The Art Of Email Flaming

Richard · 04-10-2013, 09:44

Yep, it's a tough world out there - the sooner we recognize it in life, the better our chances of navigating it with some degree of success.

I had a professor who, once he began his lecture, would close the classroom door and 'nobody' was allowed entrance until the end of the class; he took it as a personal sign of disrespect towards him and the college to think it OK to be tardy or to interrupt a class.

And so it goes...

Richard

NYU Business School Professor Has Mastered The Art Of Email Flaming
Deadspin

A student at NYU's Stern School of Business sent a complaint email to a hard-headed professor about his class's lateness policy. The professor emailed back, eviscerated the student David Mamet-style, and now it's gone viral. Welcome to internet immorality.

Professor Scott Galloway — founder of redenvelope.com — has a reputation for being a self-important "jackass" and appears to have adopted the phrase "get your shit together" as his personal carpe diem. He was also on the New York Times board of directors before resigning last week. He also has a little William Wallace in him.

Regardless, I'm quite impressed with his craftsmanship in taking this budding, entitled entrepreneur down a few notches. I emailed Galloway for comment, but he's a little confused about "what email you're referring to." So I get the sense that he's done this sort of thing before. According to one friend-of-a-friend of an NYU student who received the email, Galloway initiated the forwarding: "To give a little background, Scott Galloway is a professor at NYU Stern School of Business. He was also the founder of RedEnvelope.com. He teaches a Brand Management class at the school. Anyway, the student below sent him an e-mail to which Prof. Galloway responded. Galloway then proceeded to send it to his TA and instructed him to XXXX out the student's name and then forward it to the rest of the class. The e-mail now appears to be making the rounds."

Galloway has yet to confirm if he sent it to his TA who then forwarded it to his class. Either way, enjoy the BOOM BITCH-iness of this thing in its proper context. It has a very "Always Wear Sunscreen"-type appeal to it, if you choose to forget that Professor Galloway might be kind of a dick .

Sent: Tuesday, February 9, 2010 7:15:11 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
Subject: Brand Strategy Feedback

Prof. Galloway,

I would like to discuss a matter with you that bothered me. Yesterday evening I entered your 6pm Brand Strategy class approximately 1 hour late. As I entered the room, you quickly dismissed me, saying that I would need to leave and come back to the next class. After speaking with several students who are taking your class, they explained that you have a policy stating that students who arrive more than 15 minutes late will not be admitted to class.

As of yesterday evening, I was interested in three different Monday night classes that all occurred simultaneously. In order to decide which class to select, my plan for the evening was to sample all three and see which one I like most. Since I had never taken your class, I was unaware of your class policy. I was disappointed that you dismissed me from class considering (1) there is no way I could have been aware of your policy and (2) considering that it was the first day of evening classes and I arrived 1 hour late (not a few minutes), it was more probable that my tardiness was due to my desire to sample different classes rather than sheer complacency.

I have already registered for another class but I just wanted to be open and provide my opinion on the matter.

Regards,
xxxx

—
xxxx
MBA 2010 Candidate
NYU Stern School of Business
xxxx.nyu.edu
xxx-xxx-xxxx

The Reply:

—— Forwarded Message ——-
From: scott@stern.nyu.edu
To: "xxxx"
Sent: Tuesday, February 9, 2010 9:34:02 PM GMT -08:00 US/Canada Pacific
Subject: Re: Brand Strategy Feedback

xxxx:

Thanks for the feedback. I, too, would like to offer some feedback.

Just so I've got this straight...you started in one class, left 15-20 minutes into it (stood up, walked out mid-lecture), went to another class (walked in 20 minutes late), left that class (again, presumably, in the middle of the lecture), and then came to my class. At that point (walking in an hour late) I asked you to come to the next class which "bothered" you.

Correct?

You state that, having not taken my class, it would be impossible to know our policy of not allowing people to walk in an hour late. Most risk analysis offers that in the face of substantial uncertainty, you opt for the more conservative path or hedge your bet (e.g., do not show up an hour late until you know the professor has an explicit policy for tolerating disrespectful behavior, check with the TA before class, etc.). I hope the lottery winner that is your recently crowned Monday evening Professor is teaching Judgement and Decision Making or Critical Thinking.

In addition, your logic effectively means you cannot be held accountable for any code of conduct before taking a class. For the record, we also have no stated policy against bursting into show tunes in the middle of class, urinating on desks or taking that revolutionary hair removal system for a spin. However, xxxx, there is a baseline level of decorum (i.e., manners) that we expect of grown men and women who the admissions department have deemed tomorrow's business leaders.

xxxx, let me be more serious for a moment. I do not know you, will not know you and have no real affinity or animosity for you. You are an anonymous student who is now regretting the send button on his laptop. It's with this context I hope you register pause...REAL pause xxxx and take to heart what I am about to tell you:

xxxx, get your shit together.

Getting a good job, working long hours, keeping your skills relevant, navigating the politics of an organization, finding a live/work balance...these are all really hard, xxxx. In contrast, respecting institutions, having manners, demonstrating a level of humility...these are all (relatively) easy. Get the easy stuff right xxxx. In and of themselves they will not make you successful. However, not possessing them will hold you back and you will not achieve your potential which, by virtue of you being admitted to Stern, you must have in spades. It's not too late xxxx...

Again, thanks for the feedback.

Professor Galloway

http://deadspin.com/5477230/nyu-busi...-email-flaming

ChuckG · 04-10-2013, 09:54

Makes sense and all too reasonable. Then again, I'm an old fart.

Badger52 · 04-10-2013, 11:28

There are some life-lessons in there, applicable to a number of areas.

**Pete** · 04-10-2013, 11:32

The Professor is a little slack.

15 minutes? Dude, one of the last ones I had shut and locked the door when the bell rang.

Sohei · 04-10-2013, 13:57

A quick, painless, life lesson learned in the "truth hurts" department.

Sounds like he got a great lesson on "personal responsibility."

Trapper John · 04-10-2013, 14:06

Sounds like a few former SF SGMs and COLs I knew. Great job Professor, and with dignity too.

**Peregrino** · 04-10-2013, 18:22

We have a few of those here too. IIRC a fair number of the "Rucksack in the Hall" posts also contain succinct life lessons.

TOMAHAWK9521 · 04-10-2013, 18:41

I got booted from a class roster last fall due to an unfortunate plumbing incident. I moved into my current place the day before classes began. The next morning I discovered that my kitchen sink wasn't as up to snuff as I had been lead to believe and water was all over my wood floors. I ended up having to do some clean up and missed my first class on the very first day of the semester. I submitted a detailed email to my professor to explain my absence and I received a "Wow, that sounds like a real problem. However, you've been dropped so a wait-listed student can get in. Try again next semester."

Damn art teacher.

Ah well. Live and learn.