Cohousing-L Mailing List: Email

[Sharon Villines (sharon]

> E-mail communication does lead to misunderstandings, in particular because
> it's so hard to place what people say in context.  There's quite a bit
> written about it.  When people take offence at what others say they might be
> doing no more than fighting their own shadows.

I'm always surprised when people say that email causes more communications
misunderstandings than face-to-face. Have there never been misunderstandings
in the history of the human race before email?

The reason they are noticed in email is that written communications are just
that -- written. If you write clearly (as none of us ever does all the time)
the message is clear (er).

What email allows one to do is to communicate with a far greater range of
people on a far greater range of topics -- all the time (24/7). This brings
with it  the challenge of communicating with people clearly in what ever
language one is speaking without the added distractions of shoulder
shrugging, laughter, overbearing tone, screaming, tears, chest pounding, and
arms crossing.

Apart from "me too" messages and spam, email more than any other means of
communication, has broaden and increased communications, freeing it from
space time constraints _and_ of controls. I treasure the ability to sit and
think about things and send a message at my convenience to others who read
it at their convenience and have the same option of thinking before
speaking.

I love email. But I'm also an extreme introvert -- not shy. I just enjoy my
own space. Email gives me that as well as giving me the ability to be in
touch with others -- all over the world, day and night.

Sharon
-- 
Sharon Villines
Takoma Village Cohousing, Washington DC
http://www.takomavillage.org


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