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From: bzs@world.std.com (Barry Shein)
Newsgroups: comp.society.futures
Subject: re:Looking backwards
Message-ID: <9001111920.AA25599@world.std.com>
Date: 11 Jan 90 19:20:38 GMT
References: <9001111411.AA02351@jeremy.prime.com>
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(Note that some of this Fax vs. Email debate/comparison arose from an
article by John McCarthy of Stanford in last month's CACM.)

One advantage of Fax over current e-mail systems that might be
overlooked is that when I fax you something that's not originally
generated by me it's obvious that it's not mine and it's precise (e.g.
a letter I received, an article from a newspaper or magazine), little
chance of a misunderstanding or error in transcription.

If I type something in or summarize the possibility of
error/misunderstanding arises and, more importantly, it suddenly
appears to be my effort, even if it's "obvious" it isn't.

The old adage about killing the messenger might be at work here, at
least sometimes. If I fax you an article then the messenger is the fax
and the article is the article. If I send you a note I typed which
says I just read an article which describes you as a honker (?) then
there's some good probability you'll throw some anger my way ("how
dare you even *repeat* such a thing...!")

Anyhow, abrogation of responsibility, always a popular sport in office
politics. Don't underrate it!

        -Barry Shein

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