> Yes, and one time it comes into play is when you're dealing with someone else who uses those conventions. IME, people still doing that are very sharp. And if they're doing it, you want to do it in kind, both because it can be more effective, and also to let them know you're clueful enough to know that style of email-fu.
So it is a test to show if you are part of an ingroup or not. Just like any other etiquette... you know, you can tell the common folks from the upper crust by the way they use their fork! How you use your fork proved to be not a great predictor of sharpness in the end but it sure made life miserable for the upper crust. [1]
Frankly, from sharp people I expect to adapt to changing communication styles and utilize the one that facilitates communication the best. You seem to be doing that, so from my point of view you are sharper than those who insist on one way only.
I understand why it sounded like that, but I really don't think people do it intended as shibboleth, but because it is more effective.
I mentioned what sounds like potentially a shibboleth aspect reluctantly, with a sense that might be misleading. I should've characterized it better.
Maybe less like a shibboleth, and my thought was more like "We can have this higher-bandwidth communication, if I don't drop the ball" or "This is a person from my hometown or who shares my native language, and it would be stupid to use a different language, or not fallback to my hometown accent".
So it is a test to show if you are part of an ingroup or not. Just like any other etiquette... you know, you can tell the common folks from the upper crust by the way they use their fork! How you use your fork proved to be not a great predictor of sharpness in the end but it sure made life miserable for the upper crust. [1]
Frankly, from sharp people I expect to adapt to changing communication styles and utilize the one that facilitates communication the best. You seem to be doing that, so from my point of view you are sharper than those who insist on one way only.
[1] just because it is fun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSj5stmFkQ0