DEAR MISS MANNERS: I received an email from one of our board chairs sent to "Peeps." My boss, who thinks he is "in the know," thought that was an OK salutation. I said I would never answer one that started off like a 12-year-old trying to be cool. What do you think?
GENTLE READER: That when adults use children's slang to "relate," they are themselves the only ones being fooled.
Using it in a professional setting is even less likely to be successful. Miss Manners proposes that you suggest to your board chair that he should tread carefully, as those with differences in age, race, education, income and cultural background may find such familiarity offensive.