Is it the done thing to ignore questions in emails?

@SW-User I always answer all the questions I receive, partly because I hope this means people will return the curtesy. They don’t.

@Looking No they don't. When someone repeatedly dismisses me, I begin to dismiss them too.

@SW-User When you need them to help you it makes things a bit tricky though. I wonder if they would answer if they knew that their silence sometimes makes me question their intelligence.

@Looking Yeah, fair enough. If you need them to answer, repeat the questions again. Perhaps in point form. Ask politely for them to answer it because you need it.

@SW-User I sometimes think people are relying on me being too polite to repeatedly ask the same questions. There is a point where it can make me look pushy, or awkward. If I really, really need to know I will do this, but I do think this makes me look like the bad one at times.

@Looking Sometimes we have to weigh what matters more. Information or appearance. Sometimes its not worth fighting for answers. You just got to weigh your options.

@SW-User Most of the time I really need answers (hence the whole asking the questions in the first place!) so I feel a bit aggrieved that potentially I’m going to look bad because other people can’t do their jobs! Then there’s the fact that it is rude, wastes a lot of time and it irks me no end too! I might need to post a question about how to lower my blood pressure. Then to top it off, my friend is trying to tell me this is normal, the gaslighter!

@Looking If this is work related, I would get these people in a room and tell them of the importance of addressing everything on a message. Cover yourself with a memo after.
If it persists, seek higher authority interference.

@SW-User It’s, unfortunately, a bit more difficult and complex than that. I’m dealing with ‘authority figures’, though they are actually supposed to be working to help me. The power dynamic is hard to deal with though. I don’t feel I can criticise some people too much, as they have the power to make my life difficult, or at least not make it any easier. The good thing about emails is that at least everything is in black and white. I also feel I’m criticised, or at least left to take the fall, if things don’t go well, but other people seem to get away with not doing the job of helping me well, or, at times, at all. Anyway that probably sounds a bit too vague and complicated.

@Looking No I get it. That's a tough situation.

@SW-User Yes, it’s my life they are playing with, it’s a lot of fun!

@Looking I have SO been there! You need decisions or info to keep your job moving and you get blown off. Then later, it's "What is taking you so long?" From the same people. 😤