Slashdot Mirror
Why Email Has Become Dangerous
mikkl666 writes "The Sydney Morning Herald runs an interesting story dealing with a study about email user behavior, explaining how and why email can be a terrible distraction: 'It takes an average of 64 seconds to recover your train of thought after interruption by email. So people who check their email every five minutes waste 8 1/2 hours a week figuring out what they were doing moments before.' Email is also compared to slot machines in the way it works psychologically: 'So with email, usually when I check it there is nothing interesting, but every so often there's something wonderful — an invite out or maybe some juicy gossip — and I get a reward.' There are also some hints offered on how to keep control of the inbox, for those of us already addicted."
Now, WTF was I doing....
I check my e-mail more often than every five minutes and I
What? What was I doing?
Show this to your friends and family that don't know what a real hacker is
Definitely. The best email I get is trying to sell me Nigerian iPod Enlargers... I'd rather a chance at +5 Insightful any day.
Slashdot is merely the tool for my shovel leaning. Seriously, what were we doing? Don't remember...
"Quote me as saying I was mis-quoted." -Groucho Marx
People call me telling they are going to send a mail.
I used to check my mail two or 3 times a day, but where I work now it is a 'must' to respond immediately on every mail. Only half the work is done.
I guess the only people actually working is IT to keep the mail server up and running.
Don't fight for your country, if your country does not fight for you.
Yes: Email is also compared to slot machines in the way it works psychologically: "So with email, usually when I check it there is nothing interesting, but every so often there's something wonderful â" an invite out or maybe some juicy gossip â" and I get a reward." There are also some hints offered on how to keep control of the inbox, for those of us already addicted."
My sentiments regarding slashdot!
This describes Slashdot exactly.
Speak for yourself. I'm still waiting on the something wonderful... ;)
My blog
So, Peter, what's happening? Aahh, now, are you going to go ahead and have those TPS reports for us this afternoon?
In fact, email probably ENHANCES productivity when the subject of the email received is:
"Stop Reading Slashdot and Get Back to Work"
The end of TFA actually says:
"Turn off intrusive alerts. Anything that pops up, flashes, or goes "ding!" will interrupt you when you're trying to focus and will trigger a response to check your email."
That seems like a really bad idea to me. Without alerts, I would be checking for new emails a lot more often than I already do.
Adidas To Bring Back Sneakernet
When interrupted by an email, I can easily determine my next move at work in about 30 seconds. But, then again, Solitare isn't that hard to lose focus on.
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I guess the only people actually working is IT to keep the mail server up and running.
Which is why I spend ALL day e-mailing...just to make sure it's working... And I get paid to do this? What a country!
but when you are an engeneer who uses the computer all
Four years ago I didn't even know how to SPELL engeneer and now I ARE one!
If you are not allowed to question your government then the government has answered your question.
People call me telling they are going to send a mail.
People call me asking me if I got a memo, then I politely say I got it already, that I just forgot to put the cover sheet on it. But they insist on sending me the memo again just in case.
Then my other boss walks in my cubicle, and asks if I got the memo, as I politely respond I just forgot to put the cover sheet on. But he insists that he's "gonna have to go ahead and send me the memo again".
I can't wait for the meeting with "The Bobs" to explain how I only get about an hour of actual work done a day.
Disclaimer: I am not god.
We may not be created equal
But we can be treated equal.