A theme of Neil Postman's Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business is that different media have different best uses and strengths. This was brought home to me this week after I received a couple blistering e-mails from someone who later regretted sending them. In response I said that I too had sent messages I later regretted and that instant communication has a negative side. In the past we might have written out an angry letter, set it aside, then changed our minds. Today, it is far too easy to write the first thing that comes to mind (in a rage?) and hit "Send." Oops.
The question of what new media are good for, and not so good for, is one I ponder regularly. It impinges directly on what it means to be a professional or casual writer in the 21st century. E-mail is fantastic in so many ways, of course, and my siblings and I today can settle practical questions (when and where shall we meet?) in a few hours that used to take days. (People who text or tweet can settle such things in seconds of course.)
But e-mail is not ideal for dealing with sensitive issues, methinks--unless you can strongly resist your "Send" impulse.
The only comparison I can think of is sealing the envelope and then realizing that you had forgotten to include the cheque, clipping, or whatever else was also meant to go with the letter you were writing. But in that case, you can always tear open the envelope and use a new one, whereas an email sent without the attached files just makes you look silly... :)
ReplyDeleteGood points! I think new media is wonderful in many ways, but it is too easy sometimes to write and then send or post without properly editing or checking it--for tone, as well as intent. Glad to have found you through HCB!
ReplyDeleteThanks much! Though I've blogged for a number of years (writing randomly about anything and everything) this is the first time I've tried to go public and stick to a theme. It feels experimental as I grapple with what still feels like a new medium. More on these struggles in a post later today, I hope...
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