Does politeness mean always acknowledging the greeting?

I normally reply to pm’s and emails from friends or people I like. I would feel like I was being rude if I didn’t.

At the very least, it’s polite to acknowledge that you received their message.

I would not say I 100% all of the time reply, but I think it best to reply so the person knows you received their message.

Yeah, what the others said. When I text/PM/IM someone, I expect a reply because I want to know that they got my message. And usually, it works. I do the same thing for other people. It doesn’t take that much effort.

So, my answer to your main question is: yes, it is politeness to respond.

Unless its someone im really really trying to avoid, yes i will always reply.

I do my best to reply to any and all messages that I receive. I think if someone took the time to write or call, basically acknowledge me in whatever way, it’s important for me to do the same for them. Although there are times when I’m just too busy and I end up blowing it off or forgetting altogether. I’m working on that..

There genuinely are times when I have walked away or even left the house and received PMs because it appears that I’m still online. I think most of my friends realize this because I do eventually reply. I have been known to pretend this is what happened when I really just don’t want to talk.

I change my setting to “offline” when I see certain people come on.

I reply as soon as I can. But sometimes I forget that I have a message waiting for me. That’s mostly only on Fluther, though. With emails, I can keep them as new. With text messages, I can lock them so they’re still there when I empty my inbox at the end of the day. But on Fluther, once you’ve looked at your “Comments for You” page, there’s no way to mark the PMs to remind yourself that they’re there. Alas.

I always respond. I think it’s rude not to. I’m always blown away when I’m with my friend, she gets a text, reads it, and puts her phone to the side without replying. Her response is always “Ehh I’ll just text them later.” I mean, really?

@ItalianPrincess1217: Yeah, really. She’s spending time with you. I get a little offended when I’m with my friends and they start having text conversations with other people.

If you don’t respond, how are they going to know you ever received the message, unless there is an auto respond like my husband uses. The responses I get are usually one word such as “OK” or “noted”.

@MacBean True. But I see no harm in a quick response just to let the person know you got the text and you’ll get back to them later.

Wait. Is this question being asked by someone whose icon looks like two butt cheeks with a world map on it? Just checking.

To be polite. Since that is the theme. I’m tired and a little bit bonkers from over studying. In fact, I like everyone’s creative icons. No offense intended. For real. Wew – that was just knee jerk.

@nmac He’s got the whole world on his ass. Sing to the tune of “He’s got the whole world in his hands”

If someone contacts me, be it through a phone call, a text message, a PM, or anything, and it’s someone I don’t talk to very often, I’ll always reply. If it’s someone I talk to often anyway, and I don’t really have anything to say in reply, I’ll just wait until I do have something to say and contact them then.

I try to respond to any and all forms of communication (unless of course it’s someone being rude) and am pretty good about doing it quickly (unless i’m with a patient).

I was brought up to believe that it is horrible manners to ignore a greeting or to withhold a greeting from an acquaintance (whether or not you like the person),

In a word, @daloon – Yes. In very extreme circumstances should one not reply.

Aren’t you spontaneous sometimes, and the first to reach out to someone? How would you ever know if they have even seen your PM, or gotten your SMS if they weren’t to reply?

In the physical world I always return a greeting even when I don’t like the person. In the online world ignoring someone is a last resort for example as a result of improper personal attacks.

@nmac I often wonder that myself. The avatar does reflect exactly who I am. Some people do get annoyed with it, but hardly anyone actually laughs in my face. Some people actually like it! (Besides me, I mean). Very surprising, as I say.

You, at least, have the balls to call an ass an ass! I was actually just wondering about this in a pm to someone. Can’t people see what a fraud I am? How immoral I am? How can they give me attention? It makes no sense to me. I mean, I like it, but the wrongness of it bothers me.

Anyway, thanks for trying to point out the truth. I doubt if anyone will pay attention, but at least you tried!

I almost always reply especially when it is something personal. If I don’t reply I do often feel guilt for not doing so. If i’m not up to chatting I’ll usually make my response very very brief.

I think it is good manners and builds good relationships.

Also I think always saying yes to a dancer is a good idea, as long as it is safe of course. In our culture we have a traditional dance called the “Owl Dance” where the woman asks the man to dance. If the man says no then he is called out in front of the audience and sometimes even required to give her a gift. There is also the “Rabbit Dance” which is men asking women but this isn’t as popular for some reason (the dance itself is more complicated as well).

<<< Wishes the women would ask the men more in our culture.