Friday, January 19, 2018

Easy Choices – Paramount Effects

—How your keyboard, mouse or touchscreen 
can affect change in the world

Last night I sent out personal emails to a list of volunteers I’m working with. I’ve learned to re-read my messages to assure accuracy of content and form—most of the time. (I still catch myself in faux pas too often.) After going over and tweaking a message to X, it was so easy to click SEND. Seconds later I noticed the address was to Y instead.

How could I? And that was with at least three re-reads. Fortunately the content was generally the same. Within a few minutes I resent the message for X to X, and amended it for Y with RE: “Read First…” and a “So sorry….” opening.

No damage—I hope. Sometimes accurate intent is not conveyed when communicating without face-to-face cues of intonation or expression. Too often it is not even close. Relationships, friendship or employment could be at risk by misuse of today’s instant communique practice. The term: infant terrible (ahn-fahn te-ree-bluh) just came up on my phone while consulting dictionary.com for wording the previous sentence. “Noun. An outrageously outspoken or bold person who says and does indiscreet or irresponsible things.” Sound familiar?

I better check my mirror before I look out the window.

The point is: with this new form of easy choice and lightning implementation, our affect can be dramatic and far-reaching. Is it better to make harder choices? Tread lightly, or not at all, by email, IM, tweet, and social media.

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© 2018 Ardi Keim 1/19/18

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