07.28.07
Manners, please
As this blog gains more web presence, we have received a number of queries from Singaporeans and its residents about some of the vendors/services that we have mentioned here.
Despite my busy week day schedule*, I always take five to 15 minutes answering each e-mail within three working days of receiving them. Even when the e-mails are not addressed to Roberto or myself, despite the fact that our names are imprinted in the header of our blog and liberally sprinkled through the pages.
However, not once have I received a follow-up e-mail with a simple thank you for the clarification/information etc. Indeed, while Singaporeans think that having a courtesy campaign smears the ‘good reputation’ of its citizens, some have yet again displayed why we need such a basic campaign.
My parents and the schools – all non-government institutions except junior college, so I cannot speak for the government ones – I attended instilled in me a sense of basic courtesy. Saying ‘please’, ‘thank you’, ‘excuse me’ and ‘you are welcome’ became second nature to me. In fact, Roberto thinks that it should be human or even second nature in every single person.
The point is: you have written to us asking for help, and we have extended help in as best as we could, in whatever ability that we are able to.
There was no guarantee that our reply would be what you expected (did someone not tell you that having too much expectations could be a bad thing?), yet you cannot deny that at least you received a reply, and the least you could do after that is to acknowledge you received a reply.
Thus we have decided the following:
(1) E-mails that are not addressed to either one of us will be ignored. Period.
(2) Any e-mails that we reply will be tagged with a return receipt. If the return receipt is received, it means you have read our reply, so we expect a follow-up e-mail soon after.
(3) If we do not receive the follow-up e-mail after (1) and (2) are met, a follow-up post will appear on this and other blogs. We do not promise that it will be kind or hide your identity/contact details.
Kindness begets kindness and karma goes round. Everyone wants a lovely and memorable wedding, and so do we.
While we are always willing to offer assistance and suggestions, we do not like being taken advantage of. All we ask for is an acknowledgment of our help. When we start charging, in € (Euro), for answering e-mails, you should become worried! Yes, online credit card or Paypal payments are all accepted.
* Contrary to popular belief that I am living life as a ‘tai-tai’, I do work like everyone else does. Except that I set my own targets and meet my own goals. Nothing in life is free, and we all need that thing called money to purchase food, a roof over the head, and pay for our Internet connection!
