Mail end protocol helps everyone. It tells you about who you are and
what you do in the shortest possible way.

There are no Big Bs or SRKs in this forum (for example) – who didn't
need the mail end protocol. For ordinary mortals like us, little self
introduction doesn't harm anyone. Only reason I can think of not
writing it is when I have posted three mails in a day or when I have
simply forgotten.

This forum connects three generation of designers in India and many in
the world. The pioneers of sixties, the freshers of today and everyone
else in between. If that is not 'inclusive' then I don't know what
this oft-quoted term means. Far from being embarrassed at being asked
my age, I would be happy to be considered a senior child of design!

It is not meant to be judgemental about how old the writers are, their
current position or where they have been privileged enough to have
studied. The information merely help connects people in a virtual
medium. It removes the impersonality of communication to show that
behind every letter there is no ghost writer, but a real person who
affirms responsibility for what s/he is writing.

It also helps 'place' the person into context and enables people to
connect with long lost buddies. Writing only name isn't enough. With
the same name there may exist completely different personalities –
each one of them being unique. It helps to know which of the Ms/Mr X
we are interacting with.

It doesn't matter whether the subject studied by the writer in college
have become extinct or obsolete. Knowing that information alone may
benefit someone in future to contact him/her as a resource person –
should there be any need.

It is not a practical idea to go search for profile of writers every
time one receives a mail. Many of us read the mail in email programmes
and not in web browsers.

Finally, what the other forums are doing or not doing shouldn't be
any reason for us not trying it. This is my personal opinion and not
as one of the moderators'. I read this quote only today and here's my
chance for sharing it:

"I passionately hate the idea of being with it; I think an artist has
always to be out of step with his time".

(Orson Welles, – American writer, actor, director of "Citizen Kane"
and other famous movies)

Cheers

Sagarmoy Paul (alias Sagar)
Communication Designer
VC-NID-1981-87
THOUGHTSCAPE
New Delhi