I hate business emails

[Yavin4]

Worst thing ever invented.

[PJMcK]

1. I hugely disagree!

Nearly 90% of my business is no conducted via emails. This results in two wonderful benefits.

First, the trail of communications is clear and unequivocal. The entire history of a communication is contained in the email thread. This makes things very clear.

Second and more importantly, the use of email has made it possible for me to work nearly anywhere that has internet access. You have no idea how this has simplified my life.

Why do you hate them?

[Yavin4]

4. They're a passive/aggressive way of running a project

People can send you an email at any time of the day or week, and then it becomes your responsibility to respond or act. Thus, you're always at work. For example, I send you an email at 2:00 AM on a Sunday morning demanding prompt attention, and if I don't respond in a timely manner, then I get dinged.

There are better, more effective ways to establish a history. You can use detailed project plans, checklists, or other automated systems.

Using emails allows people to invade your personal time.

[PJMcK]

5. Good points

I try to discipline when I have my mail account online. That way the other parties can wait until I'm ready to respond. Honestly, there's very little in my business that requires immediate attention, anyway.

I like your avatar. I liked 3.5" floppy disks because you could slip them into your shirt pocket. Now I use memory sticks and external drives.

[Hoyt]

2. I love them, I don't have to talk to people. Plus, I can lay out the important

facts, think about what I want to say, etc. And, I have a record of it.

[underpants]

3. If it isn't documented, it didn't happen

Just saying.