Write Back Soon!

Here's my favorite line from the "To Professor@University.edu" story in the NYT today: "One of the rules that I teach my students is, the less powerful person always has to write back," Professor Worley said. Though the story initially caught my attention because my kids and me (and NB when I say 'my kids,' please note I use that in the "I didn't birth them, i only learn them" sense), we e-mail all the time. But it was Professor Worley's kicker that really got me thinking: The less powerful person always has to write back.


Is this really true??? If so, I think I'd be returning e-mails all day and all night long. I'd be saying "thank you for the thank you for the thank you for the you're welcome for the thank you." If this applied to brute strength, the powerhouse R&R girls' ink wells would run dry. If this applied to romantic relationships, I just might get myself brought up on stalking charges (i know what you're thinking... and shut up.)

So Professor Curly does not necessarily agree with her colleague Professor Worley. Then again, Professor Worley is probably a distinguished scholar of some sort and I... I think I need to go write her a little note right now.