❗ Should you use exclamation points in emails?

It’s Tuesday, December 12 — people are talking about the canceled menorah lighting in Williamsburg, the use of exclamation points in emails, and more.

As always, we’ve summarized and organized the different shades of perspective, so you can see the big picture quickly. Here at Shades we believe that seeing multiple points of view is the best way to stay informed.

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- Jeff (co-founder of Shades)

🕎 A canceled menorah lighting sparks debate

The denial of a menorah lighting at a Virginia festival sparked debate. Some say it’s antisemitism, but others think it's just about keeping the peace.

🕎 The town of Williamsburg denied a menorah lighting at its street fair, reports Axios. Organizers didn't want to be seen as siding with Israel in the war.

🕎 The WSJ thinks the decision was ridiculous. People have been lighting menorahs for millennia, way before the Hamas-Israel war.

🕎 And the National Review says it's a sign of growing antisemitism. It's crazy to suggest that all Jews are responsible for the war.

🕎 But a letter to the Virginian-Pilot editor agrees with the decision. Having peace at the festival is the biggest priority.

❗ Should you use exclamation points in emails?

Email exclamation points: Some say they’re unprofessional, but others argue it's key for warmth and inclusivity. GenZ might dig it, but at what cost?

❗ Overusing exclamation points in emails can undermine your credibility, says Stylist. Excessive friendliness is bad for professional communication.

❗ The Owl Post is also anti-exclamation-point: They are a mark of patriarchy. Women use them to avoid coming off as “too bossy”. It’s time to ditch exclamation points, for equality and to reduce unnecessary mental strain.

❗ On the other hand, the State News thinks exclamation marks are helpful: They reflect sensitivity, not a lack of confidence. Let's value inclusive language instead of scrutinizing punctuation.

❗ And an AB Lab study found that exclamation points in emails don't affect how recipients view senders — so they don't matter either way!

Quick hits

🇮🇱 According to the UN, Israel's attack on southern Gaza is interrupting aid distribution to hungry Gazans. (Reuters)

💸 Inflation rose 0.1% in November, slightly higher than what economists were expecting. (CNBC)

⚽ All Turkish League soccer matches have been suspended after a team president punched a referee on the field. (Sky Sports)

🏛️ The Texas Supreme Court ruled against a woman who left the state for an abortion. She said it was a "medical emergency", but the court disagreed. (CNN)