WRITING LOUDLY - is your caps lock on?

I have recently been drawn into an email conversation with a person that seems to be intent on writing in capitals, bold and underlined so that they can make their voice heard REALLY LOUDLY. While I have been known to, at times, have a voice like a fog horn - when I was younger my mother used to twist my ear in the hope that it was a volume dial! - I find the use of such techniques in email rather grating.

Yes, I am guilty as well. I confess to using capitals on occassion, but it is almost always to express extreme excitement. What makes my correspondent's use of the technique a little trying is that it was to tell me, and other members of an environmental group with which I am involved, that what we are doing IS NOT ENOUGH.

I find it intriguing that the moment you set yourself up to be working on environmental issues in the public eye there are almost immediately people who feel they can tell you that what you're doing is not enough, not right, or else simply ineffectual.

Of course, it is vital that everyone has their own idea on how to run a campaign or how to bring about the change we need. It is important to voice one's opinion and challenge the way that people work. But, in my view, should you push so hard to get your voice heard, you must be willing to follow through on what it is that you are advocating.

And this is where the use of capitals, bold and underlined becomes a little ridiculous.

I offered this email buddy of mine the opportunity to take the lead on the issue that they were advocating. Funnily enough, this offer was met not with gratitude, but, rather, more bold, capitals and underlined text saying that what we're doing is all wrong. If only this person could realise that their bold, underlined and capitalised text is really mis-directed. They obviously have a lot to say and very loudly. It seems to be wasted effort to be turning in on a movement that they seem to care quite deeply about. Surely this energy would be best directed at the people causing the problem, rather than the ones trying to fix it?

It seems that there are some people who feel that their 'environmentalism' goes as far as telling people what they should be doing rather than doing it themselves.

The sad thing about email is that you can't reach for the writer's volume dial and give it a good twist!