Remembering email

“In most cases, the more polite the email, the more hatred it conveyed.”

When I think back to my working days, I remember spending most of the time sending and receiving emails. From the mid 1990s to the late 2030s, email was the preferred means of communication for offices and businesses across the globe. Everything happened over email; questions were raised, ideas shared, updates chased, deals closed. If you were to read a work email exchange today (for which you would have to acquire a vintage computer, tablet or smartphone), you would be forgiven for thinking that working life in the early 21st century was one of politeness and conviviality, with phrases such as “End of play” suggesting a world of sport and recreation. But underneath the jolly veneer ran a torrent of seething aggression. In most cases, the more polite the email, the more hatred it conveyed. Double meanings and insinuations were rife; ‘Friendly reminder’ meant ‘Unfriendly reminder’. ‘Catch-up’ meant ‘Reprimand’. ‘As discussed’ meant ‘We’ve talked about this, you absolute idiot’. ‘As per…