The increased utilization of texted-based communication has resulted in an interesting phenomenon.
English grammar has morphed, abandoning traditional rules for something better known as “text speak”. Formal communications now include emojis, capitalized words, and exclamation points as people attempt to convey emotion in their writing. Acronyms replace words, in an attempt to shorten responses. Long emails are frowned upon, while responses may be abbreviated to a single word.
In this case: “Help!”
Sometimes I see it in the subject line of a ticket with a brief explanation in the body. Other times, there is no explanation at all. Because of the lack of verbal cues and details, I’m usually left trying to read the person’s mind. This is not a good thing.
When I read the word “Help!”, my mind starts playing the Beatles song of the same name. In the real world, the word can trigger a “bystander effect” – people are intrigued, but they ignore it, assuming that someone else is offering assistance. In my case, I usually skip over the request to help someone else who actually described their situation – as I jam out to the Beatles. (How do I know if I’m the person who can help if I don’t know what is wrong?)
How to Help
Providing details will help your tech-hero help you . Think of the who-what-when-where-why questions that were taught back when good grammar was a thing.
Who are you?
What exactly is wrong with your device?
When did it start happening?
Where are you (or your device) located?
Why is this an emergency?
Answering these questions will also help you think through the problem and determine whether you actually need your tech-hero’s assistance. If you do, we’ll be happy to help.