Back in the late 80's or so, Borland did a lot of direct mail advertising that would start out with "Dear Friend XXXX", where XXXX was the target's name. I was in Phillipe Kahn's office once talking with him, and noticed that tacked on the wall was one of those letters. Across it was written in heavy red ink:
"Dear Phillipe,
I am not your fucking friend. Got it, Phil baby?"
How could you not like a man who'd stick that on his office wall?
I did learn one technique from this. I finally managed to put a stop to Capitol One sending me credit card offers in the mail practically every day. I'd write over the offer letter in heavy red crayon a profanity-laced diatribe and mail it back in their business reply envelope. It took several tries, but the CO junk mail finally ceased.
I sorta had the feeling he fell victim to "cult of personality" eventually. Everybody telling him he was so great he lost touch with reality. Or was he never actually connected in the first place?
"Dear Phillipe, I am not your fucking friend. Got it, Phil baby?"
How could you not like a man who'd stick that on his office wall?