Dear Elders,
What, in your opinion, is the maximum amount of time in which to respond to an e-mail?
– Waiting, electronically
Roioli Schweiker
Dear Waiting,
E-mails are just another form of communication like letters or phone. How soon would you answer one of them?
Some people read their e-mail every hour, some people every day or week and some once a month. Since I still receive many I am not interested in, and delete them without reading, occasionally I delete an important one I should have read.
Sorry if it was yours.
Jan Stickler
Dear Electronically Delayed,
It depends. I try to respond to all e-mails that require a response within 24 hours. Jokes, photos and general announcements don’t fall into that category. Some I respond to and others I don’t. Depends upon how they strike me. I won’t go into the ones I automatically delete.
Casper Kranenburg
Dear Waiting,
My colleague Elders will probably say “it depends on the e-mail,” but that is a copout – you respond to an e-mail immediately after reading it, no lollygagging allowed. And if you don’t respond, you can always say, “No, I never got it. Can you send it again?” Then you just bought yourself some time to think about how many messages you really want to read from your e-mail addicted friend. And don’t respond to stupid jokes; it will only encourage more unstoppable “forward to all” messages.
Bill Twibill
Dear Eager E-Beaver,
Time to smell the roses and relax. If it is that important for you to get a fast response, then call on the phone. I don’t think that we have reached the level of having a “10 Commandments of E-mail” and hope we never do. Maybe the recipient is not interested, available or home to respond. Enjoy e-mailing for what it offers, but get on with your life and get out there and enjoy all the real beauty of this world beyond your computer. Go and smell those roses or whatever grows in your garden. No garden? Buy a flowering plant and sniff away.
Steve Leavenworth
Dear Waiting,
Depends on how much money they’re asking for. The more, the longer.
