Couldn’t agree more, Julie. I also use several email addresses, but that adds its own issues. I’ve used the sorting (label) feature on Gmail to some benefit, and I make a serious effort to delete all my “Promotion” emails on a daily basis. Seems like we can’t participate in anything without providing an email address, and that leads to daily bombardments. Unsubscribing is questionable. A few years ago I was in charge of a “girls’ trip” and I had to text the girls to alert them to an emailed itinerary and updates; they rarely check their email accounts any more, since retiring. In my professional career, we used to survey all employees as to their communication preferences - face to face, email, etc., but we ended up using all the channels available!
You speak well of the dilemma of having so many ways to communicate..and how that can be the very obstacle to communicating effectively. A great column that reminds us to take that extra step to reach out and talk to your friends...not just emails or texts..thanks Julie for the reminder.
Delete or send to scam unknown addresses. Wish subject line say who from …..I’ve been forced to order 2 new credit cards in 15 months due to identity theft.
Our family gang text encompasses three generations, 13 persons aged 12-78 scattered from DC to Portland, generates 10-20 items daily larded with humor, photos, videos and is a highlight of my life. I cannot imagine another vehicle that conveys so much for so many with such ease of effort.
Since largely retiring I no longer cold call anyone (except Cherie) as they are all busy and I was once instructed that even the briefest call includes bilateral civilities that put a MINIMUM 10-minute hole (counting recovery time) in the callee's day. Instead I text: "Please call me when convenient."---and about half of them do! Leaves open what to do when no response. The yield does improve a bit if I include the subject of the call.
Julie Gammack's February 8th feature, "Emails, texts do not equal communication" makes great points for real face-to-face talking, or at least a serious phone conversation. Emails and texts are handy, but yes, they can cause serious misunderstandings, especially when in haste.
I have recently learned how to filter my gmail into folders - they go their automatically - and it is a life saver. (thank you, TechMadeSimple Substack!) Nonetheless, I would rather talk than type or text. Too much misinterpretation can happen in texting.
Julie you are totally spot on! I just decided this week to talk rather than text. Talking used to be a way of life! Sometimes too much, sometimes not enough but there was always the feint inflection or the tone that would speak volumes to the way the talking was going.
“where all tone, body language, and inflection are stripped away.”
How True! Body language carries at least 60% of the intended meaning - apparently closer to 95% in cases of misinterpretations - phones add hint of tone but body language is missing unless to you're using Facetime of Zoom which have their own limitations. For introverts like myself - in-body language is a limited clues for my intended meaning. Worked in supervision and middle management positions - I learned hide all forms expressions for personal emotions.
Thank You Julie for sharing an important reality during these turbulent times.
I am old enough to remember when group faxes were the new and greatest thing to send something to multiple people at once, compared to sending individually via postal mail. Then when someone invented “email,” we said, why would anyone want to do that? It sounds so complicated!
Now we are overloaded with emails and texts and my adult kids prefer I do not call them directly but text instead.
Thanks for introducing me to Substack, where at least anyone interested in what I have to say can find it!
I really dislike emails. Unfortunately, my State Senator (Dennis Guth) has a habit of responding to my thoughtful emails by telling me I'm wrong about everything. My State Representative (Shannon Latham) does not respond to my emails at all.
My response this week was to file to run for the Iowa Senate, district 28. I promise, my communication style could not be more different than Sen. Guth's.
That Journalism degree from ISU comes in handy once in a while.
Julie- Now I suspect you are reading posts at the moment rather than e-mails. Perhaps you can enlighten us on how to actually reach Jeff/Jennifer Morrison by e-mail? You told me that they were the point of contact for the Letters from Iowans......but I have no phone number or e-mail for them, so that poses issues. Maybe that information is somewhere on the options, but I can't find it. Hmm...
Couldn’t agree more, Julie. I also use several email addresses, but that adds its own issues. I’ve used the sorting (label) feature on Gmail to some benefit, and I make a serious effort to delete all my “Promotion” emails on a daily basis. Seems like we can’t participate in anything without providing an email address, and that leads to daily bombardments. Unsubscribing is questionable. A few years ago I was in charge of a “girls’ trip” and I had to text the girls to alert them to an emailed itinerary and updates; they rarely check their email accounts any more, since retiring. In my professional career, we used to survey all employees as to their communication preferences - face to face, email, etc., but we ended up using all the channels available!
You speak well of the dilemma of having so many ways to communicate..and how that can be the very obstacle to communicating effectively. A great column that reminds us to take that extra step to reach out and talk to your friends...not just emails or texts..thanks Julie for the reminder.
Delete or send to scam unknown addresses. Wish subject line say who from …..I’ve been forced to order 2 new credit cards in 15 months due to identity theft.
Great column!
Our family gang text encompasses three generations, 13 persons aged 12-78 scattered from DC to Portland, generates 10-20 items daily larded with humor, photos, videos and is a highlight of my life. I cannot imagine another vehicle that conveys so much for so many with such ease of effort.
Since largely retiring I no longer cold call anyone (except Cherie) as they are all busy and I was once instructed that even the briefest call includes bilateral civilities that put a MINIMUM 10-minute hole (counting recovery time) in the callee's day. Instead I text: "Please call me when convenient."---and about half of them do! Leaves open what to do when no response. The yield does improve a bit if I include the subject of the call.
Beautifully articulated.
Julie Gammack's February 8th feature, "Emails, texts do not equal communication" makes great points for real face-to-face talking, or at least a serious phone conversation. Emails and texts are handy, but yes, they can cause serious misunderstandings, especially when in haste.
Today's Pearls Before Swine--- on junk mail!
https://www.gocomics.com/pearlsbeforeswine/2024/03/08
I have recently learned how to filter my gmail into folders - they go their automatically - and it is a life saver. (thank you, TechMadeSimple Substack!) Nonetheless, I would rather talk than type or text. Too much misinterpretation can happen in texting.
Julie you are totally spot on! I just decided this week to talk rather than text. Talking used to be a way of life! Sometimes too much, sometimes not enough but there was always the feint inflection or the tone that would speak volumes to the way the talking was going.
“where all tone, body language, and inflection are stripped away.”
Thank you!
How True! Body language carries at least 60% of the intended meaning - apparently closer to 95% in cases of misinterpretations - phones add hint of tone but body language is missing unless to you're using Facetime of Zoom which have their own limitations. For introverts like myself - in-body language is a limited clues for my intended meaning. Worked in supervision and middle management positions - I learned hide all forms expressions for personal emotions.
Thank You Julie for sharing an important reality during these turbulent times.
I am old enough to remember when group faxes were the new and greatest thing to send something to multiple people at once, compared to sending individually via postal mail. Then when someone invented “email,” we said, why would anyone want to do that? It sounds so complicated!
Now we are overloaded with emails and texts and my adult kids prefer I do not call them directly but text instead.
Thanks for introducing me to Substack, where at least anyone interested in what I have to say can find it!
BIG STANDING O from ME.
I really dislike emails. Unfortunately, my State Senator (Dennis Guth) has a habit of responding to my thoughtful emails by telling me I'm wrong about everything. My State Representative (Shannon Latham) does not respond to my emails at all.
My response this week was to file to run for the Iowa Senate, district 28. I promise, my communication style could not be more different than Sen. Guth's.
That Journalism degree from ISU comes in handy once in a while.
Julie- Now I suspect you are reading posts at the moment rather than e-mails. Perhaps you can enlighten us on how to actually reach Jeff/Jennifer Morrison by e-mail? You told me that they were the point of contact for the Letters from Iowans......but I have no phone number or e-mail for them, so that poses issues. Maybe that information is somewhere on the options, but I can't find it. Hmm...
Thanks Julie. So true, and well said.
Bravo, Julie Gammack, bravo!!
To paraphrase Art, I will text you later!