Email

Do you enjoy using email as a communication/conversation tool? Are you able to adequately convey meaning?

I like using email for business related activities. It's easier, faster and can obtain answers quickly. It also provides a great tracking system and documentation of certain decisions. When collaborating with collegues on certain projects, getting a written confirmation can be invaluable. However, there are some instances that email cannot be used and a face-to-face meeting needs to happen or a simple phone call. One needs to know how to descern the other so that you can be an effective person.

On a personal level, I can keep in touch with friends who live away, my daughter who lives away and I recently discovered emailing my children's teachers is very handy indeed! With the use of Facebook and it's email feature, I can organize groups, check friends and get caught up all in one program. Most times, I feel that I am able to convey meaning in the message. For anything that is very serious, I will use the telephone or go see the person.

Note one element of "netiquette" that you learned in the reading. Answering a backlog of email in reverse. I never thought of that! I usually go to the oldest and work to the most recent, but it makes more sense to go in reverse.
Add another element to the netiquette list in the textbook. I occassionally use only the subject line for my message, especially if the message is short, i.e., mtg at 3p.m eom (end of message - so the reader doesn't have to open the email...)