E-mail—Return to Sender?
For many of us, turning on the computer and checking for e-mail messages has become a part of our daily routine. The growing popularity of e-mail makes us wonder how we ever survived without it. In. our enthusiasm for e-mail, we should realize that e-mail is a poor substitute for regular mail both in our personal lives and in the business world.
There is no denying that e-mail has many merits. The most obvious one is speed. We can send e-mail around the world in a matter of minutes. It is this speed that has led to our calling regular mail “snail mail.” E-mail involves less expense, for most people, than regular mail. Many people have access to e-mail for free through their work or school. And while some people may pay for e-mail through an online service, there is no increase in cost relative to the number of messages sent. Admittedly, e-mail is convenient. It allows us to send the same message to many people at the same time with little more effort than it takes to send a message to one person. When sending multiple copies of a message, we avoid the trouble of photocopying the letter, printing out additional copies, addressing envelopes, and posting the mail.
Despite its many benefits, e-mail is not always appropriate. Before dashing off another piece of e-mail—in our private lives or in the business world—we need to pause and consider whether the post office or a carder might be more fitting.
It would be sad to think that letters from friends might become obsolete. With e-mail, unfortunately, all messages look very much alike, and this sameness removes some of the wonder of getting a message in the first place. We have no handwriting to scrutinize, no perfumed envelope to smell, no colors or textures to enjoy. For these more personal things we must still rely on regular mail. Besides, opening old computer files is never as much fun as pulling a dusty shoebox out of the closet to browse through old letters and photos.
In the business world, as in our personal lives, e-mail is not always an appropriate medium. The issue of privacy requires serious consideration. Because of its electronic transmission in networked systems, e-mail may be accessible to co-workers and supervisors. It’s probably not a good idea to complain about the boss on the company e-mail or to write anything that shouldn’t be shared with strangers or potential enemies. The informality of e-mail may as well affect the image of the sender. For much company business, a certain level of courtesy and formality is desirable; e-mail can seem inappropriate because of its relatively slapdasn quality. On line，because of its speed，e-mail encourages “flaming，” sending off rapid-fire emotional messages that can get a businessperson in serious trouble.
While e-mail giyes us the ability to send messages with convenience, speed,and litte expense, it lacks the personality and authority of regulaur mail. Luckily, however, we needn’t always choose one over me other. Instead, we should take advantage of both, using each to its best advantage.
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