Netiquette and Public Romance Do Not Mix - Via Netiquette IQ

The article below cites an example of an email in which there occurred a truly horrible abuse of several key Netiquette principals. Unfortunately for the person mentioned within it, it has gone viral. Essentially the sender used an email to state unsolicited overtures to someone. And to make matters worse this was done in a broadcast message to over 1,000 employees, another huge breech of Netiquette. Additionally, it was composed and sent via the company's system. He also addressed other people and disparaged the organization.

To this blog's author, this reinforces a key fact of email. It lives forever. The message served no purpose whatsoever except future potential ridicule. No one is deserving of that. The next time you feel like expressing yourself overtly in any way, please think about it.

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by: Taylor Auerbach

From: The Daily Telegraph

March 06, 2014 12:00AM 

Service desk specialist sent 1400-word farewell email

Service desk specialist Gerry Fortuna used an epic 1400-word farewell email — sent to almost 1000 staff — to confess his secret crush.

Gerry Fortuna – the outgoing Channel 9 employee who declared his love for “Mia” from finance in a hilarious group email to staff.

“Now I never had the guts to tell anyone at work what I’m about to say, it would be unprofessional, however I’m leaving so it doesn’t matter,” Mr Fortuna wrote.

“This may or may not come as a surprise to you as I don’t think you ever knew Mia, but now that I’m leaving it won’t matter ... I think you’re really cute in a beautiful way.”

The email, sent to the Daily Telegraph by a Channel 9 staffer, was lauded by Mr Fortuna’s former colleagues. Mr Fortuna told the Daily Telegraph yesterday on Facebook he was “nervous” about sending the email, but felt he didn’t have anything to lose.

“I used the opportunity in my farewell to be a little unprofessional and confess to a crush.”

His email went on to pay tribute to the teams on 60 Minutes and The Footy Show, and described news anchor Peter Overton as “one of the nicest people I’ve ever had the opportunity to meet”.

Mr Fortuna told colleagues he was moving to a different company to pursue other challenges. But sadly, the would-be Romeo’s efforts seem to have been in vain, with no reports of reciprocated affection.

A Nine spokeswoman said: “It was a personal email and we won’t be commenting.”

After 5 years and almost reaching 6, I am writing to you today to tell you that I am resigning from my position here at Nine to pursue new opportunities and challenges in a different company, an offer, a challenge and experience I could not refuse to further develop my skills.

I started out here a freshman in IT, had just finished studying in my course and was lucky enough to shortly after find my first job in IT at Channel Nine, and boy was it one of the best experiences of my life which is why it saddens me to leave.

But, with every down there’s always an up and I have been lucky enough to find new experiences and challenges elsewhere, and put all the skills I have developed and learned here at Nine over the years and learn new ones somewhere else.

Now rather than the typical farewell or notification of resignation I wanted to do something a little different, so here it goes...

To everyone out there I’d like to thank you all for being the people you are and for making this company what it is today, a fantastic place to work and a great company to work for.

I’ve got to experience at lot here at Nine and feel I have achieved and experienced more than I can thank or appreciate everyone here enough for, especially given in the department I now once will have worked for.

Now to be a typical IT nerd I’d like to share a quote from Bilbo Baggins in Lord of the Rings which in a way is kind of true when he says “I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like; and I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve.”

(Spoiler alert for anyone who hasn’t seen the 1st Lord of the Rings movie by now (seriously, shame on you if you haven’t); He said that on his Birthday, before he vanished and left the Shire)

However in my case it would be more like, “I didn’t get the chance to know half of you half as well as I’d have liked; and I liked less than half of you half as much as you deserved, especially when I was trying my best to assist you with your problem while you were venting your anger towards me.

Don’t worry, I forgive you, after all I understand it wasn’t me you were really angry with rather than the computer which was the root of your problem and like a Lion with a thorn in its paw, I was the mouse who’d pull that thorn and you’d then relax and calm down once it was out.

There, all better! You’d appreciate it and be all content again.”

Sometimes you never said thank you and sometimes you did, it didn’t matter as I never held it against you.

Sometimes you never said thank you and sometimes you did, it didn’t matter as I never held it against you, You were all always welcome, we can all stress out sometimes and not think straight.

Now I understand I’m writing quite the story or letter here and if you’re still reading I’d like to especially thank you for taking the time to read this far, I feel we must have made quite a connection and if it wasn’t for those connections with people as kind and awesome as you I don’t think I would have lasted this long in the company or shown it the loyalty I did and did for you, my user(s). You know your names (yes yours!), don’t make me have to get all IT on you and make a form where you type your name for a customised farewell! Haha, not gonna happen.

Special mentions go out to people like the Today Show, for all the OBs I was fortunate to do with you. I won’t forget those, especially Karl, when he’d yell out my name like I’d done something horribly wrong just to psych me out from afar.

And to all other Talent I was fortunate enough to meet and work with.

Finance; for all your kindness, friendliness and patience! It was always a pleasure to assist you all, as it was everyone else here at TCN.

To 60 Minutes for the super and OVERLY friendly greetings of shouting my name excitedly (always funny) and all those lovely scones you’d feed me (not literally) if or when I visited your cottage in the morning to fix a computer problem. My Dad loves watching your show, since I could remember.

To The Footy Show, everyone there is fantastic, such an awesome crew with what feels to me like great chemistry.

I’ve been watching that show for years, since before working at Nine and to experience the background and chance to hang out behind the scenes just to offer my “IT support” as rarely as some issues occurred. I never claimed it in hours, it was just always fun to be there and watch from behind the scenes.

This may or may not come as a surprise to you as I don't think you ever knew Mia... I think you're really cute in a beautiful way.

I love TV (while not always Channel Nine (blasphemy!)) so to have had the opportunity to work for a TV station like Channel Nine, who make TV happen, it has been my pleasure.

Peter Overton for being one of the nicest people I’ve ever had the opportunity to meet. To me you are like a saint and are always so down to earth with everyone you meet doesn’t matter who they are. A truly genuine and nice guy.

Now I never had the guts to tell anyone at work what I’m about to say, it would be unprofessional, however I’m leaving so it doesn’t matter, this may or may not come as a surprise to you as I don’t think you ever knew Mia, but now that I’m leaving it won’t matter... I think you’re really cute in a beautiful way.

Now ladies, don’t get your knickers in a knot or jealous I think you’re all beautiful, I’m a single guy and allowed to think these things but I never told any of you until now.

You could call it a long term crush but it doesn’t matter as I know you all have boyfriends/partners/husbands and they’re all lucky to have you..

.

And the same can be said to all you guys too with your respective partners, come on now don’t be like that guys, this is cheesy enough as is so don’t make me have to get all soppy and include you too... And those of us who don’t have anyone we’ll find someone who will be lucky to have us... Blergh! Where’s the violins hey? Let’s change the subject!

Haha, I really feel as though I’m really digging my hole deep here... This is a farewell not a novel! I just didn’t want anyone feeling left out! I hope it’s seen as a compliment and that no one takes offence.

Gerry’s message was sent to around 1000 employees at Channel 9 HQ. He finished up ‘I’m no Peter Overton so I’m sorry if my sign off is a little amateur’.

So to change the subject and get back on topic in order to wrap things up or I’ll be here forever thanking everyone and every department;

It goes without saying that this goes out to every one I’ve had the chance to work with and assist, to my fellow colleagues out there and especially to all my colleagues here in IT, I’d like to thank you all and wish you all the very best, I’d like to hope you’ll all gain what I have from this company to push you to that next step, level or whatever it may be in your careers.

To Yogi Reddy, everyone who appreciated what I did for them you can get that from this guy. He, in my opinion, is as equally good of an IT guy as I am. I hope you get more out of this place than I was able to Yogi.

Now if you ask me I think everyone here in IT does a good job and does what they can however I’d just like to give Yogi the recognition he deserves. Cheers to you Yogi, not only are you good in what you do but you’re also a really top bloke. I do hope we continue to talk once I leave, I like the friendship we have.

The same applies for anyone else who would like to continue to talk to me outside of work.

Good morning, good day and good night everyone. This is Gerry Fortuna signing out to you for my last day at Nine.

I’m no Peter Overton so I’m sorry if my sign off is a little amateur.

Kind Regards,

Gerry
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In addition to this blog, I have authored the premiere book on Netiquette, " Netiquette IQ - A Comprehensive Guide to Improve, Enhance and Add Power to Your Email". You can view my profile, reviews of the book and content excerpts at:

 www.amazon.com/author/paulbabicki

 If you would like to listen to experts in all aspects of Netiquette and communication, try my radio show on BlogtalkRadio  and an online newsletter via paper.li.I have established Netiquette discussion groups with Linkedin and  Yahoo.  I am also a member of the International Business Etiquette and Protocol Group and Minding Manners among others. I regularly consult for the Gerson Lehrman Group, a worldwide network of subject matter experts and I have been contributing to the blogs Everything Email and emailmonday . My work has appeared in numerous publications and I have presented to groups such as The Breakfast Club of NJ and  PSG of Mercer County, NJ.