BLUF: A military standard to make writing more powerful

Re:BLUF: A military standard to make writing more powerful by derekp7 on Friday September 13, 2019 @05:12PM (#20966631)

This is a sore spot for me, someone sending an IM with a quick "Got a minute?", which pulls me out of my thought zone. And once I answer back, I have no idea how long it is going to take for them to tell me what their issue is (could be 30 seconds, or a couple minutes -- I've often waited for 10 minutes, then got up to go for a meeting, and they get upset when I don't answer).

I'd much rather them just tell me what problem they are having up front, so I cat least give them an answer and get back to work.

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Re:BLUF: A military standard to make writing more powerful by lbotos on Friday September 13, 2019 @07:11PM (#20967612)

I think about this a lot, and I call it "atomic messaging" in my head. You need to be able to address the message in full as if it were a pop up. (As messages often are via notifications) If the message requires follow up for clarity it's not atomic enough.

Example:

Did you ask him if what the results were? -> Did you ask Jim what the results of the 2019 Survey are?

It's really helped me avoid being that person, and I've asked it of others with varying results.

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Re:BLUF: A military standard to make writing more powerful by insulanus on Sunday September 15, 2019 @12:57AM (#20975649)

Yes! This applies just as much to email correspondence.

I think of it as resolving all references.

(Can I make up a new TLA? RAR!)

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Re:BLUF: A military standard to make writing more powerful by shandor on Saturday September 14, 2019 @02:06AM (#20969198)

I have a friend leading the IT team in a company of ~300, and he goes nuts if people keep probing him with "are you here?".

He's a very chill person, but the problem was getting out of hand, so he started pasting users back with just a link to a page explaining why one does not simply do that. Some people took offense, but mostly the situation improved.

It was along the lines of [1], but not sure if it's exactly the same.

[1] https://sol.gfxile.net/dontask.html

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Re:BLUF: A military standard to make writing more powerful by Buttons840 on Saturday September 14, 2019 @10:45AM (#20971102)

I learned this from #python on irc.freenode.org.

"Don't ask to ask, just ask" is their rule, and the frequently repeat it.

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Re:BLUF: A military standard to make writing more powerful by baliex on Saturday September 14, 2019 @01:16AM (#20969052)

For that, there's this: http://www.nohello.com/2013/01/please-dont-say-just-hello-in....

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Re:BLUF: A military standard to make writing more powerful by edw on Friday September 13, 2019 @06:00PM (#20967072)

Much of my previous life:

— ut?

— Ugh what? [ Stare at screen for what feels like an hour. ]

— nvm

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Re:BLUF: A military standard to make writing more powerful by kajmagnusmobile on Monday September 16, 2019 @10:18AM (#20984235)

What about replying with a link to this article :- )

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Re:BLUF: A military standard to make writing more powerful by edoceo on Friday September 13, 2019 @06:05PM (#20967126)

Q: "Got a minute?" A: "No"

Then close the app/tab and crank up that Led Zeppelin so you can GSD

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