Emailing without thinking. We do it all the time. We fire off communication, without considering whether or not email is an appropriate form of communication. Email has become an extension of thinking instead of an expression of thoughtfulness. Without hesitation we type it out, send it, and wait for a response.
Whoops!
Some things are meant for personal communication. We’ve all had that misinterprerted email, the one that forced us to
clarify, apologize, or heaven forbid, talk to the person in the flesh! Avoiding email can be wise. It can be an exercise in discernment and love. Not avoiding email can be foolish. It can be an exercise in selfishness and carelessness. Then there’e the de-civilizing nature of email. The same could be said of Blogging, Texting and Tweeting.
Send
In Send: the essential guide to email in the office and home, Dave Shipley of New York Times addresses various aspects of emailing. He talks about:
- Sending emails when we shouldn’t
- The pitfalls of blind carbon copies (bcc)
- Emotion and emails
Shipley suggests we should ask ourselves “Do I really need to send this email?†He exhorts us: “Think before you send.†Do you think before you send or have you had too many post-sending grimaces? Proverbs tells us we should be “Slow to speak and quick to listen.” We need to apply that wisdom to our social media interactions. Next time you consider sending something of importance or highly personal, pause and think it through. Maybe you should just pick up the phone or meet up in person. Be wise. Be thoughtful. Re-civilize!