I have noticed a rise in the number of a particular type of request that I find odd. Well, it isn't really the request itself that is weird, but how it is phrased. It goes like this...
***** SCENARIO 1 *******
Dear Prof. InB,
I am looking for an outside member for my dissertation committee, someone preferably who does *exactly what I do*. Could you please recommend someone in your department who would be able to help me?
Sincerely,
Graduate student you have never met from another department
*******
Dear Graduate student I have never met,
Well, if you are looking for suggestions for other people, have you considered Professors X, Y, or Z?
all my best,
Prof. InB
*******
Dear Prof. InB,
I have, but none of them is available to help me. Do you know of anyone else?
Sincerely,
Graduate student from another department
*******
Dear Graduate student I have never met,
I am a bit confused, are you asking if I might be available to serve in this capacity? Or, are you really hoping that I know of someone else who can help you?
all my best,
Prof. InB
*******
Dear Prof. InB,
I would be most grateful if you could serve on my committee...
***** SCENARIO 2 ***********
And then, an interaction with an editor from a publishing company went something like this. To set the stage, XYZ is exactly my research topic/area.
Editor: I have been wanting to talk with you as I'm interested in a book on topic XYZ. Who would you recommend for this?
Me: I apologize for being blunt here, but are you asking for me to recommend colleagues to you or are you asking if I would be interested in doing this?
Editor: I am hoping that you might be interested in doing it...
*********
Is it just me or is this a weird way to ask someone for something? What's up with this approach?
***** SCENARIO 1 *******
Dear Prof. InB,
I am looking for an outside member for my dissertation committee, someone preferably who does *exactly what I do*. Could you please recommend someone in your department who would be able to help me?
Sincerely,
Graduate student you have never met from another department
*******
Dear Graduate student I have never met,
Well, if you are looking for suggestions for other people, have you considered Professors X, Y, or Z?
all my best,
Prof. InB
*******
Dear Prof. InB,
I have, but none of them is available to help me. Do you know of anyone else?
Sincerely,
Graduate student from another department
*******
Dear Graduate student I have never met,
I am a bit confused, are you asking if I might be available to serve in this capacity? Or, are you really hoping that I know of someone else who can help you?
all my best,
Prof. InB
*******
Dear Prof. InB,
I would be most grateful if you could serve on my committee...
***** SCENARIO 2 ***********
And then, an interaction with an editor from a publishing company went something like this. To set the stage, XYZ is exactly my research topic/area.
Editor: I have been wanting to talk with you as I'm interested in a book on topic XYZ. Who would you recommend for this?
Me: I apologize for being blunt here, but are you asking for me to recommend colleagues to you or are you asking if I would be interested in doing this?
Editor: I am hoping that you might be interested in doing it...
*********
Is it just me or is this a weird way to ask someone for something? What's up with this approach?
