Be honest – do I have bad communications skills? I mean, I know I mumble “sometimes”, but generally I think my written communication skills are quite good. Yet, when I e-mail my questions to people, I’m having a real problem trying to get a definitive answer.
For example… we recently got a cheque book (“check book” as they call it) for our account. When Chicky McChick (not her real name) from the bank asked whose name we wanted on the “checks” (mine or both), I quite clearly said, “only put my name on it”. Chicky McChick confirmed this, and put an order in to get the “check” book delivered to us. Lo and behold, it turns up with both of our names printed on it. Now, whilst I was only mildly annoyed at this, the thing that I don’t understand is – who has to sign each “check”? That is, can either of us sign it, or do we both have to sign each one?
To clear up my confusion, I wrote an e-mail to Dudey McDude (not his real name) to the effect of:
Hi Dudey – We got our UNFCU check book last week, and the checks have both my name AND my wife’s name printed on them. Does this mean that we both have to sign each check, or can either one of us sign a check individually?
Now I thought that was fairly clear… but Dudey’s response was:
No, both parties do not have to sign the check.
Do not have to sign? But both parties can sign? What does this mean? I think he tried to rule out the need for both of us to sign – meaning that either of us can sign each check. Is that what you’d think?
An even worse example came today when I tried to enquire about the home theatre system that I’m looking at buying. Here was my e-mail:
Hi – I’m looking at buying the Pioneer HTD-540DV Home Theatre System from your store. I have recently moved here from Australia, and I have bought some region 4 DVDs with me. Will this system play region 4 DVDs?
A simple “yes” or “no” would have sufficiently answered my question. Instead, I get:
All Etronics products are for USA use only. Thank you.
What does that mean?! What’s wrong with these people?! Though you may think he is saying that it will not play region 4 DVDs, to me his answer indicates that he has not understood the question!
So, here’s a lesson for everyone out there… if someone asks a question, make you answer in a fashion that shows you have understood what they are asking. The easiest way to do this is to re-use the same words that they used. So if someone says, “Will this play region 4 DVDs?”, you should answer with, “No, this will not play region 4 DVDs”. (Or preferrably – “Yes, this will play region 4 DVDs” 
). It’s not that hard… yet it’s a concept that seems to have escaped so many people.
8 comments
So should I or shouldn’t I?
No you both should or shouldn’t.
I sincerely wish you Good Luck with getting a multi region dvd player over there. We looked in lots of places and got numerous (and occasionally memorable) strange blank looks. From the few people that conceeded that such devices were possible or existed, we discovered that obtaining one from Europe was our best answer. In the end, we never bothered, instead we used hacked up software on the notebook to play DVDs. <br><br>Incidently, I believe it was the DMCA which made multi region players illegal in the US. Lets all say YAY to the AUS-US FTA!
Now imagine, if you dare, that you had spent so much time editing other people’s work that you couldn’t turn it off. Ever. And every ambiguous sentence, spelling error and misplaced apostrophe stabbed you like a thousand knives.<br><br>Imagine you were me.<br><br>Do you know there are at least three kinds of hyphen, Gerrod? Do you? Ahh … my hot, stinging brain.
My answer is banana this color.
I’ve found a few sites that sell the system region free, but they’re about $100 – $150 more than you can get it region locked
. I’m hoping one of the cheaper sites will sell it region free!<br><br>3 kinds of hyphen? Really? Are they: -, –, and —? 
<br><br>Banana? Bah! Purple monkey dishwasher!
Hi Gerrod,<br>As an American living in Australia, haven’t you realized yet that the American way IS the only way, right or wrong(ha! ha!) you have to realize that is the mentality of your average American, especially if they think that is the only world there is (america) and the rest of the world should be the same. Don’t worry just don’t change and become like them, keep your Aussie ways, that is why I’ve been living here for 9 years, I love this country.
I think a lot of programers have this problem. Computer programs don’t tolerate ambiguity and must be completely deterministic based on the state of the program’s variables. Normal people can tolerate ambiguity because they live in the ‘my computer is magic’ fairy land.