February 11, 2026
Reply Rage: Is “sorry” the new spam?
Do not apologize for replying late to my email
Stop saying “sorry for the delay”—email isn’t a race
TLDR: A writer insists you shouldn’t apologize for slow email replies, calling email a slow, flexible tool. Commenters split: some applaud less pressure and true async, others say “sorry” is basic courtesy or a generational habit, with a side feud over email etiquette like top posting. Why it matters: expectations shape stress.
An online essay told people to stop apologizing for late email replies, and the comments turned into Inbox Wars. The chill crowd cheered, saying email was built for slow, thoughtful replies — “send emails, don’t rush the replies,” wrote one fan, arguing that not everything needs instant reaction. Meanwhile, the politeness brigade pushed back, with skeptics asking if the author gets “uncomfortable” over basic courtesy. One commenter even joked, “does this same guy ruminate when somebody holds a door open?” Ouch.
There was a spicy generational angle too: younger folks raised on the pulsing three-dot typing bubble feel anxious when messages linger, so “sorry” just feels normal. The author’s suggestion to reply years later (or not at all) sent eyebrows sky-high, even as the async purists clapped.
Then a nerdy etiquette subplot crashed the party: a buried debate over top posting (replying above quoted text). One veteran sighed, “top posting is why we can’t have good things,” predicting it’ll never stop.
The vibe: half the internet wants fewer guilt-trip emails and more asynchronous sanity, the other half thinks a tiny “sorry” makes the world kinder. Email culture isn’t dead — it’s just having a dramatic family reunion
Key Points
- •The article argues that email is an asynchronous medium and recipients need not apologize for delayed responses unless a deadline was explicitly set or there is close collaboration.
- •The sender typically is not awaiting a response and uses email without assuming the recipient’s availability.
- •Detailed personal explanations for late replies are unnecessary and can be omitted.
- •If time is limited, a brief deferral message placing follow-up on the sender is recommended, after which the email can be archived or deleted.
- •Recipients should assess whether a reply adds value and, if not, feel free to end the conversation or not respond at all.