DEAR MISS MANNERS: I received a text from an individual stating they had an opening with a certain company and would like to know if I was interested. When I asked what hours they were looking for, they responded fairly quickly.
But when I asked a couple of follow-up questions, one of which being could they match or exceed the pay of my current employer, I heard nothing. I assumed they were no longer interested.
The next day, I sent them a text stating that, while I wasn't so much upset over not being offered a job, I would have appreciated it if they would have just said so. They replied an hour or two later that they were out of the office and unable to reply. My response was that it was rude to leave in the middle of a conversation, regardless of whether in-person or by text, and that at the very least, if they had to go, they should have warned me by saying so.
I no longer have any interest in working for this company. Am I wrong to expect a semi-quick response? Even when I'm busy, at work or otherwise (when I'm driving, I have an app that does it for me automatically), I'm always quick to respond to messages with a "Can't talk now, I'll let you know when I can."
GENTLE READER: There is no etiquette rule requiring the recipient of a text to drop everything and respond instantly. But once having begun such a conversation, Miss Manners agrees that one should not leave without explanation.
Given the number of acronyms and misspellings in fashion among texters, she hopes they will have no trouble assimilating SSGG ("So sorry, gotta go"), IHM ("I hear (my) mother (calling)") and RHOF ("Running: house on fire").