As someone who didn't even have a computer at my first job out of college, I totally, fully appreciate the joys of instant communication over email. And as someone who suffered through high school in suburban New Jersey, where I couldn't even drive til I turned 17, and even then, had limited destination options aside from the local all-night diner, I also totally, fully appreciate the joys of living in Manhattan, where you can do things like participate in a baseball contest on a random summer afternoon.
But: when the abundance of activities -- to say nothing of the professional demands in this town -- collide with 24-7 remote access to email, often on a small hand-held screen, there is a social cost. Nobody reads my darn emails with anything resembling full attention, and I can't take it anymore! My own friends, and this includes close ones, routinely: get dates wrong; forget about plans we made; completely misunderstand my terribly witty comments; admit they didn't read my emails; believe they have replied to me when they have not; and on and on. And I am not breaking my own self-imposed rule which prohibits me from venting about a specific person on here, because this applies to some degree to just about everyone I know!
Friends: I realize I'm not the center of your very existence. But a little bit of extra attention would go a long way. And wouldn't it be nice if you could make it to my next cocktail party or bbq on the correct day because you took the time to read your email?
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