I put my home gym up for sale and then went out to dinner with friends. I received an email at 9.30pm from a gentleman saying his doctor had advised him to get more exercise, and so he wanted to buy the gym. I didn't see the email until I got home. I was having a lovely evening out.

By 3.00am I'm home and in bed asleep, as you might reasonably expect. This gentleman emailed me again,

And then another an hour later,

Why on God's Earth would someone expect a response in the middle of the night? Why would he be awake and worrying about this at 3.00am? Does he really think I'm going to be negotiating with other people before dawn? Did his doctor say he had to get started before he'd had his morning porridge?

The Internet, social media, email and WhatsApp have taught us there is no need for patience any more. Everything is available immediately. I need an answer now. If I can't get an answer now, I'm going to be frustrated, annoyed, upset, anxious - all manner of emotions. My friend said he probably has ADHD or he's on the autistic spectrum. I don't care; there are norms for decent behaviour, and waking people up in the middle of the night because you need an answer to your problem, which isn't my problem, isn't one of them.

I remember walking past the desk of a distinguished engineer at Motorola. He had a sign that said,

You can imagine the conversations he'd had prior to sticking that up. Funny though, he was one of the more helpful Motorolan's I ever worked with - if he could meet your deadline, he would. But he didn't sacrifice being thorough and professional to get there. It was an important lesson in the need for planning.

Anyway, I woke up and sent my gym guy an email. "The gym is sold; the buyer will be here before 5.00am." I hope, and expect, that drove him nuts!

It seems we need to re-learn the art of reasonable behaviour. There was a time when we used to write letters to each other - by hand, then placed in an envelope and taken down to the Post Office to add a stamp and put in the post box. Then wait a fortnight for the response, "Yes, I'd love to come to dinner on 22nd of next month, thank you for the invitation."

Just be reasonable.