Re: [Leica] my thoughts on e-mail

[Alan Ball <AlanBall@csi.com>]

Jim,

beautiful post ! But (of course!) there is a difference between the
usage of words and the usage of the accelerator. The difference is
exactly that: words. E-mail is no different from a letter, mailing list
posts are no different from leaflets or dazibaos. One is free not to
read them, but the writer is not free from responsibilities. Neither is
the Leica photographer, by the way ;-) 

And, very true, words are used differently when addressed to people you
have had a few pints of Guiness with and when addressed to complete
strangers...

Alan

Jim Brick wrote:
> 
> E-mail is a strange form of communications. It spans the globe in
> microseconds. There isn't any consciousness or consequences involved. It
> really doesn't matter what is said, or how it is worded, folks will put
> their own slant on it anyway. They will read whatever they want, between
> the lines. Different folks. Different cultures. Different ethics. Different
> interpretations. There is no face connected. It is just a bunch of text
> appearing on a computer monitor. Innocuous, not Innocuous? Depends upon who
> you are.
> 
> You are in a hurry to get to work. You are late for a meeting. So you are
> driving a little faster than normal. You take a few opportunities and
> slip-in front of other folks (cut them off), when there really wasn't
> enough room. A few horns honk, lights flash. But you ignore them and
> continue. These are just pieces of metal. No face. After all, I'm right. I
> have an important meeting to get to.
> 
> You arrive at work, and as you are getting out of your car, one of the
> folks you cut-off, pulls into the lot and parks near you. You exchange
> glances, but you hurry in to the meeting. There is a face, but it's gone now.
> 
> You sit down. Made it!
> 
> Then the door opens, and who walks in... the person you cut-off just ten
> minutes ago. Now their is a consciousness behind that previous action. It's
> no longer a hunk of metal. It's a face. You start having a "hot flash".
> This is a very important new client. And now there is a consequence behind
> that previous action.
> 
> What to do?
> 
> Will you do it again?
> 
> As soon as there are consequences. As soon as there is a consciousness. As
> soon as there is a face. The rules change.
> 
> At the LUG meeting with Leica at Photokina. At the LUG meeting here in Palo
> Alto. At the other LUG meetings around the globe. Did we talk to each other
> in antagonistic terms? Were we rude? Did we argue beyond the point of no
> return?
> 
> No. Never.
> 
> We had consequences, consciousness, and faces. Smiling faces. Happy faces.
> Fun faces. We talked and talked, looked at equipment, looked at slides, and
> talked some more. We didn't want to leave.
> 
> We talked with our mouths, eyes, and gestures. Not with only our fingers,
> in total isolation.
> 
> We should all think about the possibility of meeting each other. When you
> type that next message, imagine having to meet the people you are speaking
> to, after you push send.
> 
> Sometimes the best message, is no message at all. And sometimes the best
> response, is no response at all.
> 
> Have a great day all,
> 
> Jim
> 
> PS... my philosophies are quite often self-realized...