I ran a small experiment on my office and put a sneaky bit of instruction into an email full of info I need everyone aware of. So after laying out all the info as concise as I could I more or less ended with, "If you read this entire email, reply with rabbits."
I work in an office full of auditors, most if not all are college grads, and I swear they can't read directions worth shit, so I was curious if anyone would notice and do as I asked.
1: Sorry, I can't give you rabbits. The ones I had in my cube scared the cleaning staff so I had to take them home. Me: What?! Either you were hiding vorpal bunnies in your cube or we have some seriously skittish janitors here!
2: Thanks for all the info! It was great! Me: Did you read it all? 2: Of course! Every bit was well written! Me: I'm missing rabbits. 2: ?? You mean this ~ ? Me: Nope! Rabbits! Bunnies! Bunny rabbits! 2: Well, easter is coming up...
Me: lol so it is. But I still have to give you a hard time for saying you read it all and still not giving me rabbits. [even goes down to original email and makes that line red text] 2: lol I did though! Knowledge is good; execution not so much.
Me: What?! Either you were hiding vorpal bunnies in your cube or we have some seriously skittish janitors here!
Me: Did you read it all?
2: Of course! Every bit was well written!
Me: I'm missing rabbits.
2: ?? You mean this ~ ?
Me: Nope! Rabbits! Bunnies! Bunny rabbits!
2: Well, easter is coming up...
2: lol I did though! Knowledge is good; execution not so much.