This post makes zero sense, which is pretty much par for the course for you whenever you talk about anything other than football. How in God's name do the "rules of polite society" suggest one should be honored to be contacted by another employee at ones place of employment, whether that person's contact is a breach of propriety or not? Are you familiar with the meaning of the common phrase "to be honored"? The professor didn't receive a freaking medal. He didnt get a congratulatory email from an esteemed senior colleague in his field. He didn't get a phone call from.the president. He got an email from a guy who is, in the grand scheme of things, basically a highly paid gym teacher. No, I don't think the "rules of polite society" dictate he should be "honored" by that contact. Any such "rules" would probably call for little more than common courtesy (assuming the email was not instead seen as a breach of decorum, as appears to be the case ).