wrong! His money wasn't rejected after all, was it? So neither should his complaint be!

[pauliewalnuts]

What an absolute load of bollocks from half the posters on here , the guy is obviously as frustrated as I am pours his heart out to a disinterested wanker who appointed McShite and you lot slaughter him for forgetting to put a comma in the wrong place. Use your energies to do something similar and deluge them with letters personally written in your most eloquent style.

Hate to pull you up on this, but there's no need for a space before a comma.

*laughs like Stephen Fry does at Alan Davies when he says something stupid on QI*

[cdbearsfan]

If people must write a letter to the club, why can't they at least get somebody who can spell and is on first name terms with Mr Grammar to give it a once over?

so you didn't understand his point then Mr Pedantic, give him a break i thought it was a good letter, shame you had to comment in that way

Don't take it too personally Cuz. Its an age-old custom on here.

"It's", not "Its", if you don't mind.