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Email definitely does have disadvantages over face-to-face conversation, and studies have borne this out: http://www.spring.org.uk/2010/09/emails-dark-side-10-
by j_baker 15y ago
Email definitely does have disadvantages over face-to-face conversation, and studies have borne this out: http://www.spring.org.uk/2010/09/emails-dark-side-10-psychology-studies.php http://www.spring.org.uk/2010/09/emails-dark-side-10-psychol...
Anecdotally, I've had the same experience. I can't count the number of times I've gotten into a heated argument with someone over email, and resolved it within 2 minutes simply by talking it over face-to-face with them.
To be clear, I'm not against email or anything like that. I just think it's important to realize that any medium of communication has inherent pros and cons.
- mjn 15y agoEmail I agree is considerably different. I think of it as fitting a different niche, but I'm admittedly not sure how most people use it. I don't consider it to be "conversation" in the same way as IM, IRC, or talking on the phone are conversation, though I guess you could use it that way. I try to use it more for intellectual exchange than personal conversation, in bigger, less frequent chunks. Same with HN comments or blog posts, for that matter, or even old-style letter-writing or office-memo circulation.
- dalore 15y agoIt's definitely easier to get angry at someone and express it via email and say stuff you wouldn't normally say face to face or via the phone. This is just my anecdote however, no studies to back it up.
- _delirium 15y agoA corollary I've found is that it's easier to go along with things you don't really agree with in person, when in email you'd disagree. Especially for conflict-averse people. Pros and cons, I guess. If I know someone is conflict-averse I sometimes actively seek out their view by email after a meeting, to make sure I know what they really think.