E-mail & Self-Control

The Greatest had a couple of interesting recent posts regarding e-mail etiquette and dictating e-mail...they're well worth a read. He's right in his general theme promoting dictation generally especially with all the digital options out there these days.

I'm amazed at the vitriol I see written via e-mail particularly from clients and on lawyer list serves. I really think that the impersonal nature of e-mail (typing on some electronic device by yourself) really brings out the worst in people. My personal policy is absolutely if there needs to confrontation or criticism, do it in person or over the phone. Time and again I see a tone of communication from people that they would NEVER express verbally but when it's not really expressed to a person but rather just typed into a box there's inappropriate anger.