[memefrog]

If the user can't follow basic instructions then they'll have to try again.

Those users absolutely can write 'YES'. They're perfectly capable of doing so. They don't do so because they're lazy. We all know people that simply refuse to read any kind of instruction on a computer screen. They will skip past any and all prompts. Guess what? That's their problem, not yours.

Stop enabling laziness!

[reichstein]

Some businesses like to retain users, and not alienate them using obscure, hard-to use-user interfaces, and blaming the user when they get it wrong.

If you can't create a way to say "yes", which is at least as easy to use as checking a checkbox and clicking a button, why should I assume you're capable of, well, much of anything.

It's not that it looks unprofessional. It looks either incompetent, or deliberately obtuse. In either case, I'll take my business elsewhere.

[memefrog]

If you can't reply to an email with 'YES' then you certainly aren't smart enough to have a good enough job to pay any reasonable amount of money.

[vntok]

> Oh no, you need to find a line of text in a string that contains the word 'YES'. How incredibly difficult. Are you even a programmer? This is entirely trivial.

"Yes alright renew my subscription, just make it start in two weeks this time"

Your "solution" fails immediately here, because it gives people a false idea that they are in a dialogue with you whereas they are actually just expected to reply in a binary way.

Finding "a line of text in a string that contains the word 'YES'" is indeed trivial, however if that's all you can think of you should not be employed in any position of responsibility as it demonstrates a profound lack of judgement, understanding of how real people behave, and general business acumen.

[9dev]

How condescending can a single software system be..? A reality check might help. Most of us write applications used not by nerds, but ordinary human beings. They don’t want to perform weird ritualistic dances just so the computer does beep-bop - ”I understood what your intention was just fine, but do it right for me!“.

[CRConrad]

If you're already subscribing to an e-mail list, how the fuck is replying to an e-mail a "weird ritualistic dance"?!?

[asielen]

Have you ever worked with the general public? At least half of adults would fail at that basic task.

The point of a business is to make money. You make more money by making the experience for your customers as easy as possible. If you don't, another company will.

[CRConrad]

If someone wants to unsubscribe, that's probably because they don't want to be your customer any more anyway. Unsubscribing for a now-irrelevant-to-them e-mail list may be a problem for these ex-customers, but it isn't yours any more.