BRFR Cake Stop 'breaking news' miscellany

[midlandsgrimpeur]

I think the larger point is people sending voice notes instead of phoning simply don't want to speak to you directly.
Sod 'em.

I think the same goes for sending an email most of the time! It always amazes me how, particularly in a professional context, people largely seem afraid to pick up the phone and call someone, even for something required quickly.

I have been fortunate that I have always (seemingly) been well regarded by colleagues and external contacts over the years. I think part of it is because I got into a habit early on of calling people or seeing them in person. It definitely helps establish a rapport, and also moves you up the list when you need something doing!

 

[briantrumpet]

I think the same goes for sending an email most of the time! It always amazes me how, particularly in a professional context, people largely seem afraid to pick up the phone and call someone, even for something required quickly.

I have been fortunate that I have always (seemingly) been well regarded by colleagues and external contacts over the years. I think part of it is because I got into a habit early on of calling people or seeing them in person. It definitely helps establish a rapport, and also moves you up the list when you need something doing!

Yeah, that too. People doing Reply To All because they can't be bothered to think who needs to know. I guess it's basic 'incivilities' in my book, and people assuming that their time is more important than yours or anyone else's.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

I guess that it would just about be feasible to navigate the modern world without one (though with access at home or elsewhere via laptop, iPad, etc., and the ability to print stuff out), but it would make life very clunky when dealing with most 2026 businesses and systems. It certainly would take a lot more preparation: during the pandemic, I'd not quite got my head round paperless travel (especially with all the extra documentation required), and ended up carrying quite the sheaf of paperwork. (It was partly also for speed at the border, having watched people trying to find all the necessary documents on their phones.)

I try to keep reliance on it to a minimum just in case, for example getting an actual train ticket rather than the mobile app version. It is getting increasingly harder though as virtually everything transitions to paperless at some point!

 

[Pblakeney]

I think the same goes for sending an email most of the time! It always amazes me how, particularly in a professional context, people largely seem afraid to pick up the phone and call someone, even for something required quickly.

I have been fortunate that I have always (seemingly) been well regarded by colleagues and external contacts over the years. I think part of it is because I got into a habit early on of calling people or seeing them in person. It definitely helps establish a rapport, and also moves you up the list when you need something doing!

It is a bit different in the professional arena where a paper trail is necessary.
As one client put it to me, "If it is not in black and white then it never happened." Follow up phone calls are nice and polite but there are no records.

 

[First Aspect]

I hope I'd not be an insensitive snob though, for the reason you mention.

But it does annoy me when thoroughly literate people appear to think that their time is more important than yours and can't be arsed to marshal their thoughts into a text-based communication. One of the best unintended outcomes for me was then BT Openreach replaced my phone wire, and I didn't twig that the new line bypassed my landline answerphone. No more arriving back from a long day's work with a message I couldn't action then, and couldn't action the next day before I went out to work.

And that (along with a family matter) prompted me to turn off my mobile voice messaging. Obviously, if someone rang without answer, and then sent a text asking m to ring back, I would. I might be a snob, but I try not to be a total arsehole (even if I fail sometimes).

Says the grammar and etymology tzar.

 

[First Aspect]

I think the same goes for sending an email most of the time! It always amazes me how, particularly in a professional context, people largely seem afraid to pick up the phone and call someone, even for something required quickly.

I have been fortunate that I have always (seemingly) been well regarded by colleagues and external contacts over the years. I think part of it is because I got into a habit early on of calling people or seeing them in person. It definitely helps establish a rapport, and also moves you up the list when you need something doing!

And email is sent and done. A telephone call risks having to leave a message that you've called, because the missed call is something that can be ignored, and to reschedule what you want to dispose of in that moment.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

And email is sent and done. A telephone call risks having to leave a message that you've called, because the missed call is something that can be ignored, and to reschedule what you want to dispose of in that moment.

Very true, but I it still surprises me how often the email needs to be followed up with a phone call because the email has not been responded to or acted upon.

 

[Beebo]

Sub 2 hours for a marathon is insane.
Really feel for the guy who came seconds, also breaking the 2 hour mark, but no one will ever remember him.

It was his first ever marathon too, so didn’t have anything to pace himself against other than the other guy.
You have to think he could go quicker with a bit more race experience.
They think the new shoes are adding around 5% over what was being achieved 10 years ago. Which is about 6 minutes over a 2 hour race. So a previous 2h 5mins time is now sub 2h.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

It is a bit different in the professional arena where a paper trail is necessary.
As one client put it to me, "If it is not in black and white then it never happened." Follow up phone calls are nice and polite but there are no records.

Fait point. I tend to use a call or face to face chat to get things started, make people aware of what needs doing. The rest can be followed up with a paper trail to ensure it has been carried out.

I just find that email largely gets you on the bottom of the pile in the initial instance as it can easily be ignored.

 

[First Aspect]

Very true, but I it still surprises me how often the email needs to be followed up with a phone call because the email has not been responded to or acted upon.

I suppose, but for internal emails at least where spam filters aren't an issue, the days of pretending you didn't get it are long gone (and when inhear that I know I am dealing with someone I can't trust). So an email does serve a useful you can't pretend not to have been told purpose.

 

[briantrumpet]

Says the grammar and etymology tzar.

Tsar/Czar

 

[First Aspect]

Tsar/Czar

If you had put that in a voice note how would it come across?

 

[briantrumpet]

If you had put that in a voice note how would it come across?

Fnarr. Probably. My diction is terrible.

 

[midlandsgrimpeur]

I suppose, but for internal emails at least where spam filters aren't an issue, the days of pretending you didn't get it are long gone (and when inhear that I know I am dealing with someone I can't trust). So an email does serve a useful you can't pretend not to have been told purpose.

IME it is not pretending they didn't get it, it is people not bothering to respond as they don't think it is important enough for them to engage with. I used to work as a fundraiser in a charity which would regularly involve trying to cajole multiple teams; delivery, contracts, marketing etc. into providing information with bids. If people did not see it as directly impacting their tasks, they would simply ignore it until prompted (usually by me arriving at their desk 😂)

 

[icowden]

This is a pertinent update to a previous version of this graphic, with the message that however you frame the question, the answer is not cars, whatever their method of propulsion and who/whatever is driving them.

View attachment 14743

But it's completely wrong. 48 people is 10 cars or 12 if you exclude drivers. If your autonomous cars are 7 seaters, then 7 cars.