So, I'm trying to get across to my kids that sometimes comments from them don't require an answer.
Example: Caroline: "Mom, it's raining outside." Doesn't require an answer.
Jack: "Mom, I don't like raisins." Doesn't require an answer.
They're getting better and not repeating the question and beating me into responding, but we're still working on it.
A few weeks ago, our school nurse emailed to let us know why one of our students wasn't at school. I read it and didn't think there was a response needed because it read basically like, "FYI this is why Student X isn't at school...." About thirty minutes later I got this from the nurse, "I didn't hear back from y'all so I couldn't remember if I sent the email in the first place, so here's why Student X isn't at school..." DIDN'T NEED A RESPONSE!
So why do I bring this up? Well, on my way to work this morning I was listening to one of my favorite radio stations. The morning crew was explaining the latest disagreement between two of the people. Apparently Person #1 had texted Person #2 on at least four different occasions and had not received a response. So they were unhappy with Person #2. Person #2 didn't think they'd done anything wrong by not responding to Person #1's texts. I was in agreement with Person #2. Not all of the texts required a response.
Example: Person #1 texted Person #2 and asked them to convey their condolences to Person #2's girlfriend on the loss of her grandmother. -- Didn't need a response.
Person #1 texted to the morning crew that they'd lost 3 lbs on the diet they were all doing. --Didn't need a response.
So I guess my question is: Do you always respond to all of your emails and text messages even if no response is necessary?
1 comment:
I guess the question of whether an e-mail or text needs a response is a two-parter: (1) does the e-mail or text need a substantive response; and (2) does the e-mailer or texter need me to respond in some way? What you're talking about is the first part. The second part is tougher. The first two e-mails/texts you mention don't need a response at all. The third one about losing 3 lbs doesn't need the first kind of response, but maybe the texter could've used a "way to go!" or "keep it up!" Sometimes when I send a "random thought" e-mail to a friend -- not asking a question or needing a substantive response -- what I really want is some human contact or to know that someone else empathizes or shares my view. A response is comforting and makes me feel like I connected with a friend, even if I didn't have time that day to have a phone conversation. So, I think there are a lot of e-mails that don't require a response to their substance, but I think some of those e-mails fall into the second category where a response is called for anyway. And, if a reply e-mail saying simply "Thx" or "Will do" or "Interesting" is enough to make a difference to someone else, well that's not so much an extra burden on me if I have 10 seconds. Though sometimes I don't!
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