Random rant: Why can't people read or follow instructions?

navane · #1 02-13-2008, 12:32 AM

For real.

I am the chairwoman for a community group and I have to send out a lot of e-mail notices to a group of about 100. The last couple of months have gone like this:

My e-mail to the whole group: "Don't forget that there will be a general meeting on Friday, January 11th at 6pm in the cafeteria at Madison High School! Bring your 2008-2009 budget copies and a calculator as we will be reviewing budget recommendations."

Public response from Susie Member: "I will be there on the 11th; but, what time is the meeting?"

Me: "It's at 6pm in the cafeteria."

Public response from Joe Member: "I can't make it. When is the next one?"

Me: "I'm sorry to hear you can't make it. We meet on the second Friday of every month; so, will be meeting again on 2/8 and 3/14 at the same place and time. Just as an FYI - I think there is going to be some painting in the cafeteria on 3/14, so we may have to move to the library in March. I'll let everyone know if that's the case."

Public response from Liz Member: "Are we meeting in the library this time? What time is the meeting?"

Me: "No, this next meeting is in the cafeteria. It's still at 6pm."

Liz Member again: "Oh ok. Do you want us to bring anything?"

Me: "Yes, a calculator and your copy of the budget. Please see my original message quoted below to review all of the details."

I mean, seriously. If you had a question, wouldn't you have gone back to the original message to look for the answer? If someone else asks a public question and a public response is given; wouldn't you expect others to see it and not repeat the same questions? Why do people do this?

Someone help me out here.

.....Kelly

When Doves Cry · #2 02-13-2008, 01:11 AM

ahh that is SO annoying
i hate people like that
in fact, lots of things people do annoy me. a lot. because it's just plain stupidity. argh

kappa_delta · #3 02-13-2008, 01:29 AM

im guilty at times...i cant lie

AGDee · #4 02-13-2008, 07:24 AM

It happens all the time at work. My boss will send out an email "Our conference room booking system will be down from 2-3 pm today for maintenance". At 2:05 pm, my phone rings "I can't get into the conference room booking web site". READ YOUR EMAILS PEOPLE

SthrnZeta · #5 02-13-2008, 10:54 AM

I sit next to the IT guys at my company. One actually got an e-mail for a "trouble ticket" that asked them if they could fix her e-mail - she stated she couldn't send any

I told him to tack that e-mail up at his desk because it was so priceless!

nikki1920 · #6 02-13-2008, 12:25 PM

What may help is to put the information in bullet format. If its in the body of an email, people sometimes miss it. Make it stand out somehow.

TIME:
PLACE:

etc..

and if people keep asking simple questions, refer them back to the original email.

ForeverRoses · #7 02-13-2008, 01:28 PM

I don't know, but if you find a solution, please let me know.

I am the benefits coordinator at my office, and I actually had an employee "forget" to enroll in health insurance because he didn't see the end date listed in the enrollment e-mail. or the three follow up reminders that I sent.

Then he went to the COO to complain that he didn't have health insurance and couldn't get it until the next open enrollment period (which is next year).

Somehow it was my fault???

skylark · #8 02-13-2008, 01:54 PM

I realized I was spending too much time on GC when a couple weeks ago I sent a 2-lined email to my boss and he sent one back asking for a date of something that was in my original email.

I really wanted to send the original email back to him with the info bolded in super-42pt font, AF style.

SAEalumnus · #9 02-13-2008, 02:11 PM

The same thing happens with voicemail greetings. Just because you take the time to list your office hours in your greeting, doesn't mean people are going to listent to it (they're probably just waiting for the voice to stop talking so they can start). Then they wonder why they don't get an immediate response after having left you a message after your stated hours.

nikki1920 · #10 02-13-2008, 02:28 PM

That is my phone. If I have 13 messages, at least 6 will be hang ups.

SydneyK · #11 02-13-2008, 02:46 PM

I'm not sure when in life this phenomenon begins (not reading/following instructions), but I think it gets perfected sometime during college.

I go over my syllabus line-by-line at the beginning of each semester. It's painfully boring (and my students would agree). However, it never fails that, even after discussing it line-by-line, someone gets huffy when he misses something and can't make up the points.

Tom Earp · #12 02-13-2008, 02:46 PM

Sorry, I did not understand or hear what anyone said!

KatieKate1244 · #13 02-13-2008, 05:42 PM

I work customer service for a very large online retailer. Close to 80% of my job could be done for me if people would READ.

SthrnZeta · #14 02-13-2008, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KatieKate1244

I work customer service for a very large online retailer. Close to 80% of my job could be done for me if people would READ.

I'm very sad for you

Dunno how anyone would stay in a job like that.

Zillini · #15 02-15-2008, 10:38 AM

A recent conversation with one of my officers:

Her: How do we do XYZ?

Me: It's spelled out your officer's manual step by step.

Her: I looked but I couldn't find it. Where is it?

Me: Try the section titled "Procedures for XYZ"