What it actually means
Don't actually ping me. I won't reply. But feel free to type the words and watch them sit there.
Surface meaning: To send a short, asynchronous message to someone, usually via chat.
If someone just said “Ping Me” in a meeting, here is what they probably meant, what to do about it, and how to keep your sanity.
In the wild
PM: If you have questions, ping me anytime.
You: (pings). PM: (read receipt, 4 hours of silence)
How to respond
Use email or a calendar event with a specific question. 'Pinging' promises asynchronous warmth and delivers asynchronous silence.
Origin
From networking: ICMP echo request. Stripped of all technical meaning around 2012.
FAQ
What does "Ping Me" actually mean?
Don't actually ping me. I won't reply. But feel free to type the words and watch them sit there.
Where did the phrase "Ping Me" come from?
From networking: ICMP echo request. Stripped of all technical meaning around 2012.
How should I respond when someone says "Ping Me"?
Use email or a calendar event with a specific question. 'Pinging' promises asynchronous warmth and delivers asynchronous silence.
Related corporate vocabulary
This was, of course, a meeting that should have been an email.
Run the fake meeting simulator. Generate a bingo card. Be busy without being there.
Open the simulator →