I probably don’t say it enough, but I could live without e-mail and actually get some real work done. I’m a face-to-face type of person who prefers using e-mail mostly to communicate a complex process to many people, although I still feel that in-person meetings are much more effective. With that said, I still use e-mail for many day-to-day operations as well, such as sharing notes and collaborating (don’t get me started on using Web-based technology in the workplace such as blogs and wikis). But if there is one thing that frustrates me to no end, it’s the use of funky backgrounds and goofy text in e-mail messages.

Now don’t get me wrong; I don’t mind customization. I’m all for people showing some level of individuality and creativity in the workplace. But when you get some of these dark backgrounds with dark letters, my eyes leap out of my face and demand that I don’t make them view such hideous and torturous images again.

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