In my roles as my three children’s agent/secretary/promoter/activity coordinator, a H.S. Choral Board President, Boy Scout mom, family member, friend, etc, I do quite a bit of communicating by e-mail. Of course, there have always been those people who say only what they need without preamble and that is fine and there are others who are always too busy to really read an e-mail; I use bullets when I write to them.
Over the last month or so, I have noticed a trend. People I know and love and others are responding to my e-mails as if they have not read them or they seem huffy about responding. Last night, someone told me that my e-mail to him that day was “really long.” It was nine sentences and each one was necessary and needed a response in order for me to complete a necessary task for him. He sent me a five word reply today that didn’t address any of the issues in my e-mail.
I started to think that half the world has become so ADD that they cannot read nine sentences or that people have simply become rude. I was stewing about this when it occurred to me that there was one common fact. That fact is that all the rude, short, way too succinct people who seem to be missing the entire point of my communications are using Blackberries or other tiny devices. I’m sure my nine sentence e-mail seemed like it was a fifteen page long epic on that tiny little screen! Because of smart phones, I am now verbose??
It’s their problem, not mine, right? I was a little relieved by this revelation, but only for a moment. I may not be verbose but it doesn’t matter. In this twitter, texting, abrev lang world, I am frustrating the people I am trying to work with. Do I have to join this “just the facts” generation in order to stay current and get along?
What will happen to pleasantries and the general niceties in conversation? Who will tell stories? Will everything just be a means to an end without partnership or relating to one another while achieving a common goal? Perhaps I am over thinking this.
I tried to write a succinct, straight to the point e-mail earlier today and I felt like it was shockingly rude. However, this evening, I helped my daughter write some short essay answers to questions on her NYU online application. She had 500 characters to answer each question. It was difficult for her at first but we turned it into a challenge to answer in exactly 500 characters. That was actually fun!
Eureka! I knew just what to do. Now, when I need to send out a notice or request for information, I take my e-mail page down to the size of a smart phone screen before I begin typing. I try to get to the point in that space. I can tell you that I am getting speedy and focused responses from my smart phone associates. A few of my full screen associates have asked me if I am mad at them. I can’t turn back now, I just explain to them that we all have to move on and embrace the available technology if we want to stay relevant. A communication is only as good as the amount that another bothers to read, right?
For those of us who still need more space to share what is on our minds, there is a place for us and others of our ilk. It is called a web log and this is my first official post.
uttersuburbiadotcom 