Asking vs. Telling

[Japher]

The way I, as a lowly engineer, work with others, regardless of rank or department, is to include them in my thought process and to ask for their assistance where they can supply it. For example, if I need the lab to run some samples for me I run over my experiment with the lab supervisor (or whoever may be responsible for running the samples), solicit advice, and then ask if they would take responsibility for running the samples and getting the data back to me. Personally, I generally have a good relationship with those I work with.

My new colleague, entry level engineer, has been pissssing off a certain individual here, and I have been called in to help get this engineer on the straight and narrow. Well, he just sent email to this guy requesting his services, but I don't see a "please" or anything that would make me think he is asking for his help, more or less he just telling him to do his job. At least that is how I read it. He did say "kindly" in the email. My colleague is Indian (dot Indian, not feather).

Is saying, for example, "Kindly run my samples" the same as "Please run my samples" or "Would you please run my samples"? Or, is my colleague missing this workplace courtesy?

[Provost Harrison]

Your colleague is missing workplace courtesy. I make a point of being pleasant and polite...people will help you out far more and it makes your life a bit easier...especially if you can make some friends at the same time.

[SlowwHand]

Just attribute it to the poor parenting umbrella. That covers everything these days.

[Cort Haus]

It might be a cultural linguistic variant. Perhaps in his mental model of workplace manners, the structure he uses is a polite one. Perhaps you could consider this, and explain to him that his choice of words might be misinterpreted.

Or he might just be a c0ck.

[Asher]

Just be thankful he isn't using every Indian Professional's favourite phrase: "Please do the needful"

**** that drives me crazy.

[DaShi]

Maybe he just plays too much Bioshock.

[Aeson]

"Kindly do the needful" would be much better, I agree

[Cort Haus]

Maybe he just plays too much Bioshock.

[onodera]

Yes, "kindly" is a dot-Indian word for "would you please". My developers always ask me "kindly to retest the same" and get back to them.

[Provost Harrison]

Just be thankful he isn't using every Indian Professional's favourite phrase: "Please do the needful"

**** that drives me crazy.

My other "favourite" word from our Indian colleagues is "updation"...I mean, come on, it's not even a real word!

[Tuberski]

You racist bastards!!!!

I mean "Kindly, stop being racist bastards, please."

ACK!

[onodera]

Oh, yes, updation. And their warm regards at the end of their letters. I send them lukewarm regards in return when I'm really pissed off at their ****ty code.

[N35t0r]

I have a couple of friends working at coding companies, and they both mention we're getting increasingly more work that used to be handed over to the Indians.

[Caligastia]

Don't ask, don't tell - beg.

[OneFootInTheGrave]

title: my sample
body: indian.run my sample
end: kindly