Get me a rock

Vague communication is the downfall of any relationship. When you are giving instructions, please please please be clear. When you are describing something, please be clear. Now, I'm not saying you need to be poetic about it, but you at least need to get the person from point A to point B without missing steps in between.

I love it when a supervisor or teacher gives an assignment and doesn't tell you the steps to complete it. I don't need to know every little detail, but when you expect me to complete an assignment, but don't give me the information I need to do so, you are not a kind person.

A few weeks ago, one of my professors needed us to get together with classmates via an online group video chat system. We were told to use the links provided in order to use this software. We were not told who our group members were, nor where the "provided links" were actually provided. Turns out, that information was buried deep inside another set of folders. It would have taken my professor ten seconds to type out where that information could be found, but instead I took an hour and a half to dig for it. This is bad communication, and I suffered for it.

Another form of vague communication is what my mother deems "Get-Me-a-Rock Syndrome." To explain this, I'll put it in context. You work in a rock quarry. Your boss tells you to go out and get him a rock. So, you go out, pick up the first rock you see, and bring it to him. He then informs you the rock he needs has to be bigger. You go out again and retrieve a larger rock. He tells you this one is too big. After several more times, you finally obtain the correct size rock, only to be informed that the desired rock must be red. After finding a rock with that description, he once again defines the parameters to include blue speckles and a white band.

See what I'm getting at here? 30 rocks later, he still doesn't have what he wants and it is somehow your fault for not bringing the correct rock. You both are pissed, he's about to fire you, and you are about to bash his face in for wasting your time.

People need to just open their mouths and actually give clear directions that can be understood. Those listening also need to have the balls to ask a question if they don't understand any part of the instructions. This will keep so much hassle from happening, and in the end, everyone will be happier!