I'll E-mail You: Finding Immediate Gratification with Online Communication

There are truly very few of us living today that have not read, written or forwarded e-mails to someone. E-mail has become an integrated part of our information-overloaded lives offering immediate gratification whether to inform, or to be informed.

As all communications require both a sender and a receiver, there are continuous opportunities for misunderstanding and annoyance. Due to the speed and efficiency of e-mail, these aggravations can be magnified quite rapidly as anyone who receives scores of unwanted messages per day can attest. In an effort to contribute something to world peace, the following tips for sending, receiving and general handling of e-mail may help to calm our lives just a bit.

First of all, e-mail is not the end-all communications method. Telephone, telefax, and tell-your- Mom are all still tried and true means of effective communication as well as some newer varieties like web-logs, web-boards, instant messages, text messages and the like. We have choices to fit all lifestyles (and budgets) intents and purposes. But as with nutrition, too much of any one thing is not healthy, and we should strive for balance. Voice communication offers intonation, face-to-face communications add expression and body language, and the hand-written letter a sense of care, thought and deliberation. E-mail today holds a primary position for immediacy and completeness with the ability to attach photos, documents, imbed animation, links, and virtually infinite amounts of information.