A2.3: Email Reflection

Deidra Darst
8/29/07

What did I learn that I didn’t already know? This readings provided some new information about emails. I learned about “extended character sets.” I have always wondered why I receive some messages with equal signs. The means through which messages are sent cannot handle these extended characters, and sometimes the characters are not converted once received, hence the “funky” messages I sometimes receive. I also learned that PC and Macintosh computers do not recode things in a similar manner. I do not even consider Macintosh computers when I send emails because I do not own one. Until recently, I did not know that the two were so different, and these readings have made the distinction even clearer for me. I learned that I need to be more considered of the recipients of my emails due to some inconsistencies within different programs.

What surprised me? I was surprised to learn from “A Beginner’s Guide to Effective Email” that the formality of your emails has an effect on whether or not you will receive a response. This site said that informal emails are more likely to receive a response while formal emails are not. I have always assumed that the level of formality that you use directly correlates to your audience and topic, not whether or not you truly want to receive a response. I was also surprised to learn that “spammers” can be sued for sending “junk mail” through email. I wish that I had known this sooner! I naively assumed that my email was private, but many deleted emails are archived for an extended period of time.

How might what I learned impact my work? I cannot say that I learned anything from these readings that will greatly impact my work. I will, however, urge some friends of mine to stop sending “chain emails.” I do not enjoy receiving these emails, but I did not realize what a true nuisance they are. I will try to consider the recipients of my emails in the future. I often try to make emails “pretty,” but this could be useless if their email service provider does not support the “tweaks” that I have done.

**Check out these links if you are interested in visiting the sites I was assigned to read:

http://www.webfoot.com/advice/email.top.php

http://www.cs.biu.ac.il/home/leagal/netguide/user.html

http://www.cs.biu.ac.il/home/leagal/netguide/elec.html

http://www.learnthenet.com/english/html/75email.htm