I completely love e-mail, as I dislike the phone–cell or hard-line. My former career in showbiz was spent on the phone so now I love the freedom of answering and responding to e-mail whenever I want. However, I am frustrated with e-mail as it is fraught with problems and, as I just read, is rapidly becoming anachronistic as more immediate forms of communication, such as IMs and Twitter, are taking over (among the younger generation specifically).
The thing that I keep on forgetting and can’t seem to learn is how e-mail is not the same as direct dialogue. Subtlety rarely comes across and sarcasm usually is lost. Then, there are the bigger risks when dealing with the opposite gender of being misunderstood and accused of flirting or the like.
Now, when you add politics to the mix, you get hate e-mails in response saying “Take me off your list.” This is the thing I don’t get. I never just forward e-mail nor do I keep any “list.” Instead, I have always written a personal note explaining why I think this particular article or link has value, not asking for money or any response, and I make each list specifically tailored to those I think might want to look at it. I emphasize, “might” as there’s this magic button on most computers that says “delete.”
So, why do people sometimes get so angry? I understand when we’re on opposite sides of the political aisle as I’ve long ago, during the last presidential campaign, stopped sending anything to my friends or colleagues that I know are as foolish as to have “that” point-of-view. What’s with the others? Is it really such an intrusion? A friend said there’s a “push-pull” thing going on, that when you choose to look at something it’s different than when someone puts it “in your face,” as such e-mail. Okay, that makes sense. Sort of. Maybe I’m not frustrated with e-mail so much as people But, what do I know; I’m just a guy.
