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> I assume you've read it and understood it, if you don't understand or agree, let me know

You’ve replaced “read” in the first part with “agree” in the second, and those are not at all the same thing. I can’t let you know that I haven’t read your message.

If a parent says to the other “hey, I’m running late, I need you to pick up Tiny Tim from school”, an acknowledgement is paramount even if you read, understood, and agreed to the message.

> it's just The Generals Problem.

That problem is concerned with an unreliable communication channel, which does not apply to the situation.



If the channel is reliable why would I need to know if you've read my message? and why would you tell me in another message?

The problem isn't the acknowledgement, it's the additional steps I have to make to acknowledge the acknowledgement to the email system.

Eg Whatsapp has 1 tick for sent, 2 for received, and turns them blue for opened.




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