Ping manners: a short guide to tapping shoulders

A Ping is a tap on the shoulder that points somewhere: “We’re at the usual spot. Come through.” It never shows where you are, or where they are. It’s only ever between people: businesses can’t send one, and nobody can pay to.

Once is enough

If they haven’t come yet, they’ve seen it. They are putting their shoes on, or they are not coming. Togra won’t let you send the same Ping again until they’ve replied or a little time has passed. This is for your dignity as much as theirs.

Say why

“Come here” is a summons. “There’s a free table on the roof and the sunset is doing something unreasonable” is an invitation.

Mind the hour

People can set quiet hours, and Togra keeps them. A Ping at 2am isn’t spontaneous. It’s a cry for help, and the help is sleep.

Point at places, not people

You can’t use a Ping to find a friend. If you want to know where someone is, you can ask them, like it’s 2009.

Take no for an answer

Anyone can mute Pings from a person, a group chat or a Circle, and the sender isn’t told. If your Pings keep going unanswered, the problem might not be the app.

Used well, a Ping is the smallest way to say: I thought of you. Come here.