ASAP?

I'm aware that this typically stands for As Soon As Possible but what does it really mean. When you are told to do something ASAP, there's an implicit assumption that you are currently not doing it ASAP, and are probably reading a novel or today's newspaper. That you should put your third hand to use or push the TURBO button on your head. Being told to do things in this way is quite common place, and perhaps is appropriate to point out the priority something holds. However, when you aleady have a task priority system in place, and the tast at hand is already of a high priority, and evidently critical, what purpose does it serve. Other than further aggrevate the pressure that the guy doing the work is already under. It never ceases to amaze me how people think that by telling you to do something by today evening, that somehow by some mysterious magic that stuff will get scared and do itself by the said end of day. Software happens to be notoriously unpredictable and such thinly veiled threats often don't help in finding solutions faster. How is a guy meant to think with an axe over his head and no clear or obvious cause or solution in sight. He's likely to throw up his arms in despair and proceed As Slow As Possible.