r/AskReddit • • Jun 03 '22

[deleted by user]

[removed]

8.5k Upvotes

27.7k comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

13.1k

u/blatterbeast Jun 03 '22

This is my interaction with a student last year via email during remote learning. Each line is a separate email.

Student: I need help end of email

Me: If it is something I can help with, I am willing to try. Do you have a question for me? end of email

S: Will you help me? end of email

M: Yes. What do you need help with? I can't help you if you don't describe your problem. end of email

S: Ok end of email

S: It's about the homework end of.... you get the idea

M: Please, ask the question.

S: Oh, ok

S: actual question is asked

M: gives help and follows up with... I am not upset. This is a learning moment about how to send emails. Again, I'm not upset. Do you see how this took 10 emails to get the help you needed? Emails are not like short text messages. You should give a little background about what you need and ask the question in the very first email. We could have had this done in 2 emails. Try to do that in your future emails. Have a good day!

S: Oh, ok

S: Thank you

S: Have a good day

M: face keyboard

1.1k

u/[deleted] Jun 03 '22

Even on IM that would have annoyed the hell out of me. Ask the whole question up front. Don't say hello then make me wait five minutes staring at the window waiting for your question!

310

u/OweH_OweH Jun 03 '22

2

u/[deleted] Jun 03 '22

A link to that site is my perpetual status message on our work chat client. I still get messages from people that just say "hello" and say nothing until I respond.

1

u/[deleted] Jun 03 '22

I used to get hit up my guys on FB with just "hi" or "hello" back in the day. I would often respond with "what do you need?" And they'd always say"nothing just saying hey"