ClosingBracket

I have a thought for the internet ether.

Why when 2 people are less than 50′ apart they feel the need to communicate via internet?

There should be a limit to e-mail. If you are less then 50′ feet in proximity, you can’t send an e-mail, text, phone, or other message. Wait…I just thought of an amendment. If you could talk loudly and the other person would hear you then please…no e-mails.

But wait Mike! What if i don’t want to disturb the person? I then suggest a balled up note thrown in the persons general direction or the in audible mouthed “…When you have a minute can we talk?..” while raising your index finger. Get crazy, use your imagination.

That is all. If you are within 50′ feet of me while reading this, my apologies.

I was thinking today about technology and etiquette. It seems to me like some new questions about etiquette need to be answered.

e-mail

1. How long can you hold off responding before its considered rude?
2. What’s the time limit in reading the e-mail? (how long until you are confident the other person read it?)

instant messaging

1. Is a response to every message required?
2. How long until your over the limit in answering a message?
3. Is every message sent considered read?

mobile

1. Is it rude to send someone directly to voice mail?
2. Is it rude to not call back if no message was left?
3. Is it rude to call back without listening to the message first (based on caller id)

mobile messaging

1. Are the rules the same as instant messaging or more relaxed?
2. Are you required to respond?
3. When is a back and forth considered complete?

I don’t know the rules…does anyone? In person chats are easy. You respond to questions. You say thanks or goodbye and walk away when you are done. I guess when body language is taken out of the picture then everything gets a little more fuzzy.