Smiley makes a good point, though. If, on receiving any communication, you recast it as though coming from an acquaintance or relative stranger ... how would you respond? That might take it out of the endless, fruitless, cheeseless "But what does he/she REALLY mean and/or what is he/she trying to sneakily accomplish????" pit of big waste o'mind.
"Show me a completely smooth operation and I'll show you someone who's covering mistakes. Real boats rock." -- Frank Herbert