The best way to avoid the appearance of asking for information out of personal interest or intellectual curiosity is to publish a guidance that informs everyone of our requirements and the bases for them. But slavish adherence to a guidance that does not make sense in a particular case will absolutely drive applicants crazy. There is a fine line between following guidances for the sake of consistency and blindly insisting that the methods suggested in guidances be followed, even when the applicant prefers to use an equally valid alternative method. Guidances are recommendations, not requirements. Of course, alternatives suggested by the applicant should be reasonable, valid and appropriate.
Old habits are hard to break.
Such explanations seemed reasonable when meetings were held in small conference rooms with distressed tables and an eclectic array of ugly chairs. But times have changed. So keep your credibility and swallow those excuses about a lack of resources before you utter them. I'll give you the last three of my top eight problems with communications in an upcoming column. In the meantime, have a great holiday season.