Email

[semperfiona]

I read an article in the "USA Today" this morning (it lives in the company lunchroom, or I'd never read it) which claimed that email can destroy relationships, due to people's misinterpretations, and gave several anecdotal examples.

I find that my experience is exactly the opposite. Email builds relationships. But then, I live in a world of text, so perhaps I'm different from the subjects of the article. Still, it was correct in at least one regard: I do know that I need to get out of the text world and connect via telephone and in-person as well.

The more avenues of connection I can have with someone, the better. Email, chat, telephone, face-to-face...it all adds up to relationship-building and time spent together.

But email can be wonderful and happy-making: there's nothing quite like the pleasure of seeing a beloved name in the inbox (unless it be finding a paper letter in my mailbox--which is another order of pleasure altogether), and the thought that can go into it means that for me it is often a good venue for difficult conversations, as well.

Comments

[sinboy.livejournal.com]

Phones can destroy relationships too.

[semperfiona]

You're right, of course, and so can in-person conversations. I think the article missed the point: what ruins relationships is flying off the handle and not giving the benefit of the doubt. But then, intense communication is hard and scary, and it's far easier to be defensive than vulnerable.

Re:

[sinboy.livejournal.com]

Or to "make one's point" instead of listening and helping someone understand you.