The Etiquette of Approaches

Recently I’ve had approaches from a couple of people asking me to participate in a survey.  Now, there’s nothing really strange about that, except that neither of these people identified who they are, what the survey actually is about, or why they were asking me. Simply, they sent a message asking me (almost demanding) to fill in a survey. Why should I?

I  know the internet makes people ‘bolder’ and they feel they can do or say anything they want because of the anonymity they’ve been given, however I do not think that excuses lack of manners or etiquette.  Perhaps I’m being old-school, but I do feel that if I want people to participate in something, then it would be worth my while to introduce who I am, what I do, what I am planning to do (with the survey results) and why I approached the people I have approached.

I have run surveys in the past and still do. Usually via blogs I write and therefore, the audience that reads the blog is already familar with the topic, and who I am and they’re choosing to read it. So if I introduce a survey they are usually receptive towards it.  But to receive emails from people who are connected to me via some networking group doesn’t necessarily mean they can simply ‘demand’ my participation in an email without the perfunctory introductions that I feel should first take place.