Leslie - o.k., I'm game for this one.
1. I don't deal with it very well. Periodically, the computer
administrator has to move my read but not dealt with messages in the
in-box to a special folder. I do try to reduce those folders and the
inbox itself, with only limited success.
2. I generally do look at first messages on a given thread,
and read responses until I'm no longer interested.
3. Then I will delete unread further responses, unless they're from
someone I've come to respect for their opinions.
4. I also have other screens in my mind that lead me to delete some
messages:
a. those that are very long, many coming from people who repeat
_all_ prior parts of the thread, instead of replying without including
prior messages, or by editing them show only what is essential for
understanding.
b. people whose opinions I generally find less than useful, or
who insist on replying to the list with what are clearly personal
messages.
5. I delete at the first screen those messages that are:
a. personal to other people, or to some unnamed person - not even
addressed to the intended recipient at all personally but rather to the
entire net only.
b. without any new thought at the beginning, but instead repeat
what has been said before - even though there may be a short message at
the _end_ of the last screen.
c. those messages clearly not proofread and spell checked.
d. in short, those messages that indicate the sender has not
given any consideration to the 1000 members of the list, all of whom must
deal with the message that arrives in their inbox
Please note that I did spell check this message, I edited it (taking
out about 15% of the words), and shortened your message below somewhat. I
considered whether my reply should go to the entire net, and decided this
one should.
Cordially, Tim Edlund, Morgan State University
On Wed, 3 Mar 1999, Leslie O'Flahavan
wrote:
> This may seem like an ironic request (given the volume of posts on this list)
> but I'd like to invite list members to post their answers to this question:
> "How do you cope with e-mail overload?" at
>
http://www.ewriteonline.com/postithere/index.html
>
> Share your suggestions. You may just be able to save a fellow e-correspondent
> from drowning in messages!