Who knew an email could be this exciting and dramatic?

We at Noice are unabashed gossips, in the best sense of the word. We like checkin’ Harvard out, talking about who’s doing what, where, and to whom.  So when this vitriolic thread went over Quincy open list earlier today — with indignation nearly bursting out of its cyberseams — the drama could not escape our attention.

So what set off the little tiff? (Okay, not so little, it’s actually pretty long.) Just the Peer Health Exchange spamming Quincy House, as well as every other list, about its “FREE Pancake Breakfast” this morning.

Sounds innocuous, right? I mean, who actually reads stuff that gets pubbed on House lists? But, my oh my, the responses that ensued…

Sean Robinson, Quincy House ’09, reply-all’d to Peer Health Exchange’s original pub email with a five-paragraph diatribe, writing, “Must this tantrum over hot breakfast go on?”

Considering the times we live in, it is no surprise that even an elite institution like Harvard is forced to cut back a little bit, and so much each department do its share. [...]

I don’t understand the energy devoted to complaining over lack of week-long hot breakfast when there are so many greater problems in the world.  You people are Harvard students, be mature and be willing to make sacrifices for the good of others, instead of behaving like the spoiled aristocrats the outside world perceives us to be.

Woah, there. “Spoiled aristocrats”? First, Noice is pretty sure that there are actually some of those at Harvard. But even for us Joe Schmoes, engaging in our favorite Harvard pastime — complaining — hardly warrants such an epithet.

So, too, thought Fatima Loeliger, the original emailer, who probably never expected a publicity email to even get opened get so much attention. Judging from her response, it seems she was a bit irked by what he said:

Sean,
Though I have never had the pleasure of meeting you in person, you seemed to have found it relevant to express your opinion to, not only myself, but the rest of the residents of Quincy house who will have to filter this self-aggrandizing email. Regardless of the purpose or social benefit of Peer Health Exchange and the good work they do, it ridiculous that pancakes hold such a controversial place in your life that they can illicit this response.

She went on to call Mr. Robinson “pompous enough to assume that we care to entertain your thoughts as we go about our day.” Ouch.

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe you have graduated last year and are no longer a student here. Congratulations on your achievement, but in the future please act accordingly and attempt to self-regulate your convictions for the sake of others. No one is amused.

At this point, Noice was cowering under its desk in fear lest Miss Loeliger also decided to turn around and give us a talking-to as well.

Of course, Mr. Robinson had to defend himself, saying that he was not hoping to single anyone out personally through his original email.

Her response, he said, “was not particularly nice, and I don’t appreciate being called something mean when I’m posting my thoughts on a house OPEN LIST.”

To which Fatima did what her mama told her as a young girl: simply walk away.

Continue to post on this issue if you so desire. I have said my peace and remain by my initial sentiments.

Uh, but not before coming back for another swipe:

Open list means that you are open for criticism when you shoot down innocuous promo emails, especially if you choose to communicate them in 5-paragraph form.

And that was that. Whew. Hope you enjoyed the show! xoxo, Noice-sip Girl.