:smack: :smack: :smack: D’oh my bad… :smack: :smack: :smack: I’m going to have to keep this going for a while.
Me too.If I need it NOW I’ll say so and explain. If I need it by date X I’ll say so. If it isn’t really time-critical, I’ll ask for it ASAP – as soon as possible.
For me ASAP means lowest, rather than highest priority.
But I can totally get behind the OPer’s ire at assholes who are sure the whole world revolves around them! (and they most certainly think ASAP means the same thing I think it does)
I can too. I’ve even evaluated my use of ASAP in the past as probably being superfluous. None the less I tend to use it (mostly out of habit in certain circumstances) and I never thought it would piss someone off. I’m sure it’s the context that’s pissing off the OP more than anything else.
How many previews did it take to get that to line up properly? 
And re the OP, I also reserve the use of ASAP for when it’s actually necessary, and I include a detailed justification (“our ability to transmit to the bank is compromised and X dollars are at stake,” or whatever).
I do this because I am irritated when other people don’t do it, and if I’m irritated by something, by gum, I won’t do it myself.
Would that other people would learn this simple lesson.
I always took ASAP as highest priority. To me, the ‘possible’ is referring to physically possible. So, if it takes you 10 minutes to write the paper, I want it in 10 minutes, not when the rest of your schedule is done. I say “when convenient” when I mean low priority.
That said, I’ve never had a situation serious enough to ask for something ASAP. Generally if I’m that late, its my own fault, and I won’t stress someone out because I screwed up my own time management.
My problem with A.S.A.P. is I see it as a really lazy form of communication. If you need something done in time for a meeting for example, or something needs to ship today, just say so. Or just say can I please have this by noon. Asap sounds like they are deciding for me it is important, when in reality its probably not.
I will take care of things of equal importance in the order in which they came in. But a server crash has to take precedence over cleaning out spyware no matter when the call comes in.
And, to me, ASAP is meaningless, since everything I do is As Soon As Possible. Now, if your project has some time element that isn’t apparent on the surface, I’d appreciate a heads-up.
I’m never not busy, but I can juggle my priorities when necessary.
That, of course, goes without saying.
Is there any way to set an autoreply to any email that comes in with “ASAP” in the text that says, “All tasks will be completed in the order in which they were received. There are no exceptions.”?
That was my first thought. When did “ASAP” become rude? It’s really just a distinction from “at your convenience”. If you wanted someone to drop everything and attend to your matter immediately, you would say “Urgent”. But it does seem that ASAP has somehow taken on a meaning closer to “Urgent”.
At work, I always have more to do than I possibly can… well, do. I other word, prioritizing is fundamental.
Often I ask: “OK, so when does this have to be done?”
And sometimes the guy says: “ASAP.”
This always makes me go “…”
To me it’s nonsense.
Really, when do you have to have this done? This minute, this hour, this day, this week, this month, this year, or some time in the future…?
“ASAP.”
F’ck off, aint doin it. Either you tell me when you need to have this done, or I can’t do it for you, 'couse there are no ASAPs in my calender. Can’t do it.
Well, then, I guess I didn’t need to say it. :smack:
But even “Urgent” loses it’s meaning when you afix it every work request you submit. I’ve gotten so that I don’t even look at that field in our work order system.
Agreed.
I completely understand the OP’s complaint, and I have to say, people who get creative in their rush requests are especially annoying to me. A few days ago, I got an email from a coworker asking me to get something done for him “ASAP, quick, and in a hurry.” I had a really difficult time remaining professional in my response to him. I also get requests to “rush” this task or “super rush” that one; last week, I got a request to do something in (I swear I’m not making this up) a “super-duper-pooper-scooper rush.” I must have skipped English class the day they covered the Amplification by Repeated Rhyming Rule.
That’s right! You were sick that day. Man, you missed it. First of all it was Susie Johnson’s birthday and her mom brought in cupcakes for us all!
Anyhow, the basic rule is the more repeated rhymes you have, the more important the job is.
EXAMPLE: Super Duper Pooper Scooper Starship Trooper trumps Super Duper Pooper Scooper and is in turn trumped by Super Duper Pooper Scooper Starship Trooper Floppy Grouper.
Next time, if you need help, just ask to see my notes.
Does that mean you’re reading this replay AFTER Lanzy’s? Unacceptable! I need to get out of here to go get my hair done!!!
You’d better change that attitude IINS. 
Yeah, yeah.
But that’s one of the things I miss about the military: The friggin clarity: If someone says “we need to do this now” - we drop everything and do it now. Otherwise, we get the information “at this-or-that-hours”, or something of that effect. - You don’t ask a person to do something ASAP. Why don’t you just ask him/her: “Could you solve this within the hour please, or let me know?”
How hard can it be?
I believe that going fishing is the only acceptable excuse for needing something ASAP. :smack: