Why can't the industry be a little more Kevin Roddy?

I know we're under a lot of pressure. I know there's a recession just around the corner (the internet told me). I know we are all busy. But (and they say everything before the "but" is bullshit) is it really okay to be so dickish? (and this is coming from someone who's been accused of being just that).

One of the most decent bosses I've had, Kevin Roddy, said Sir John Hegarty had once told him that made sure he answered every email. With that example, being set, Kevin also answered every email. 

Lately though, i've been put in a position i hate. A position where i have to write to people offering my services as a hired gun. I hate, hate ,hate it! I hate trying to talk myself up. I hate having to put myself in a position where i have to ask anything of anyone. And yet here I am through necessity having to do it. It's physically painful for me to do. 

Some people with a sense of decency understand this and respond, usually with a "No", or "No, We don't have anything at the moment." Eight words that take no more than 30 seconds to write and send. Yet most (and it is the majority) don't. 

Are we all so passive aggressive that we don't have the balls to say no? instead...

Crickets.

I've written to people i've known for years, people I'd given ideas for companies they started. People I like. Correction: liked.

Crickets.

Agency recruiters are some of the worst culprits. Why is that? 

I recently was contacted by an agency recruiter to come to their office. I told her it would take me 2 hours to get there but I'd love to see her again (I knew her from a previous agency.) We arranged a date and time. I travelled the 2 hours and got as far as the building's reception, who called her.

Crickets.

I called her on her cell.

Crickets.

After 30 minutes I left and started on my 2 hour commute back home.

I wrote her a somewhat terse email, which after a couple of hours she actually replied to with terrible, terrible excuses. "I thought it was half and hour later". "No it's in a email you sent me. check the thread". "i thought i was tomorrow." "Check the email thread".

It reminded me of a story another freelancer told me about going to see ECD of a big agency. A meeting that had been arranged, set up and confirmed. The Freelancer got there 15 minutes early and sat in the lobby. The ECD walked past him three times. 2 hours and 15 minutes  later, the ECD came out to reception and shook the freelancer's hand and said "Look i've got to go home. It was good meeting you" turned on his heels and left. 

When did it become okay to treat people like this? Even at my most stressed and most irritable, i was never this dismissive.

We are a better than this. Aren't we?

It's time the industry became a bit more Kevin Roddy again.

Decent.