By nature, mankind is self-centred and the underlying criterion is “what’s in it for me ?”

Good manners, and the other desirable traits, come with civilisation.

MichaelG.

I have had the same experience of being ignored, even after repeated replies including my email address in the text, as well as the type the system generates. I thought maybe they just did not want to mail to Australia, but like you would have appreciated at least a "booger off" in reply.

On the other hand I have had wonderful response to a couple of small wanted ads I have posted, with members bending over backwards to help me out. So the enthusiast spirit is still alive and well — just not universal!

Perhaps your emails are going into their spam folder?

I get this because my email looks like a company, rather than being an obvious person's name

I've had the same kind of thing with locksmiths. Some of them simply don't do email any more – you are expected to phone (or at least text) them.

Yeah, I know why they do it but it doesn't mean they have to cut off email entirely – just that you need to call/text if you want a fast response. Those of us with hearing difficulties may well prefer written communications – albeit delayed.

… especially when said other end phone is a cellphone used under less than ideal conditions.

Since covid my family doctor does appointments by phone using his cell phone as a speaker-phone propped up on his desk with all the room acoustics.

Hearing difficulties are just one part of the problem though. At my age, I have some difficulty in expressing my problem to a person on the other end of a phone, who is younger, speaks too quickly and is obviously in a hurry. It's much easier (for me) to set my thoughts down (and edit them if necessary) in an email.

Bui it seems no one wants to do it these days.

Edited By Peter Greene 🇨🇦 on 18/06/2023 17:45:31