How do you communicate?

If I'm at work and I'm on the fourth floor and need a tip from a guy on the first, I'll make the arduous trek down a few stories to get to him. That way, I'll get a direct, exact answer and know that he understands where I'm coming from, as opposed to following a couple-sentence e-mail.

If I need an answer at some point in the near future (not immediately pressing) and it's something simple, then I'll e-mail the guy -- if and only if he is not at my place of work. I'd call them via phone if it was a pressing matter. I don't see the point of e-mailing a dude who is within walking distance, especially if it is regarding an important task that needs to get done.

My only real exception is if you're arranging a meeting among 10+ individuals with a time update and place. Then, I'd deem it reasonable to e-mail due to the sheer amount of people and time you'd go through to deal with that.

I personally loathe communicating via text in such situations. I use AIM and stuff often, but I use those when it is genuinely inconvenient to get ahold of them, such as my brothers who live rather far away. I won't call them on the phone to strike up a conversation -- I'll IM them.

Meanwhile, work is all about getting it done and doing a good job. If you take to long with getting advice (which may or may not pan out) then you'll get a reputation. A pretty bad one, at that. But hell, maybe I'm old-fashioned in too many senses.

Jam it back in, in the dark.