How true is the "The Semiotics of Professor E-mail Signatures"?

[InquilineKea]

http://www.phdcomics.com/comics.php?f=1413

Obviously, there are some professors who pretty much sign their name the same way no matter what (even if you're trouble, they might still sign with just their first name).

So I'm mostly interested in those who *do* sign their name differently. And it sort of scares me sometimes.

But maybe there are profs who use some of those ways but not others? like, maybe they might sign with their initials capitalized from time to time, but might never sign with their initials uncapitalized?

Edited May 27, 2011 by InquilineKea

[neuropsych76]

I've been wondering the same thing... I'm sure it varies a lot for each professor but I've been trying to figure out my graduate advisor's email signature behavior already so I can be prepared for it

So far I've concluded that when she writes her full name, she is in a good mood and the email is happy/important.

Example: when she emailed me i was accepted into the program, when i formally accepted.

An abbreviated writing of her name means she is either busy or the email isn't that important/ or just has a neutral tone.

Example: When we bounce around some research ideas, emailing about basic program information

Finally, just a single initial means she is really busy or didn't particularly like my last email.

Example, when it was finals week there, when i proposed a research idea that wasn't all that feasible...

I could be way off base with my conclusions but its fun to think about

[HyacinthMacaw]

I had a professor who concluded every email with "Serving the Moon Goddess since 1961." Seriously.

Personally, I haven't decided which goddess to serve just yet, but when I do I'll add my supplications to my email signature.

Or perhaps I should just close with a word of wisdom from our dignified sage, Pit Bull: "Now pump it up and back it up like a Tonka truck."

[Strangefox]

I had a professor who concluded every email with "Serving the Moon Goddess since 1961." Seriously.

[Behavioral]

I had a professor who concluded every email with "Serving the Moon Goddess since 1961." Seriously.

Personally, I haven't decided which goddess to serve just yet, but when I do I'll add my supplications to my email signature.

Or perhaps I should just close with a word of wisdom from our dignified sage, Pit Bull: "Now pump it up and back it up like a Tonka truck."

Now you I like.

Edited May 27, 2011 by Behavioral