Computers & Technology

Computer programs are not the only ones that do not communicate clearly.  Here is an example of a message that was sent recently about a service restoration.  Some information is omitted (real names, exact dates/times, personally identifiable data, etc).

Date: [WITHHELD]
From: [WITHHELD]
To: [WITHHELD]
Subject: ITS Service Notice

The following service notice has been posted:

AUTHOR:  [WITHHELD]
THREAD:  [WITHHELD]
TITLE:   The service is now available.
MESSAGE: The service is now available.

• "The service" - what service?
• "Now" - when? Now when the message was composed? or now when this message was read?
• "available" - this implies "the service" was unavailable, but this is still very vague.

Something happened.  We will do something about it and let you know.