We live in a society that expects instant gratification. We can go on Google and search for something great, we can seek out that awesome video on YouTube and get it within milliseconds! You can put out a request for a nice place to eat in Austin on Twitter and get (almost) immediate feedback.
Yet there is one phrase that still gets under my skin every time I see it. ASAP which we should all know means As Soon As Possible.
Dictionary.com defines “possible” as: that may or can be, exist, happen, be done, be used, etc.
Lets look back at the original statement: As Soon As Possible. As Soon As It can be, exist or happen. In other words, as soon as you can possibly get to it. Nowhere in there did it say, “as soon as RIGHT NOW“. Did you see it? I didn’t.
So guess what, when you tell me “as soon as possible”, you’re telling me, as soon as you get a chance, please do this. If you need me to do something RIGHT NOW, say, “hey, I know you’re busy and all but can you do this for me…right now?” Then I’ll respond to you right now with my answer. But, let me emphasis it, if you say “as soon as possible” and you meant right now…that’s not what I meant to me. It means when possible.
Lets all try to use ASAP responsibly. Oh..and if you ask me to respond ASAP, then send an IM, text message DM or message on Facebook…you didn’t mean “as soon as I have a chance”. You meant to say right now.
Photo by db*Photography
There is also the always inevitable ” Hey, real quick….” Like a nice old-fashioned punch to the gut.
Then there's the double whamy: "Hey, I know you're busy, but real quick…." followed by 5 minutes of telling a story before getting to the question.
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Yes, this is my PET PEEVE. Pretty much EVERY time someone says “ASAP” they mean Right Now, which is a blatant misuse of the phrase. Think about it: you always see this as the subject line of a super-urgent email with a red exclamation mark next to it.