Imagine texting someone on the phone, going then putting them on hold...
please don't say just hello in chat
Imagine texting someone on the phone, going then putting them on hold...
Keith could have got his answer minutes sooner, and needn't have kept Tim waiting. People who do this are trying to be polite, but you're actually just making the other person wait for you to phrase your question.
The same goes for:
Just ask the question! 😤
If you feel it's a bit brusque to simply say "Hi" and ask the question, you can still preface your message with as many pleasantries as you see fit.
For example:
It may seem trivial, but asking your question before getting that initial salutatory reply allows for asynchronous communication.