Does anyone else hate the 'Regards' signature

[Smithy]

I've always hated that "don't judge a book by its cover" phrase -- if a book says PROBLEMS IN QUADRATIC THEORY on the cover, it's highly unlikely to be a biography of Abraham Lincoln.

Sorry, but in relation to books I have seen this happen time and time again.

The problem arises once the PR and marketing departments get involved. I was in publishing for a long time and the number of times I saw cover artwork changed not to reflect the subject matter, but rather what would move units (and was therefore unrelated to the subject matter) occurred often.

"You can't judge a book by its cover" holds a great deal of truth funnily enough in relation to books.

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

I'm finding it hard to understand why my criticism of the 'Regards' signature has led to such heated responses, including needless personal abuse in the case of one OP. When I started the discussion, I was trying to get something off my chest but clearly it's hit a raw nerve, because the 'defences' have been even more vehement than my criticisms. I have tried to explain why I feel a strong dislike for this signature - now it would be good to hear why some people feel so strongly 'for' it.
My dislike is actually less strong that when I wrote the post because I have, in fact, got it off my chest. But I'm puzzled about why some people feel so strongly the other way that they are ready to be rude about it.

They don't feel strongly for it. It's a standard phrase. There is nothing "strongly" about it in one way or the other. I have read rants about people don't want an honest answer to the standard phrase "How are you?" Unless you are close to the person the answer is "I am fine, thank you. How are you?" I can understand that a little more than the "Best Regards" thingy because in a perfect world people would care for each other enough to expect a "real answer" but I still think it doesn't work if you have to make long serious talks with every person you randomly meet.
Either you accept phrases in your life or you are making things complicated.

Same for "getting something of your chest" in a public forum. If it is personal talk about it with friends not with the interwebs.

PS: That sounded too grumpy. Sorry. Just don't take things so personal. It's just a forum.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Well because to many the word is not looked upon as a derogatory comment..and therefore seems so unusual to do so. After a while it can come across as belaboring something quite trivial or even non existent for really no good reason. Here in the USA many view the word as meaning 'good wishes' ...'respect' or even 'affection'. Otherwise..a friendly gesture. To feel so deeply quite the opposite and go on and on with such disgust about the word as a valediction can seem so bizarre that finally it begs for a form of 'For goodness sakes get over it' or even something more extreme.
HD

 

[Tomasso]

There are multifarious ways publishers can indulge in egregiously meretricious sophistry.

I can hear Professor Irwin Corey spouting this line.

 

[HudsonHawk]

I shall leave others to judge that because I won't go down to your level and resort to completely unnecessary personal abuse.

Again, you're throwing out words and accusations either because you don't understand what they mean or you're trolling for a fight. Neither are good.

 

[Warbaby]

Regards,

Warbaby

 

[scrawlysteve]

I can hear Professor Irwin Corey spouting this line.

One endeavours.....one endeavours.....

 

[ButteMT61]

Well because to many the word is not looked upon as a derogatory comment..and therefore seems so unusual to do so. After a while it can come across as belaboring something quite trivial or even non existent for really no good reason. Here in the USA many view the word as meaning 'good wishes' ...'respect' or even 'affection'. Otherwise..a friendly gesture. To feel so deeply quite the opposite and go on and on with such disgust about the word as a valediction can seem so bizarre that finally it begs for a form of 'For goodness sakes get over it' or even something more extreme.
HD

This is one funny thread.
It must be the end result of the modern "I'm always offended" crowd.
How anyone could muster angst over this then post it and argue it this long is amazing. OTOH, I feel better knowing my pet peeves seem more reasoned.

Cheers. Best. Regards. Ciao.
Scott

 

[vitanola]

Best not to send Mr Zimmerman no more letters, no, not unless you mail them from ......

No. To Zimmerman one sends only a telegram.

 

[Ticklishchap]

Well because to many the word is not looked upon as a derogatory comment..and therefore seems so unusual to do so. After a while it can come across as belaboring something quite trivial or even non existent for really no good reason. Here in the USA many view the word as meaning 'good wishes' ...'respect' or even 'affection'. Otherwise..a friendly gesture. To feel so deeply quite the opposite and go on and on with such disgust about the word as a valediction can seem so bizarre that finally it begs for a form of 'For goodness sakes get over it' or even something more extreme.
HD

I think that this is probably a cultural difference - as the word never sounds affectionate this side of the Atlantic. It's a word that has 'come in' recently (although I think it has been used in the past) and provokes reactions from mine - which I admit is strong - to contemptuous indifference based on a sense that it seems quite bureaucratic and/or low class.
Interestingly, I've never heard it in the US - I shall look out for it now and realise that it has a different cultural connotation and can be meant affectionately.
Thanks for telling me that.
Perhaps the Latino cultural influence will become stronger and more Americans will say 'Hasta luego', which sounds nicer than most equivalent English expressions.

 

[Ticklishchap]

Again, you're throwing out words and accusations either because you don't understand what they mean or you're trolling for a fight. Neither are good.

... And that is exactly what I have thought you were doing! As this is supposed to be a gentlemanly forum, let's agree that all this was a cultural misunderstanding and move on.

Wasn't it George Bernard Shaw who said that Englishmen and Americans were 'divided by a common language'? This is probably a case in point.

 

[Ticklishchap]

They don't feel strongly for it. It's a standard phrase. There is nothing "strongly" about it in one way or the other. I have read rants about people don't want an honest answer to the standard phrase "How are you?" Unless you are close to the person the answer is "I am fine, thank you. How are you?" I can understand that a little more than the "Best Regards" thingy because in a perfect world people would care for each other enough to expect a "real answer" but I still think it doesn't work if you have to make long serious talks with every person you randomly meet.
Either you accept phrases in your life or you are making things complicated.

Same for "getting something of your chest" in a public forum. If it is personal talk about it with friends not with the interwebs.

PS: That sounded too grumpy. Sorry. Just don't take things so personal. It's just a forum.

I'm sure you're right. I have discussed it with friends and with one (American) exception they broadly agree with me! Many of them said even worse things about 'Regards' than I would dare to print here. ...

This reinforces my conclusion that this is a cultural difference! And thank goodness we still have cultural/linguistic differences, not uniformity.

 

[ButteMT61]

I'd love to hear others from your region chime in on this word. I simply can't believe that there's enough of a general consensus on this as to make such a stink. Stink meaning "a very well reasoned discussion" in American English lol

 

[HudsonHawk]

... And that is exactly what I have thought you were doing! As this is supposed to be a gentlemanly forum, let's agree that all this was a cultural misunderstanding and move on.

Wasn't it George Bernard Shaw who said that Englishmen and Americans were 'divided by a common language'? This is probably a case in point.

As I often remind my friends from across the pond...we may both be talking in English, but we're not speaking the same language.

 

[LizzieMaine]

And after all, George M. Cohan would never have sung "Give My Sincere Best Wishes To Broadway."

 

[Treetopflyer]

I'm glad I am in the military. There are two options, Respectfully to someone junior in rank to you, or Very Respectfully to someone senior in rank to you. Some people do abbreviate them R and V/R.

 

[Ticklishchap]

I'm glad I am in the military. There are two options, Respectfully to someone junior in rank to you, or Very Respectfully to someone senior in rank to you. Some people do abbreviate them R and V/R.

I really like that.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Several of us Londonites and other Brits have replied earlier in the thread. I've never come across any opposition to or issues with this mode of ending a correspondence, which is standard in Academia (the industry I know best).

Thx & Rgrds

I'd love to hear others from your region chime in on this word. I simply can't believe that there's enough of a general consensus on this as to make such a stink. Stink meaning "a very well reasoned discussion" in American English lol

 

[1961MJS]

I'm glad I am in the military. There are two options, Respectfully to someone junior in rank to you, or Very Respectfully to someone senior in rank to you. Some people do abbreviate them R and V/R.

Hi

I'm very glad you posted that. I've seen someone write V/R as "Very Regards", which is just silly. Regards COULD be the R, but the V/R just didn't work. Finally V/R makes sense. I can only guess that the "someone" saw Regards somewhere and V/R somewhere else.

Thanks

 

[ButteMT61]

Several of us Londonites and other Brits have replied earlier in the thread. I've never come across any opposition to or issues with this mode of ending a correspondence, which is standard in Academia (the industry I know best).

Thx & Rgrds

Sorry BK - I use the "lightweight" view here and it gives me no location info, etc.
Thanks for the reply.

For me, all words that some twist or interpret as "offensive" come down to intent. What was the intent of the use of the word? I can't imagine this being meant as some sort of insult.