A student from Nova Southeastern University wrote and asked if he could interview me Nabokov style (my term, not his) by sending me a list of questions.
I agreed and promptly received 18 questions by e-mail. I've been busy getting ready for a trip, but I took time the other morning to answer the questions and e-mail them back.
A day passed, and I heard nothing. Finally I wrote to the student and asked if he had received my answers. An e-mail arrived, saying that he had and thanking me for my help.
I blame my generation, some of which are apparently raising children with no idea of what constitutes proper behavior or etiquette. I had done the student a favor, and once that favor was received, that was the end of it. There was no need, in his mind, for a thank you, or even a message assuring me that the e-mail had gotten through.
I wrote him an e-mail suggesting that the next time he asks someone for something, he acknowledge the help before getting a prompt. It was my little act of parenting for the year.
