Project manager: I haven't seen an automated email go out in a while.

Me: ok let me check. Can you provide me a previous email for reference?

Project manager: no
*Itterate 3 times*
Me: ok, does this template resemble the email you're missing?
PM: no
*End itteration*
PM after 3rd attempt to identify the email they're missing: comes into my office and tells me he's not even going to answer my emails anymore cause I can't find his missing email.

Me: finally nails down the email he's *missing* and there's nothing wrong with it.

PM: doesn't believe me.

I fucking hate bad PM's. Asshole can't be bothered to provide usefull information to save his life then questions everything I tell him and thinks I'm the idiot when it takes me 3x as long to fix/find something.

Bad PMs are worse than cancers. Cancer at least kills you and gets done with it.

People joke with this guy about like "LOL WHAT DO YOU EVEN DO" but in like an obviously kidding way and I stand there like😐😐😐😐😐 no seriously what the fuck do you do

Honestly, this is likely a communication problem on your end.

I had a very similar issue with a PM, it turns out that my approach was wrong.

I would start with “yes I can help you” and then try to get the details.

I started moving my jump off point to “no, I cannot help you with this until I have all the needed details.”

Then continue with something like “If you can provide me with the exact automated email you are looking for then I can have a look into this situation. I will await your reply that includes the email you are looking for.”

This way you make it clear that the responsibility to act professionally is a 2-side deal.

The response to this (from a bad PM) may be “I don’t have time for this” in that case it is time to have a formal meeting to discuss what he perceives the value of your time to be. If it is a waste of his time to act professionally in his requests then should he be allowed to waste your time? (Hint: the answer is NO)

I like that, I think I will try it.

The guys still a dumbass but that might get me somewhere