I’ve written several posts about the downside of email, so I got a kick out of the timing of an article (the Friday before Memorial Day) on email bankruptcy.

My hero, to whom I really relate, is “Stanford computer science professor Donald E. Knuth started using e-mail in 1975 and stopped using it 15 years later. Knuth said he prefers to concentrate on writing books rather than be distracted by the steady stream of communication.”

“I’d get to work and start answering e-mail — three hours later, I’d say, “Oh, what was I supposed to do today?” Knuth said that he has no regrets. “I have been a happy man since Jan. 1, 1990.”

The article doesn’t ignore the other side, “The critics of e-mail themselves have critics, who say copping out is a reactionary and isolationist way of dealing with modern communications.”

Copping out? Excuse me, but where is it written that we all have to buy into every invention that comes along? Who says that we have to carry a cell phone, listen to an I-pod, or use email?

As to the isolationist, I don’t think so. I posted my phone number prominently on this blog and find that most of those commenting love the idea that they can call and I’ll actually talk to them. Sure, it takes a bit of time, but it’s more interesting, we both learn more and it’s far more enjoyable than tapping away on a keyboard.

A recent Hi & Lois cartoon that I cut out (but can’t access online, sorry) voices my feelings perfectly. Their teenage son says, “Emails, text messages and IMs just aren’t enough for me anymore.” Lois responds, “Why don’t you try direct inter-personal communication? Otherwise known as talking.”

So, anytime you’re in the mood for some interpersonal communications give me a call, the number is in the right-hand column—and it’s toll free, too.

As for those who tell me that I’m defeating the purpose of a blog, that those comments should be shared with everyone in the blogsphere, I’ve found that most of my callers are running startups or small companies and they don’t want to publicly post their questions/comments. Even anonymously, they’re concerned that someone close to the situation could still recognize them.

So we talk, and sometimes they give me permission to use the content, and sometimes not—and that’s OK.

This entry was posted on Friday, June 1st, 2007 at 12:35 pm and is filed under Business info, Communication, Leadership. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
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