I've always known this about myself, but maybe you didn't. I am so much better at emailing than talking to people on the phone. (Is the blogging a giveaway?) I like being able to take the time to think, edit, correct, revise, and make myself sound kinder, smarter, or funnier than I would if I were on the phone. Because on the phone, there are awkward silences, frequent mis-(or delayed) hearing from my end, stumbling/stammering over my own words, and pressure to be able to provide you with an answer right away.
Ah, but email, what a joy thou art! I can use an online thesaurus to find the synonym that's just on the tip of my tongue, ask a coworker for her opinion or advice on a subject I don't know about (or in many cases, ask if a certain phrase is or isn't appropriate to include), I can make
I can even use emoticons:)
Normally I try to sound polite, but there is the risk of being misinterpreted. That is the folly of email. The nuance of tone and art of sarcasm get lost in translation.
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