Re: [NTLK] OT Are we stupid?

From: Goodwin, Greg P. <GoodwinG_at_aafes.com>
Date: Fri Aug 10 2007 - 11:57:18 EDT

        "Let's not kid ourselves. Email is another case in point. A
nifty
invention to make communication and the transfer of information
quicker and more efficient. "

        E-mail and instant messaging (and text messaging on phones) are
a great tool for saving of days sent by mail, paper, envelops, stamps to
an electronic format that can get the document there in seconds.
Amazing!

        Phones saved workers from having to have a message sent or
having to walk into an office when something needed to be communicated.

        For business this is great.

        For personal lives, I remember in 1993 when I could send
E-mails. That was awesome!! I used to write people like I would in a
letter. The E-mails ping ponged back and forth until finally we had
little more to say. Now E-mails are not so eloquent. And I'll admit, I
miss writing letters to my friends. :(

        I have also lost friends due to E-mail. No kid. What would
have normally blown over was escalated to a full blown war and fighting
words in two days. Take this example:

        You write or occationally call a friend. Something happens, but
it might have been a few days before you talked to them again. But
then, one or other or both have cooled off, and when approached about,
one or the other blows it off or apologizes and all's well.

        Today, something happens, and you are able to write, text, or
whatever form in minutes. Explanations are demanded, and soon while the
emotions are still strong words are said and things get really out of
hand.

        In other words, we have almost too much of a good thing in this
case. And yes, the rest of the E-mail ... about 90% is spam. Where you
would get maybe three junk regular letters a day, now you get 160 junk
E-mails a day. :)

        So my opinion of computers is swiftly growing to the following:

        E-mails are best used for work. Friends are best visited in
person.
        However computers are good for chat rooms, which is nice when
you can not see some people in person.

        I try to get away from starring at a wall for hours with my wife
in the next room. I try to instead use a laptop more and more in the
living room and visit with her while watching a movie. Even this is
decreasing.

        Now if only we could get this mentality to work in the workplace
where Dilbertville is the mindset. :)

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Received on Fri Aug 10 11:57:26 2007

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