Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!decwrl!limbo!taylor
From: mcgrath@paris.Berkeley.EDU (Roland McGrath)
Newsgroups: comp.society
Subject: Re: Too Much Computer is bad
Message-ID: <980@limbo.Intuitive.Com>
Date: 12 Jul 90 01:19:40 GMT
Sender: taylor@limbo.Intuitive.Com
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Approved: taylor@Limbo.Intuitive.Com

It is of course quite true that electronic mail (and news) lack the
information communicated by intonation and pauses in speech and by body
language in person.  However, I don't think this is necessarily bad.  It
is simply a different communications medium which must be used
differently.

I have had long, drawn-out, emotional conversations solely via e-mail.
In some cases using the medium of e-mail rather than telephone or
personal contact has been helpful in getting ideas communicated.  If
someone is angry at something that has just been said, they might hang
up the phone or leave a personal encounter.  I've found mail to be a
form of communication which promotes calmness on all sides.  In mail,
choice of words, *EMPHASIS*, and symbols (;-) convey the emotional
information conveyed in speech by intonation and facial expressions.
Mail also gives one the chance to correct their words before they cause
any harm to the process of communication (by angering or confusing the
other party).  I can compose, review and edit an electronic letter
completely and not have the pressure of someone sitting there staring at
me and waiting for me to figure out what I'm saying, and still have it
get to them in a few minutes.

Another issue is that I find talking on the telephone for long periods
of time physically uncomfortable (sweaty ears, crooked necks, etc.).  I
also can sometimes be distracted and lose track of what's being said.
With mail, I can sit comfortably and compose my letter at my leisure; if
I'm distracted, I can stop for a while and be distracted and then return
without annoying anyone.

Electronic mail is yet another way to communicate, and it has its uses
just as personal encounters, telephones, and paper mail do.  I like to
be able to compose at my leisure and still get my letter delivered to
the other end of the country in five minutes.  I don't think that by
choosing electronic mail over phone calls I am necessarily avoiding
emotional contact (though that may sometimes be true).  I choose the
communications medium I think appropriate for the specific
communication.

Roland McGrath