Before you publish, check for foolishness

APMEX, an online dealer in precious metals, warns its customers to “take the time up front to make sure what you want is exactly what you order.”

The automated online dealer explains why such fastidious diligence is necessary:

“Our system is automated which makes it EXTREMELY DIFFICULT and time consuming to modify an order after it has been confirmed.” (Emphasis in original.)

In other words, the system would be more flexible and user-friendly if it were manual.

The Takeaway: Edit everything you write before you publish it. As the example above demonstrates, it is all too easy to make yourself look foolish.

See disclaimer.