Something is Missing

Email vs. Ordinary Conversation

Email is different in many ways from ordinary conversation. The benefit of email is that it has the ability to reach a greater audience globally. It can also be translated from one language into another in order to keep businesses connected. Not only does it help bridge the communication gaps between businesses it is how many of our leaders in government exchange important information at local and national levels. Email is the point or in depth. It is this that makes it considerably different from ordinary conversation that takes place every second of the day. However while it connects us does not necessary allow us to make connections emotionally with one another. To create a social acceptance of how we feel to one another and your ideas and thoughts that we are conveying to one another in the process of communicating with one another.

Communication through email is vital because of the many ways we can reach and stay connected. We can communicate and expanded on our ideas and thoughts without being interrupted. Although it does take away from the personal relationship that ordinary conversations tend to develop throughout time. Though it is as Robert Kuttner the author of, “The Other Side of E-Mail” stated, “It steals our time and our privacy…brings a kind of pseudo-urgency that demands an instance response…Email creates false intimacies.”

What is this need in us that demands an explanation once an email is sent from our inboxes? This is where the upper hand in communication is given to ordinary conversations that take place in the present. For me email allowed me to make new friends in other countries and stay connected with family. Yet it also consumed my time as I waited for their responses, I would constantly check my inbox impatiently waiting for a response. Unfortunately with all this technology you can not control other individuals in order to get email. This is what Kuttner was referring to in his essay; email “Steals our time.” Waiting on email responses dwindling our time away, when in reality responses could come in hours it not days. An ordinary conversation is not this way. Responses are right away then done and over with easily.

Not only is email time consuming but it also hinders our ability to connect with another emotionally, as Kuttner stated, “Email creates false intimacies.” When we converse with one another in person directly our body language is a form of non verbal communication. Body language is important aspect to the process of communication it aids us in letting us know whether an individual is interested in what we have to say. It also aids so in determining if a person becomes offended, happy, or sadden by what we have said. Body language helps promote understanding, acceptance and clears any miscommunication.

Email while its does have its advantages over ordinary communication it lacks to draw a connection between individuals. This is a problem because, “Email creates false intimacies.” (Kuttner)

 The intimacies enable us to be connected to one another with out them they tend to promote social discord in society. For one reason we do not always tend to speak as we write or rather email. Especially now with the added features of online dictionaries, thesaurus or spell checker, we tend to edit our true instinctual responses out. We also do not tend to have the flexibly in of sharing our ideas with out being interrupted. So how does emailing allow a healthy follow of ideas to be exchanged, it does not. The truth is emails lack the substance of ordinary conversations. Exchange of ideas and the ability to share laughter in that instance or simply good company.