Let's talk about fun technologies...both the benefits and the drawbacks.
The Internet. Benefits: One word: Google. Drawbacks (at least from an employer's standpoint): Many words: MySpace, eBay, fantasy football, online shopping...(I could go on forever here).
Cell Phones. Benefits: Flat tire? No problem! Bored at the airport? No problem! Late picking someone up? No problem. Just call - or even better, text!! Drawbacks: Everyone is always on their stupid phone. Seriously. All. The. Time. (me included)
iPods. Benefits: Any song, anytime, anywhere. The Stones and Enya are back-to-back on mine. Drawbacks: Can't think of any. Cost, maybe?
E-mail (and this is really why I even started writing this blog). Now, this one can really get us into trouble. But let's stick with the pattern here.
Benefits: No more need for mom to leave a 15 minute voicemail on your cell (or machine at home -gasp- if you still have a land line) reminding you about (fill in appropriate line here, depending on your mom)... Other benefits: Quick, concise work notes to boss or co-workers..."Yes, I'll bring the nacho dip for the work potluck next week"..."Yes, boss, I can put in that extra 80 hours next week. Go team!"...or "Lost and found: anybody seen my black sock?" Don't ask.
But now, to the drawbacks of email: If you know me, you know I'm a talker. I'm a person who uses her facial expressions, voice tonal quality (ok, and volume) to tell stories, and boy oh boy do I like to use my hands...and arms...and legs occasionally...when I talk (I'm Italian, I can't help it). But, when writing an email...the only thing the person at the other end has got to go on...are your words. And believe me, words can take on different meanings depending on who's sending them, and who's receiving them.
Funny example: Last week, I was replying to the email of a person I don't know very well. I wrote this line: "I liked your Dockers story, but I'm surprised you weren't stoned while you were there." Oops.
Um, ok, let me explain. This person mentioned he had visited Miami University "back in the day" - which is where I went to school (and also where the Steeler's "Big Ben" went, fyi). He mentioned (jokingly) that he didn't wear Dockers while he was there, so he didn't think anyone liked him. It's a joke referring to the very "polished" look of the students who attend school there. Anywho...when I wrote the email, the meaning behind my "I'm surprised you weren't stoned while you were there" statement was... "I'm surprised people didn't throw stones at you" - funny, ha ha. After reading over my original sent email, I re-replied, and explained myself, and all was good. Few!
Then, there's the whole passive aggressive use/abuse of email. Some people (and you know who you are) like to use this technology tool to say things on a computer that really should be said in person. Face-to-face. Mano a mano. Capiche?
But, alas, email is easier. It's less emotional. And it certainly takes care of keeping you from getting the emotional feedback you're due...losing much in translation.
