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When / why / how did "I hope you are well" become a standard email intro? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 9 months ago by oxjox@lemmy.ml to c/asklemmy@lemmy.ml

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Practically every email I've received in maybe the past year has started with "I hope you are well". I even had an LLM draft a placeholder email for me and it started with the same thing. This has not always been the case and it's strange to me that everyone I interact with begins their emails with this line. Frankly, it's annoying AF.

What gives? Who started this? Why has it become so prevalent? More importantly, how do we stop it?

While I'm at it, if you work in tech / customer support, I urge you to speak with your supervisors to minimize the boiler plate copy paste trash you insert into your emails. People dealing with shit that's not working as intended or desired do not have the mental or emotional capacity to wade through your platitudinal nonsense. Get to the fucking point.

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[–] Vanth@reddthat.com 41 points 9 months ago (1 children)

I searched my inbox for "hope you are well" and got zero hits. Might be a hyper small culture thing specific to your company. Or I'm in a bubble of work contacts who don't care how well I'm doing.

I would not burn any emotion or energy on it if it does start happening in my bubble. If that were the most irritating or inefficient part of my day, that would be a good day. It will die out on its own just like every other work-related catchphrase eventually does.

[–] oxjox@lemmy.ml 4 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Good idea. I just searched for "hope well" and have found hundreds if not over a thousand messages. Without scrolling all the way back, I found several in 2017 with variations of "hope you're well", "hope you're doing great", "hope you had a great weekend". etc.

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 15 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Those bastards and their pleasantries eh

[–] Tolookah@discuss.tchncs.de 6 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

Sorry! I'll try to be more mean.

Have ~~a great~~ an okay weekend!

[–] can@sh.itjust.works 3 points 9 months ago

may you live in interesting times

[–] saltesc@lemmy.world 2 points 9 months ago

Hi Jim,

Plans for the weekend? That's great to hear.

The annual report is blah blah blah...