no hello
please don't say just hello in chatImagine someone is bleeding badly and say to that person: "Hold a second" then let that guy bleed to death.
❌ Don't do this
Note that someone could have got their answer minutes sooner, and needn't have kept Ice waiting and wondering. In fact, Ice could have jumped right into deciding or booting up the game!
People who do this are generally trying to be casual or get someone's attention before jumping right into the request — like one would in person or on the phone. But chat allows for asynchronous communication.
For most people, typing and waiting on replies is slow. So despite best intentions, you're actually just making the other person wait for you to phrase what you actually want, which creates unnecessary suspense, pauses games or work, and is kinda annoying.
The same goes for:
- "Yo Ice"
- "Ice!"
- "You got a sec?"
- "ping"
- "quick question..."
Just ask the question or state your invite directly! 😫
✅ Please do this
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Listen to music, discover upcoming projects, and explore my other creations on my main site even read mt blog posts! A lot of my work is hosted there, and I update it frequently with new content. Don't forget to donate if you like what you see and want to support my work!
If you feel it's a bit abrupt to simply jump right into it, you can still preface your message with as many pleasantries or friendly banter as you see fit.
For example:
- "Yo ice wanna play game to gether? Down around 6 PM?"
- "Hey Ice! Hope you're having a good day. Got time for a match later?"
- "Yo Ice, quick question about tonight's party lineup..."
- "Hey man, what's up? Also, any chance you're free for co-op?"
It may seem trivial, but asking your question or proposing your gaming session before waiting for that initial reply unlocks true asynchronous communication.
If Ice is away from keyboard, in the middle of a match, or working, they can read your entire proposition immediately upon return and reply with a definitive answer — rather than staring at a solitary "Yo Ice" and having to play telephone tag.
When done right — everyone saves time and everyone's happy! 🎉🎮
Context in Message #1
Give the other person something to actually respond to immediately. A greeting accompanied by your request is polite and respectful of everyone's time.
Zero Waiting Rooms
Don't force people to wait for you to type out paragraph two while they stare at your typing indicator. State the goal upfront.
Protecting the Flow
Gamers and coders love being in the zone. A clear message lets them glance, decide, and schedule without breaking their flow state.