Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Do you dread checking your email?

Email started as a great idea. In a click of a button, you can send a message around the world. Keep up with friends, share ideas--what a great tool!

Now, however, email is out of control. I don't know about you, but I often dread checking my email. Email is a bad way to send or receive bad news. Many use it to hide from conflicts, be passive aggressive, or avoid personal interactions. Then there are the sheer number of forwards that we both have inflicted on us and inflict on others. And, the whole world is spamming us!



So, when I want to enjoy a day, I may delay checking my email for a few hours. Like last night, when Becki and I went to the Coldplay concert. But then I begin to dread what may await.

Of course there are many positive uses of email. I get wonderful notes of encouragement and support through email, and these brighten my life and my day. But sometimes, you wonder if your life might be better without all of this impersonal contact. If we all lived in the mountains and read French poetry to one another at high altitudes. Or we all lived on the beach without a plug-in.

Sigh. We live in an electronic world. We need to use it for good. But sometimes, I wonder if all of this technology is really good for us. What do you think?

What thoughts do you have about email? Do you ever dread checking your email?

1 comments:

Sascha Terry said...

I must confess that I am addicted to email. It is unhealthy and I realize that. There have been times that I have fasted from using the computer and it has blessed me. I think we could all do for limited email (and technology) use. There are so many more productive ways to spend our time. However, when I think of the time I spent in another country, so far away from family, I am grateful that I had such a wonderful way to communicate with everyone in just a matter of seconds.

Thanks for bringing the question up. I just may have to step away from the computer for a few days again. Might relieve some undue stress!