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This is a sore spot for me, someone sending an IM with a quick "Got a minute?", which pulls me out of my thought zone. And once I answer back, I have no idea h

This is a sore spot for me, someone sending an IM with a quick "Got a minute?", which pulls me out of my thought zone. And once I answer back, I have no idea how long it is going to take for them to tell me what their issue is (could be 30 seconds, or a couple minutes -- I've often waited for 10 minutes, then got up to go for a meeting, and they get upset when I don't answer). I'd much rather them just tell me what problem they are having up front, so I cat least give them an answer and get back to work.

edw 7y ago
Much of my previous life: — ut? — Ugh what? [ Stare at screen for what feels like an hour. ] — nvm
edoceo 7y ago
Q: "Got a minute?" A: "No" Then close the app/tab and crank up that Led Zeppelin so you can GSD
lbotos 7y ago
I think about this a lot, and I call it "atomic messaging" in my head. You need to be able to address the message in full as if it were a pop up. (As messages often are via notifications) If the message requires follow up for clarity it's not atomic enough. Example: Did you ask him if what the results were? -> Did you ask Jim what the results of the 2019 Survey are? It's really helped me avoid being that person, and I've asked it of others with varying results.
- insulanus 7y ago
  Yes! This applies just as much to email correspondence. I think of it as resolving all references. (Can I make up a new TLA? RAR!)
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baliex 7y ago
For that, there's this: http://www.nohello.com/2013/01/please-dont-say-just-hello-in-chat.html http://www.nohello.com/2013/01/please-dont-say-just-hello-in....
shandor 7y ago
I have a friend leading the IT team in a company of ~300, and he goes nuts if people keep probing him with "are you here?". He's a very chill person, but the problem was getting out of hand, so he started pasting users back with just a link to a page explaining why one does not simply do that. Some people took offense, but mostly the situation improved. It was along the lines of [1], but not sure if it's exactly the same. [1] https://sol.gfxile.net/dontask.html https://sol.gfxile.net/dontask.html
Buttons840 7y ago
I learned this from #python on irc.freenode.org. "Don't ask to ask, just ask" is their rule, and the frequently repeat it.
kajmagnusmobile 7y ago
What about replying with a link to this article :- )

edw 7y ago

Much of my previous life: — ut? — Ugh what? [ Stare at screen for what feels like an hour. ] — nvm

edoceo 7y ago

Q: "Got a minute?" A: "No" Then close the app/tab and crank up that Led Zeppelin so you can GSD

lbotos 7y ago

I think about this a lot, and I call it "atomic messaging" in my head. You need to be able to address the message in full as if it were a pop up. (As messages often are via notifications) If the message requires follow up for clarity it's not atomic enough. Example: Did you ask him if what the results were? -> Did you ask Jim what the results of the 2019 Survey are? It's really helped me avoid being that person, and I've asked it of others with varying results.

insulanus 7y ago
Yes! This applies just as much to email correspondence. I think of it as resolving all references. (Can I make up a new TLA? RAR!)

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baliex 7y ago

For that, there's this: http://www.nohello.com/2013/01/please-dont-say-just-hello-in-chat.html http://www.nohello.com/2013/01/please-dont-say-just-hello-in....

shandor 7y ago

I have a friend leading the IT team in a company of ~300, and he goes nuts if people keep probing him with "are you here?". He's a very chill person, but the problem was getting out of hand, so he started pasting users back with just a link to a page explaining why one does not simply do that. Some people took offense, but mostly the situation improved. It was along the lines of [1], but not sure if it's exactly the same. [1] https://sol.gfxile.net/dontask.html https://sol.gfxile.net/dontask.html

Buttons840 7y ago

I learned this from #python on irc.freenode.org. "Don't ask to ask, just ask" is their rule, and the frequently repeat it.

kajmagnusmobile 7y ago

What about replying with a link to this article :- )