Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site rochester.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!philabs!cmcl2!seismo!rochester!dsn From: dsn@rochester.UUCP (Dana S. Nau) Newsgroups: net.singles Subject: Re: The "Reality" of Electronic Communication Message-ID: <13019@rochester.UUCP> Date: Sun, 10-Nov-85 16:32:28 EST Article-I.D.: rocheste.13019 Posted: Sun Nov 10 16:32:28 1985 Date-Received: Tue, 12-Nov-85 23:05:45 EST References: <917@cvl.UUCP> <352@whuts.UUCP> <11@ttidcc.UUCP> <1617@teddy.UUCP> Reply-To: dsn@rochester.UUCP (Dana S. Nau) Distribution: net Organization: U. of Rochester, CS Dept. Lines: 32 In article <1617@teddy.UUCP> lkk@teddy.UUCP (Larry K. Kolodney) writes: >... I used to have a standard flame about the benefits of letter writing, >and electronic communication specifically. ... Wow. My reaction to letters and electronic mail is MUCH different than yours. Personally, I get frustrated writing letters because the bandwidth is so low. I find it hard to convey subtle shades of meaning in a letter--partly because there's no good way to communicate facial expressions, intonation, and body language in a letter, and partly because there's no chance for immediate feedback and clarification. As a result, making it clear what I want to say requires lots of time editing and re-editing. I'm willing to do this when I'm writing a technical paper for a conference or a journal, but for social communications I prefer to be more spontaneous. >... Since there is little threat of immediate negative feedback, it is also >possible to say things via writing that you would find very difficult >to say face-to-face. It's the other way around for me. I think I find it easier to be open in person, because when I do so I usually get *positive* feedback which encourages me to continue. I do find electronic mail quite handy for communicating with various people in my department about my work--but for personal communications I prefer personal contact. I rarely write personal letters; when I want to talk to a friend I usually pick up the phone instead. That leads to high phone bills, but for me it's worth it. -- Dana S. Nau (dsn@rochester) from U. of Maryland, on sabbatical at U. of Rochester