your blog post assumes that the participants all engage in the communication with collegiality and those questions are just an unfortunate misunderstanding. gu

your blog post assumes that the participants all engage in the communication with collegiality and those questions are just an unfortunate misunderstanding. guess what - if somebody asks "are you there?" it's often deliberate power play with the intention to get from you a verbal commitment to be fully available as soon as you answer affirmative.