Comments on: Yahoo's Yang issues letter to the company troops

Amid a volley of barbs between the Internet company and billionaire investor Carl Icahn, CEO Jerry Yang sends an explainer e-mail to employees.

[john55440]

Among other things, CEO's should know how to use the Shift key. (grin)

[jayhawk73]

is this a valid email address: [CNET editors' note: e-mail address deleted] good thinking to post that......

[jenguevin]

Thanks very much for pointing that out. We've removed the e-mail address from Yang's letter.

Jennifer Guevin
Associate Editor
CNET News.com

[J. Blow]

Why bother with (.) periods if you don't capitalize your sentences? What is the immature meaning of this type of grammar?

This alone should say "Hi, I'm Jerry, I used to run a big company before the real heavy hitters came in and took over".

[t8]

Wasn't it Jerry that said "you should never ever compete with Microsoft".
So it left it to Google to do it, and now he faces being assimilated by the evil borg.

:)

[bedney42]

Dear Chief Yahoo -

I'm going to use real English spelling, unlike you did in your letter. I guess I'm just not one of the 'kool kids' like you, or whatever you're trying to prove.

As a native of St. Louis, I know what Carl Icahn did to TWA. This guy is a snake, weasel and a squirrel all rolled into one. He makes Ballmer look like Tinkerbell.

You are so unprepared and out of your league for what is about to transpire to Yahoo! that its not even funny. This tough, New York, east coast no-BS shark is about to take your west coast, granola-eating, yoga-meditating, cumbaya-singing, can't-we-all-just-get-along-and-respect-each-other, butt for a lesson that can only be taught behind the woodshed.

Your problem, Mr. Yahoo!, is that you still believe this is your company. It's not - its owned by the shareholders. Remember 12 April 1996 when you IPO'd? You should, because that's when you got a big payday... and you sold out your company to the market. That's ok. It's what happens naturally - you worked hard and should've taken your money. But don't expect to be able to play the game both ways.

Sorry, but in Mr. Icahn's world, $$$ talks and everything else walks...

Have fun!

[ranpha]

at least jerry use paragraphs....

[humanssssss]

What's wrong with the email? Why need capital? Why need grammar fixing? You people are pathetic. Writings were meant to convey meaning. Within meaning, the intent to lowercase and mis "grammar" on your standards are the essential points to carry out meaning.

For those who are ignorant in linguistic study or derivative thereof are bound by the structure in which you learn the language. I think Yang effective use of lowercase and excellent grammar is the basis for a better conveyance of a new meaning to the culture he is taking the company.

1) By lowering the standard of the writing to more clear, concise approach, everyone will understand.
2) By using grammar that pick can pick up, will enable people to emphasize and feel good about their english.

Those who corrected him "feel" elite by pointing out and ridicule his mistake. That's the objective of the writing, to incite the elitist.

[mattlp]

You put it very well, albeit unintentionally:
"By lowering the standard of the writing..."

Without capitalization, it was NOT a more clear, concise approach. Just appeared more simplistic. What is acceptable for a discussion forum is not acceptable in a legit corporate environment.

[James_U]

You are missing the point. This is not about being "elite". Jerry's choice of grammar is a poor reflection on his executive maturity, which is a central argument being made by the growing number of people who want him ousted. Jerry may consider it cute. However, people who have invested billions into his company view it as juvenile. Ironically, it is indeed a very accurate depiction of who Jerry is.

[servermaker]

rrriighhhhhtttt

[lmasanti]

As a side comment on capitalization... remember e. e. cummings' poetry: only God was written in uppercase. Even "i" was in lowercase. That was meaning.

[J. Blow]

You nailed it. Nice.

[lbastie-2237310305301486239950]

Poor Yahoo! Now I understand why this company is so poorly managed with such a CEO. Did he go to school? Please, sell to Microsoft and go back to your studies Jerry!

[humanssssss]

Bill Gates dropped out of college. Enuff said.

[mfischer2]

Why need capital? Need capital because good. Need punctuation because make writings betters. If CEO then education should have speak well write well requirement. Ivory tower getting hot, will window, ah breeze. See meaning? Me prove point.

[flickrz]

Yahoo!'s culture is an informal one in which yahoos (Yahoo! employees) are discouraged to follow cultural taboos. Writing a letter without capitalization is also just a way to show this informality. I don't see any issue in this. What matters the most, is the content of the letter and the meaning it carries. If you peruse it; you'll find that it is just an attempt to keep all yahoos informed about the ongoing (or upcoming) issues that may distract them. It is not something to make a mountain out of a molehill.

[pwr2thenerds]

I think "jerry" is participating in Bush's "No Child Left Behind" program (that's what it's called, I believe)!

jerrys memo:

"until everyone is not fully literate it will be company policy to communicate with all of you by dumbing down our language as much as possible for you simpletons to understand it! we will not use punctuations to distract you from the hard time you are already having to comprehend (understand) what we are trying to convey (say). please do not forget to make an advance booking with the company librarian for lending out the company dictionary (a book full of meaning for all the incomprehensible (non-understandable) language we use here) as it is always in high demand due to the nature of our conduct in all things we do or...don't do...to stand out."

On a serious note:

1. Would Y! hire someone who sent their cover letter/resume in that format? (Y! HR mgr to jerry: "yaaaaahooo!! jerry look we found someone just like you. its like s/he is from a parallel universe". jerrys reply to HR mgr.."hire them. rest of the skills s/he has acquired from studying in the best schools of this planet can be (un) learnt on the job here")

2. Where will we set the limit on discouraging people to follow cultural taboos? What will come next? Clothing optional at workplace? Allowing guns at workplace...you can target practice in the cafeteria or on the poor ducks in the company pond or even better...just about anywhere you like and anytime you feel like letting off some steam (board meetings after the MS failed takeover bid may be a good starting place, probably). Or allowing you to smoke/drink in your cubicles or anywhere you wish? Allowing employees to pee and poo wherever they feel like depending on their mood and the surrounding scenery? I know I am highly exaggerating but where do we set the limits to stand out from the crowd?

A company and it's culture can still stand out by following some generally accepted standard practices (for a good larger reason/benefit) when it comes to things like these.

[superpuper7]

Yahoo not bad search but not good. I use TripleMe http://www.tripleme.com - it is really good stuff!

According to TripleMe users statistic data for 3 months, 40% of results found in the Google column, 31% of results found in the Yahoo column and 27% of results found in the MSN Live column.

TripleMe.COM fetching you results from Yahoo, Google and MSN Live on one screen in three columns side by side, allowing users to quickly find relevant links for the search string they entered.

[Seaspray0]

Microsoft has stated they are no longer seeking to purchase yahoo... well, atleast publicly. If I were a stockholder, I would wonder if there wasn't something going on behind the scene. I would also question whether Jerry is really acting in the best interest of the stockholders or trying to save his own skin. Yahoo hasn't done well over the last few years and the stock prices have dropped consistently. I ask, would selling the company at a higher than market stock price been in my interest as a stockholder or saying no to the sale while the stock price continues to spiral make me richer? I don't see any plans on how to bring the price back from the toilet. I also don't see microsoft publicly asking to buy anymore. I think it will come down to this: Jerry, what are your plans to increase the value of yahoo stock? Icahn, will microsoft still buy yahoo or are they no longer interested? These are the questions I'd like to see answered if I was a stock holder.

[benjaminstraight]

Our 3rd daily installment of Yahoo drama.