Email vs. Personal Conversation
Yesterday I forwarded a LinkedIn invitation to my beau. The invitation was from an old friend looking to get back in touch. I expressed how surprised I was at the connection and he responded with, “Will you accept?” I said I would. That was the end of the email chain.
Later on in the evening I referenced the email and invitation. My beau said, “Didn’t we already discuss this via email?”
That question got me thinking about email vs. in person discussions.It made me wonder whether writing about and forwarding an experience, story, or conversation counts as having an actual interaction. Email is like the preface of a book. It’s there to guide you and open up the doors to a “real” conversation – A conversation in person where Facebook conversations, and most likely, work emails, aren’t interfering with your train of thought or attention.
I wanted to discuss this invitation and long lost friend in greater detail. Discussing the last time this person and I saw each other and whether or not we would make plans sometime in the near future. I would not write all those thoughts in an email because they’re “talking” points. Emailing subtracts the great trasparent facial expressions that come with asking a question where the answer may not be as truthful as the face.
How do you feel about your email interactions? Do you ever take an email subject and bring it up later on to discuss face to face for a more personal experience?
