Couple things, where does “Please” come from. It comes from the overall correction/over-correction that organizations have been pushed into. Examples are where companys perform an internal survey and the staff all complain about people who “Don’t say Please”, or more accurately, complain about every little trivial thing imaginable. HR gets the results, and suddenly becomes the inquisition. They sit with all manner of employee, staff and manager and suddenly, like what might happen after giving loaded hand guns to everyone, people begin to be overly nice and respectful of each other, to a consistent and sickening degree. I’ve seen this phenomenon at a number of companies I’ve worked with and, wouldnt’ you know it, I have become a “Please” guy. It does take the edge off. But, sometimes you have to reinforce that it is just a courtesy word and the underlying intent is more of an ulitmatum, (fill out the form, or I can’t start your loan Refi, or register you to vote, etc. )
People who don’t realize it to be a demand wrapped in a pretty bow (as opposed to a request)can be unfamiliar with US business communications, rebellious and looking for conflict, logical and unwilling to waste time with unnecessary nicities, and so forth.
So yes, I think you are wrong on this one.
While I would rather that we weren’t so keenly politically correct and fearful of pushing someone ever so slightly out of their comfort zone, that is what I have seen the business world devolove into.
My wife is from Europe and she is in disbelief about how we are here in the US. When she and her family speak together, they let it all hang out, to a much greater degree than I do with my family.
To put is bluntly, its a castrating conversational practice that is meant to keep people who need others to do something from getting into trouble.
That’s my 2 cents buddy! “Please” give it some thought. 😉
Oh, and what about those people who say nasty things and just follow it up with a smiley?
