🚀 go-pugleaf

>Is there more room for error in e-mail than in written mail?

In principal, probably not much.  In principle, both are exchanges
of words about specific matters, i.e., written communications.  Letter
and memo writers have to learn the arts of letter and memo writing,
the former which is taught in grade school and the latter which is
usually a skill acquired on the job at work.

Not surprisingly, e-mail writing is learned on-the-job too.

The *one* crucial difference between written and emailed writing may
be the immediacy of writing email *on line*  (This doesn't apply
to offline email writers...)  I find that I have a tendency to
write email on line rather quickly, edit it fairly sloppily, and then
I hit CR or "." or whatever the sending signal in my system is, and
its gone, forever carved in silicon chips and on magnetic tape.  The
ease of transmission and the lack of incentive to edit and rewrite
carefully may be the only crucial difference between email and
written mail in terms of skill requirements.

However, my remarks about email DO NOT apply to writing on bulletin
board or computer conferencing systems, which is another matter
entirely (although it has the same "immediacy" problem as email).
Email is one-to-one or one-to-a-select-group; BBS stuff is much
more like broadcasting...

	--Tom Mandel	mandel@well.UUCP	mandel@sri-kl.arpa

I've noted what I feel is a significant effect:

People often feel freer to say what they think. This can be useful.
In a previous organisation I was a senior manager trying to keep in contact,
and I am sure the mail system allowed me to stay in contact with my people
in a way that was not possible before (quite apart from geographical
problems). Basically, someone will communicate with their manager
(hopefully), but is reluctant to go much higher without care and even
an appointment. 

Under email, everyone seems more equal. I got views and opinions from
quite junior people that I am sure they would not have offered if they
had to phone me (an interruption) or come and see me.

Of course, some might think such non-disciplined communication is
undesirable, but that is another matter.
 
Tony Voss, Praxis Systems

   There has been a great deal of discussion on the advantages and 
disadvantages of the e-mail explosion.  Everyone seems to agree that
the increase in communication is good overall, but there is some 
concern that written communications has deficiencies which are lacking
in verbal communications.  I do not think this is something to 
worry about.  The problem is not that written words necessarily
distort meaning; the problem is that people are not as familiar
with the ins and outs of written communications as they are with
verbal.  This is not the individual's fault.  Our society has for the 
last 40 years relied heavily on the television and the telephone 
for long distance communications.  Advanced transportation has also 
increased the oppurtunity for face to face interaction.  
These trends have reduced the need for personal written letters delivered 
through the post, (increases in postal volume are more a result of 
systematic mailings such as bills, junk mail, etc).  In short,
our writing skills have atrophed, (or never given an opportunity 
to develop).  I feel this will change as more children grow up 
in a society where e-mail is a fact of life.  The school system
in my hometown (Foxborough, MA) has already distributed 100+
PC's amongst approximately 2000 students grades K-12.  These
children may not be on USENET, but they do have keyboards in front
of them.  I was in high school when the first PC's were hitting the market,
there are now fourth graders with access to Mac's!  I expect 
to be amazed by the progress of my children as they grow up.
They will probably know what I know at half my age.