Tim may be in the middle of something

[tuckerjj]

The issue is bigger than just making Tim wait while Keith types.

Without any context Tim has no idea whether Keith's request is a simple question requiring only a one word/sentence reply or a much longer request leading to an extended conversation, and no idea of the urgency of Keith's request.

Tim is in all likelihood in the middle of something, something which may be more important than Keith's request (which may not just be a quick question), and something which needs his full focus. By just typing solely "Hello/Hi/etc." without context and waiting for Tim to respond, Keith is effectively hijacking Tim's attention without any regard for what Tim may be in the middle of.

By asking the question up front in the initial message, Keith is providing the vital context which Tim can use to make an immediate prioritisation decision on whether to mentally task switch. "Is this a short quick request which I can safely respond to quickly without breaking focus? Or is there a risk this could become a longer thing if I reply now? Is Keith's request more urgent than the thing I'm currently working on? Or can I safely ignore Keith for now and get back to him once I've completed this important task?"

People who just type "Hello" are basically demanding your immediate and full attention, without any concern whatsoever for your current focus and priorities. It's really not ok. This is why I ignore them. Not because of any concerns over how long it will take them to write their request. Because I'm focused on something else and can't afford to be interrupted, but if I reply I'm effectively signalling to them that I'm available.

I would suggest updating the text (at least in English) from "If the other party is away, and you leave before they come back, they can still answer your question" to "If the other party is away, or busy working on something important, and you leave before they become available, they can still answer your question".