RE: [OT] Multiple questions in an email
On Thu, Feb 25, 2010 at 9:41 PM, David Richards ausdot...@davidsuniverse.com wrote: Greetings all, Has anyone else noticed people often don't answer more than one question in an email? In fact, I'll generalise that and say people often don't read an entire email. I had this today (already) but this happens to me all the time (it's probably more like 25% of the time but I think the exaggeration is justified). Often. I know I also do it sometimes - usually if rushed. I think top-posting/replying is a big factor, a habit I feel created by that beast that is Outlook. If Outlook make it easier to reply in-line, you might find that people would read and respond progressively through an email. [...] I don't want to have to twitterize my emails into single sentences of a few small words. Probably depends on your recipient and the content to a degree. [...] David -- Richard Carde -- Richard Carde Ph: +44 7956 356 226
Re: [OT] Multiple questions in an email
On Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 8:41 AM, David Richards ausdot...@davidsuniverse.com wrote: Greetings all, Has anyone else noticed people often don't answer more than one question in an email? In fact, I'll generalise that and say people often don't read an entire email. I had this today (already) but this happens to me all the time (it's probably more like 25% of the time but I think the exaggeration is justified). I don't notice this really, but I tend to put all items people need to respond to in a list: - like so, - and thus - etc Which generally gets the appropriate result. But I do think if the question was phrased how you've shown below, I may accidentally ignore 'C' while answering 'A'. Maybe. This is particularly annoying when the main question isn't the first one (such as today's incident). eg, Please tell me A and B but I really want to know about C will usually just get me the answer to A. I don't want to have to twitterize my emails into single sentences of a few small words. Sometimes, when (professional) emails I send get too long, I'll write a little Summary area at the bottom. It works well, because bored people just read the summary, and then decide if the entire thing is of interest. I wonder how many people on this list didn't get past the first sentence :) David If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards... checkmate! -Zapp Brannigan, Futurama -- silky http://www.programmingbranch.com/
Re: [OT] Multiple questions in an email
It is funny you should say this. One of the guys i work with at a partner company and I always say include only one fact per email. :) I try to do that but when requirements get complicated it can get hard. -- David Connors Software Engineer Codify Pty Ltd - www.codify.com Phone: +61 (7) 32106269 | Facsimilie: +61 (7) 32106269 Mobile: +61 417189363 Address Info: http://www.codify.com/AboutUs/ContactDetails This message was sent from my phone. Please excuse the brevity. On 26/02/2010, at 7:41 AM, David Richards ausdot...@davidsuniverse.com wrote: Greetings all, Has anyone else noticed people often don't answer more than one question in an email? In fact, I'll generalise that and say people often don't read an entire email. I had this today (already) but this happens to me all the time (it's probably more like 25% of the time but I think the exaggeration is justified). This is particularly annoying when the main question isn't the first one (such as today's incident). eg, Please tell me A and B but I really want to know about C will usually just get me the answer to A. I don't want to have to twitterize my emails into single sentences of a few small words. I wonder how many people on this list didn't get past the first sentence :) David If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards... checkmate! -Zapp Brannigan, Futurama
Re: [OT] Multiple questions in an email
My rule of thumb is if the email starts to get too complicated pick up the good old phone :-) On 26 February 2010 08:25, David Connors da...@codify.com wrote: It is funny you should say this. One of the guys i work with at a partner company and I always say include only one fact per email. :) I try to do that but when requirements get complicated it can get hard. -- David Connors Software Engineer Codify Pty Ltd - www.codify.com Phone: +61 (7) 32106269 | Facsimilie: +61 (7) 32106269 Mobile: +61 417189363 Address Info: http://www.codify.com/AboutUs/ContactDetails This message was sent from my phone. Please excuse the brevity. On 26/02/2010, at 7:41 AM, David Richards ausdot...@davidsuniverse.com wrote: Greetings all, Has anyone else noticed people often don't answer more than one question in an email? In fact, I'll generalise that and say people often don't read an entire email. I had this today (already) but this happens to me all the time (it's probably more like 25% of the time but I think the exaggeration is justified). This is particularly annoying when the main question isn't the first one (such as today's incident). eg, Please tell me A and B but I really want to know about C will usually just get me the answer to A. I don't want to have to twitterize my emails into single sentences of a few small words. I wonder how many people on this list didn't get past the first sentence :) David If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards... checkmate! -Zapp Brannigan, Futurama
Re: [OT] Multiple questions in an email
People don't read more than the first 2 lines of emails. For example I stopped reading after I'll generalise :) Regards Arjang On 26 February 2010 08:41, David Richards ausdot...@davidsuniverse.com wrote: Greetings all, Has anyone else noticed people often don't answer more than one question in an email? In fact, I'll generalise that and say people often don't read an entire email. I had this today (already) but this happens to me all the time (it's probably more like 25% of the time but I think the exaggeration is justified). This is particularly annoying when the main question isn't the first one (such as today's incident). eg, Please tell me A and B but I really want to know about C will usually just get me the answer to A. I don't want to have to twitterize my emails into single sentences of a few small words. I wonder how many people on this list didn't get past the first sentence :) David If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards... checkmate! -Zapp Brannigan, Futurama
Re: [OT] Multiple questions in an email
The problem with using emails as requirements documents... Q: Where are the requirements for the cruise control software? A: I'll forward you the email trail of the discussions I had with Toyota. a year or so goes by Q: Don't you know the cruise control should disengage when you brake? A: Sorry I didn't read that part of the email. On Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 9:35 AM, Arjang Assadi arjang.ass...@gmail.comwrote: People don't read more than the first 2 lines of emails. For example I stopped reading after I'll generalise :) Regards Arjang On 26 February 2010 08:41, David Richards ausdot...@davidsuniverse.com wrote: Greetings all, Has anyone else noticed people often don't answer more than one question in an email? In fact, I'll generalise that and say people often don't read an entire email. I had this today (already) but this happens to me all the time (it's probably more like 25% of the time but I think the exaggeration is justified). This is particularly annoying when the main question isn't the first one (such as today's incident). eg, Please tell me A and B but I really want to know about C will usually just get me the answer to A. I don't want to have to twitterize my emails into single sentences of a few small words. I wonder how many people on this list didn't get past the first sentence :) David If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards... checkmate! -Zapp Brannigan, Futurama
Re: [OT] Multiple questions in an email
You mean that's not the norm? :) Requirements docs are like bigfoot. You are assured it exists but when you see it, you are disappointed to find it is little more than just do it. Plus its wearing a digital watch. David If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards... checkmate! -Zapp Brannigan, Futurama On Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 09:56, Jonathan Parker jonathanparkerem...@gmail.com wrote: The problem with using emails as requirements documents... Q: Where are the requirements for the cruise control software? A: I'll forward you the email trail of the discussions I had with Toyota. a year or so goes by Q: Don't you know the cruise control should disengage when you brake? A: Sorry I didn't read that part of the email. On Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 9:35 AM, Arjang Assadi arjang.ass...@gmail.com wrote: People don't read more than the first 2 lines of emails. For example I stopped reading after I'll generalise :) Regards Arjang
Re: [OT] Multiple questions in an email
What is needed is a replacement of email. A format that allows editing and versioning built into the email client. Then you can say. Ahh. Jim changed this line of the email on this date and then Jane changed it again a week later. It will save millions of dollars in bandwidth costs too. On Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 11:56 AM, Greg Harris g...@harrisconsultinggroup.com wrote: Sounds like SSW rules to better email http://sharepoint.ssw.com.au/Standards/Communication/RulesToBetterEmail/Pages/SendTasksOneEmailAtATime.aspx But you can not make a 100% rule it depends on the work style of the person you are sending the email to. If there is more than two items, start with... Hi Fred, There are two things I need from you - X - Y
Re: [OT] Multiple questions in an email
Ah... _That_ already exists. It's called Google wave. https://wave.google.com/wave/ -- noonie On 26 February 2010 12:00, Jonathan Parker jonathanparkerem...@gmail.comwrote: What is needed is a replacement of email. A format that allows editing and versioning built into the email client. Then you can say. Ahh. Jim changed this line of the email on this date and then Jane changed it again a week later. It will save millions of dollars in bandwidth costs too. On Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 11:56 AM, Greg Harris g...@harrisconsultinggroup.com wrote: Sounds like SSW rules to better email http://sharepoint.ssw.com.au/Standards/Communication/RulesToBetterEmail/Pages/SendTasksOneEmailAtATime.aspx But you can not make a 100% rule it depends on the work style of the person you are sending the email to. If there is more than two items, start with... Hi Fred, There are two things I need from you - X - Y
Re: [OT] Multiple questions in an email
On Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 12:00 PM, Jonathan Parker jonathanparkerem...@gmail.com wrote: What is needed is a replacement of email. A format that allows editing and versioning built into the email client. Then you can say. Ahh. Jim changed this line of the email on this date and then Jane changed it again a week later. It will save millions of dollars in bandwidth costs too. To a significant degree I think there is no replacement for people having to learn how to communicate. It's not that hard. -- silky http://www.programmingbranch.com/
Re: [OT] Multiple questions in an email
I agree. I also think people are beginning to imagine email to be the same as things like IM, SMS, etc. Obviously it's not. I can take my original question/statement and expand it to include instructions in email. More often than not (not an exaggeration this time) people don't read my instruction properly. Even if they are bullet pointed or numbered. Considering the trend of comments in this thread, are people expecting a complex problem to be solved in two lines? Clearly not. So when you get a long email, it's long for a reason. Alternatively, perhaps failure to follow instructions is a different phenomenon. David If we can hit that bullseye, the rest of the dominoes will fall like a house of cards... checkmate! -Zapp Brannigan, Futurama On Fri, Feb 26, 2010 at 13:13, silky michaelsli...@gmail.com wrote: To a significant degree I think there is no replacement for people having to learn how to communicate. It's not that hard. -- silky
