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I don't read your email threads

loganmarek.com

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Re: I don't read your email threads

#21

Post by somat »

chacha102 wrote: post #6

> Save a vibe today and send an IM instead of an email thread. I would rather the email honestly. IMs usually have the expectation that I'm going to respond to you "soon", which is an interruption/distraction. And they don't contain enough information so I have to start going back and forth with the other person. At least with email, most people recognize that you will respond in your own timing in the next 24-48 hou…

You could split the difference, there is delta chat an IM client that uses smtp as it's transport layer. https://delta.chat

Re: I don't read your email threads

#22

Post by nkrisc »

johnecheck wrote: post #18
nkrisc wrote: post #15

The same can be said about Slack threads. If you’re including someone new into an already running conversation, take the time to write a summary for them and why you’re now involving them in the conversation, and what you expect from them. No, don’t use AI to do it, that’s more offensive than “see below”.

If you generate an AI summary and it's garbage, obviously that's wrong. But assuming you take the time to make sure it's actually good, this seems like a fine use for an LLM.

No, I want to hear from the person pulling me in what’s actually important, not what the AI decided was important and they thought was close enough. The AI can’t read your mind, why involve another level of abstraction?

Re: I don't read your email threads

#23

Post by NoboruWataya »

This situation is annoying because it means you are being dragged into, and probably have to action, a conversation that has been happening without you for days or weeks (or even months). The solution is to involve the right people in the conversation at the right time. The solution is most certainly not to just send an IM, which will lack all of the context that the email thread contains.

People who think they are too important to read the work emails their colleagues send them are generally awful to work with.

Re: I don't read your email threads

#24

Post by bee_rider »

elric wrote: post #16

Is this intentional ragebait? Calling IMs "actual communication" is .... odd. Email all but guarantees more thoughtful replies than IM. I'll agree that the example of simply tagging someone in a long quoted thread is not the way to go. The sender should have included a summary and an explanation of why the new recipient is suddenly added.

I think maybe it is ragebait, (maybe unintentional). In particular, it is phrased as an argument against email threads in general, but then we have:

> Innocently, you click into the top email. The only text is "[Your Name] see below."

IMO this is bad behavior and it is right to push back. The person forwarding the email should provide context: what’s going on and why am I being included, what’s expected of me here?

If I’m just told to “See Below,” ok, I’ll see it. I’ll interpret that at an FYI for me, no deliverables requested (of course, an FYI might include the information about the needs of somebody who’s ass I need to kiss).

—

The ragebaity thing is to have a general rant against something pretty normal, but to only have an example based on obviously bad behavior. Is that Motte-and-bailey? Not sure, but it doesn’t pass my sniff test.

Re: I don't read your email threads

#25

Post by EForEndeavour »

rwmj wrote: post #20
scrapheap wrote: post #8

Personally I prefer to be sent a full email thread over a message in chat, because a) I can ignore it until I have time to look at it b) You can see who else has already been involved in the conversation - seeing a fellow team member being involved can help avoid falling for situations where someone is trying to work around one of your colleagues who's already told them they can't have what they're asking for. c) The…

and for a well-written email: d) Someone spent some time forming and writing down their thoughts, which seems to be an increasingly rare skill these days.

> increasingly skill

This is increasingly ironic :)

Re: I don't read your email threads

#27

Post by ddmf »

I will delete a ticket if it has a full thread copied in and "see below" - I don't have time to work out what you want or need, make an effort and ask me / tell me what you need, and be ambiguous about it.

Re: I don't read your email threads

#28

Post by QuantumNoodle »

So what's the alternative? Being referred to an IM thread where there is still the long history but the discourse is full of short, impulsive messages written in haste? And you are expected to be instantly available to read the thread and respond? Email is better set up for thoughtful, async communication and finding thread by "subject".

What the article doesn't state but implies is when someone sends you an email thread, it should be a standalone message that clarifies the state of things and the ask. And if the reader needs the context of how something got there, they can refer to the thread history.

Re: I don't read your email threads

#29

Post by AdmiralAsshat »

Email threads are useful for context. I much prefer having the email thread to understand what is being asked and why, rather than a lone email from someone (usually a PM or someone non-technical) that attempts to paraphrase the ask--poorly--and gives me a nonsensical request: "AA, please tune the turbo encabulator."

But it's also really helpful when someone at least summarize or reiterates the specific ask to me at the top of the email thread, rather than just CC'ing me on a reply with "+AA". That seems to be more what the author's complaint is about.

Re: I don't read your email threads

#30

Post by bravetraveler »

chacha102 wrote: post #6

> Save a vibe today and send an IM instead of an email thread. I would rather the email honestly. IMs usually have the expectation that I'm going to respond to you "soon", which is an interruption/distraction. And they don't contain enough information so I have to start going back and forth with the other person. At least with email, most people recognize that you will respond in your own timing in the next 24-48 hou…

Want with one hand, shit in the other. See which fills first -- expectations, heh. IM can and will wait. Especially "hi".

Down with ever-expanding threads. I try not to engage with them at all, preferring a briefing that explains why I'm being involved and the change in priority. If dragged in with a simple "see below"; looks messy, best of luck.

Thanks for being unprepared and showing your interest in staying that way. Helps me keep a safe distance.

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