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FIB - Scams 101 - Ye Olde Archives
Posted By: Cassie In Response To: Business Communications Course (Donna)
Friday, 30 September 2005, at 2:29 p.m.
Donna,
I actually used to lead business-writing seminars. The following letter was composed using a "bad news" format I picked up somewhere (I don't remember where at the moment -- it may have been Franklin Covey).
The format outline is as follows:
Start with an opening sentence that's related to the bad news but doesn't specifically give it away yet.
Briefly explain the events that led up to or caused the negative outcome you're about to share. (The idea here is that if readers understand the "why" behind the bad news, they will be less upset. If the letter introduces the bad news immediately, the reader has no incentive to read any explanations that may follow.)
Mention any positive side-effects the prior events may have had.
State the bad news (but never refer to it as "bad news").
Explain how the bad news can be remedied or discuss alternate ideas.
Here's the sample letter/memo:
Dear Jim,
This is an update on the Johnson proposal.
As you may know, the company network was down two days last week. The data for the Johnson proposal was stored on the network and unavailable during that time.
The good news is, this experience inspired the Writing Department to come up with new, more dependable methods of backing up data to prevent its loss in the future. Because of the delay, however, we will need two more days to work on the proposal.
If you extend the deadline to Monday, July 1st, we’ll be able to create an effective proposal that reflects our company’s high standards. If you could email me by the end of today to let me know your decision, I would appreciate it.
Sincerely,
Joe Schmo
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| PLEASE READ THIS LEGAL NOTICE CAREFULLY BEFORE YOU FILE A LAWSUIT OR EVEN WASTE TIME THINKING ABOUT IT. It has been done before, but never successfully. In fact, the last dodobird who tried it ended up being ordered to pay more than $77,000 in attorney fees ($65,000+ to my attorneys and $12,000+ to my co-defendant's legal advisor).
If your attorney is worth his salt, he's going to tell you that the expense of filing a lawsuit you can't win is a whole lot worse than any "damages" resulting from messages posted on this insignificant little chunk of cyberspace. NEWS FLASH: I didn't just climb down off that ol' turnip truck yesterday. I'm well aware that expressing a negative opinion, relating one's personal experience, and restating provable facts are all legal in this country and do not constitute libel, slander, or defamation -- so you don't want to play games with me, and you sure don't want to start something you aren't prepared to finish. I don't take threats lightly, and I don't accept bribes (or did you call it a "mutually-beneficial arrangement"?). I'll turn you in faster than you can yell, "ARREST ME, I'M SCUM!!" Do yourself a favor and turn your legal team loose in greener pastures. Although we may, from time to time, monitor or review discussions, postings and the like on the Friends In Business (Scams 101) Message Board, we are under no obligation to do so. We are not responsible or liable for any claim arising from the content of any such discussions or postings or for any error, defamation, libel, slander, omission, falsehood, obscenity, pornography, profanity, danger, or inaccuracy contained in any information contained within such locations on the Site. You are prohibited from posting or transmitting any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, scandalous, inflammatory, pornographic, or profane materials or any material that could constitute or encourage conduct that would be considered a criminal offense, give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violate any law. You are likewise prohibited from posting any false claims against any company or individual. We will fully cooperate with any law enforcement authorities or court order requesting or directing us to disclose the identity of anyone posting any such information or materials. By posting messages and/or content on the Friends In Business (Scams 101) Message Board, you give permission for Lesley Fountain/Friends In Business/Shoestring Success Publications to display, distribute and use the posting and content for publication, advertising, promotion, excerption or example. You grant Lesley Fountain/Friends In Business/Shoestring Success Publications complete, perpetual, but non-exclusive rights to use, archive, reproduce, adapt, modify, distribute, sub-license, repurpose, rework, compile, or offer for sale or resale the messages, postings or content appearing on this site in whole or in part, throughout the world and universe, on a royalty-free basis without remuneration. If you cannot accept or agree with the terms of service for this website and discussion board, you are advised not to post on this board. In closing, I would like to remind you once again that it is still legal, in this great country of ours, to express a PERSONAL OPINION, as long as it is presented as opinion and not as fact. And finally, all you scammers out there will do well to remember that TRUTH IS AN ABSOLUTE DEFENSE against charges of libel, defamation, and slander... so if you're operating just a hop, skip, and jump ahead of the law, you might want to think twice before doing anything stupid... (AND SHAME ON YOU!!). |