E-mail: A Necessary Burden

E-mail is an essential form of communication in today’s technologically-based society. Although rather impersonal, electronic messages are both efficient and convenient for portraying information. Inquiries about course material, mass messages, and even simple lunch date invitations can all be communicated via e-mail in a quick and concise manner. No one wants to put in the time and effort to personally contact each individual by phone when the option to send one generic message is available. Without e-mail, the rate of information sharing would be drastically lower and insufficient for the twenty-first century.

If I had no access to e-mail for an extended period of time, I would feel both relieved and isolated. I cannot remember the last time I went more than 24 hours without checking my e-mail (even while on break…). It would be a burden off my shoulders if I felt no obligation to stay connected for a while. However, a consequence of being cut-off for days at a time would be a bombardment of messages when I finally chose to check my inbox. I recently started using a Blackberry device, and can no longer escape my e-mail. Each time I receive a message, it sends directly to my phone. This can be both a blessing and a curse. I am constantly flooded with messages throughout the day, but I can view and eliminate them one at a time instead of having to spend a solid hour sifting through my inbox on a computer.