Re: [Leica] my thoughts on e-mail

[Walter S Delesandri <walt@jove.acs.unt.edu>]

he he he....

Ask Will Von Dauster if I'll argue in person.....hehehe.
Walt


On Mon, 22 Feb 1999 11:49:53 -0800 Jim Brick <jimbrick@photoaccess.com> 
wrote:Ask 
> E-mail is a strange form of communications. It spans the globe in
> microseconds. There isn't any consciousness or consequences involved. It
> really doesn't matter what is said, or how it is worded, folks will put
> their own slant on it anyway. They will read whatever they want, between
> the lines. Different folks. Different cultures. Different ethics. Different
> interpretations. There is no face connected. It is just a bunch of text
> appearing on a computer monitor. Innocuous, not Innocuous? Depends upon who
> you are. 
> 
> You are in a hurry to get to work. You are late for a meeting. So you are
> driving a little faster than normal. You take a few opportunities and
> slip-in front of other folks (cut them off), when there really wasn't
> enough room. A few horns honk, lights flash. But you ignore them and
> continue. These are just pieces of metal. No face. After all, I'm right. I
> have an important meeting to get to.
> 
> You arrive at work, and as you are getting out of your car, one of the
> folks you cut-off, pulls into the lot and parks near you. You exchange
> glances, but you hurry in to the meeting. There is a face, but it's gone now.
> 
> You sit down. Made it!
> 
> Then the door opens, and who walks in... the person you cut-off just ten
> minutes ago. Now their is a consciousness behind that previous action. It's
> no longer a hunk of metal. It's a face. You start having a "hot flash".
> This is a very important new client. And now there is a consequence behind
> that previous action.
> 
> What to do?
> 
> Will you do it again?
> 
> As soon as there are consequences. As soon as there is a consciousness. As
> soon as there is a face. The rules change.
> 
> At the LUG meeting with Leica at Photokina. At the LUG meeting here in Palo
> Alto. At the other LUG meetings around the globe. Did we talk to each other
> in antagonistic terms? Were we rude? Did we argue beyond the point of no
> return?
> 
> No. Never.
> 
> We had consequences, consciousness, and faces. Smiling faces. Happy faces.
> Fun faces. We talked and talked, looked at equipment, looked at slides, and
> talked some more. We didn't want to leave.
> 
> We talked with our mouths, eyes, and gestures. Not with only our fingers,
> in total isolation.
> 
> We should all think about the possibility of meeting each other. When you
> type that next message, imagine having to meet the people you are speaking
> to, after you push send.
> 
> Sometimes the best message, is no message at all. And sometimes the best
> response, is no response at all.
> 
> Have a great day all,
> 
> Jim
> 
> PS... my philosophies are quite often self-realized...