If I could change one thing about email, it would be that the "reply all" button would be less convenient. I think, maybe I'd put it all the way in the upper right corner so that if one were to "reply all" it would be a very deliberate action.
Recently, my friend told me a story about how she was having a conflict with a woman at work who she believed regularly shirked her duties. The two were discussing a mutual project by email and my friend intended to shoot a side conversation email to her supervisor that said, "You see what it's like to work with her? Why bother?". But instead, she accidentally hit "reply all" and now they have an appointment to meet with HR.
My battle with the button has more to do with my in-laws. When we were planning the wedding, I would regularly send a simple mass email from time to time with key information. There was no group conversation, just one-way information. Me to a group of people.
My in-laws (all of them), for some reason, really love that "reply all" button. Little do they know that their cute little (unnecessary) comments about the spelling of the word "believe" are piling up in the inboxes of company presidents and executives. And guess who gets the angry "MAKE IT STOP" email. Mmhm.
So now I have to BCC everyone. And it's B-E-L-I-E-V-E.
For everyone's sanity, unless it's a group discussion, hit "reply" and save "reply all" for those precious few moments when others need to know your response.
Otherwise, move that cursor half an inch to the left and no one gets hurt.
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