How Technology Has Affected Our Etiquette

I read this interesting article from the New York Times the other day. It dealt with our online etiquette and how it has changed over the years. What fascinated me most about this article was the validity of the author’s main point. He stated that most people have less patience when it comes to receiving thank-you emails, texts, or requests for information easily found on Google.

When email first started becoming the normal communication medium for businesses, it was customary to send a thank-you email, or even an “I got your email” email. Nowadays, it appears more people are becoming increasingly frustrated by these types of emails. According to Baratunde Thurston, co-founder of Cultivated Wit, he has seen “decreasing amounts of tolerance for unnecessary communication because it is a burden and a cost.” In a world where time is money and everyone is scrambling to get more of both, unnecessary communication is becoming more of a hindrance, rather than a rule of etiquette.

This annoyance is not just with email however. It carries over into voicemail and simple requests easily answered by Google. A few years ago, when someone left you a voicemail you generally listened to it without a moment’s hesitation or pause. There was no annoyance, but rather a curiosity as to who left you the voicemail in the first place and the urgency of the message. Now, according to the article in the New York Times, people are frustrated when you leave them a voicemail. The author states that the reason for this is because so many people are attached to their mobile devices, and it is so much easier to send a text rather than leave a voicemail that you have to listen to. This process is considered time consuming.

Then there’s Google. I have found this to be particularly true, that when someone asks me what the weather is, I find myself annoyed. There are times I don’t know what the weather is going to be and I have to look it up on my phone anyway. So, in my head I’m wondering why they didn’t just look it up in the first place. Then again, there is something to be said of human interaction. After all, it is true what they say, that you can’t trust everything you read on the Internet. In the case of checking weather however, I think as a general rule you are safe with what you see online.

While this article has some key points, there are still some people that prefer to talk to you on the phone rather than through text, who want to ask you personally about something, or who still insist on sending you a thank-you email. So, what do you do?

In any given situation, it is always best to know your audience. Also, keep in mind the context of the situation. For example, if you want to know someone’s schedule for the week, a text is probably not the most efficient way to ask for this information. Giving them a call, or even letting them respond via email will not only please your audience, but you are likely to get the information you are searching for quicker. It is much faster to talk on the phone or type on the computer than it is to text, so most people would prefer these communication mediums when asking complex questions. For simple notes, such as telling someone you are on your way to the meeting, a text is sufficient.

All in all, you want to make sure you understand the audience and the situation when deciding how to contact someone. You also want to keep in mind the evolving technologies and how people are using them. Say for instance, video communication. If you see an upward trend in the amount of video conferencing, chances are more people will prefer this communication (just giving an example).

Well that is all for this week. What do you guys think? Are you annoyed by simple emails, voicemails, and simple questions? Or do you think that this type of etiquette should still be in use regularly?

Let me know your thoughts below, and as always, I thank you for listening.

Until next time,

Julie

 

Sources:

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/03/10/etiquette-redefined-in-the-digital-age/