Blog Post #3: Business Correspondence Critique

This is a letter I received from NUS IT Care sometime this past week.
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From: NUS IT Care

To: NUS Students

Subject: Update to NUSNET Password Policy

Dear Students,

As computational power and technology take their leap, it is more important than ever for us to safeguard our computer accounts against the misuse of such technology and computational power to crack our NUSNET passwords by brute force.

To aid each and every one of us in securing our NUSNET Password, enhancement to the system will be made to deter such brute force attacks. You are hence, required to change your password when it is due on or after 17^th February 2009 to conform with the following requirements:

· Passwords must be at least 8 characters in length.

· Passwords must contain at least a number, an alphabet and a symbol (eg. Pa55Word!)

· You will be required to change your password every 180 days.

· You can change your password at most once/day.

· You cannot re-use any of your 6 previous passwords.

Many of us may have no immediate need to change our password. However, if you wish to find out your password’s expiry day, the information is located on the top left hand corner of the Message of the Day (MOTD) when you next login to NUSNET as follows:

For more information or enquiries, please contact NUS IT Care at x2080 or email ITCare@nus.edu.sg

Regards,

Chua Lin Tee

Service Delivery Manager

NUS IT Care

Computer Centre

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Notwithstanding the fact that this was an email sent to many recipients, and hence somewhat impersonal, I found this to be a courteously-written email. The salutation was appropriate, given that NUS IT Centre has no real hierarchical relation to the student body. I also appreciated the fact that a lot of contextual information was given to help students understand why these changes need to be made, and also how to find additional information or seek assistance. The textbook calls this "benefit materials".

Some of the language used was quite forceful and blunt, especially in the section detailing the new standards required of passwords. However, less explicit statements may have led to students not taking these requirements seriously, and thus I feel that the purpose of the email justified the somewhat-harsh tone. The harshness was also ameliorated by the helpful tone reflected throughout the other parts of the email.

I feel that the use of language in this email was not entirely correct, although my English is not good enough to accurately pinpoint all the errors. The first sentence twice repeats the phrase "computational power and technology". "Take their leap" appears to be a metaphor lacking any form of context. "Crack(ing)" our passwords by "brute force" seems to be a repetition, only distinguishable by those with hacking experience. I also could not understand the instruction given in the 2nd paragraph to "change your password when it is due on or after 17th February 2009". My understanding is that the new requirements will come into effect on 17th February, and that any new password we choose after that date must conform to the new requirements, but this is in no way made clear by that sentence.

Cross-cultural communication through gestures

This is an interesting article I found on one of my favourite websites about the meaning and origin behind some common gestures. It seems related to what we were doing recently on intercultural communication, and is fairly entertaining to read as well. Enjoy!