One of the annoying things about being connected to the internet during the academic year is the constant influx of emails, mostly of the useless or semi-useless variety, that make your delete key wear out. You know the ones ... student questions about a basic principle discussed ad nauseum in class, central admin alerting you to the new design of their website that you never use, a memo from the university president alerting all faculty that she is doing her very best in these hard economic times, reminders about the upcoming committee meeting that is already on your overcrowded schedule, emails enquiring as to whether you can provide alternative times to hold said committee meeting, the facilities office alerting you to the fact that the water will be turned off in Building That You've Never Ever Set Foot In on a day you won’t actually be on campus, and so on.
And then there are the emails that just drive you up the fucking wall ...
[phone rings]
Me: Aaaaaaaaargh. WHAT?
Colleague: I just rang to let you know that I sent you an email. Did you get it?
Me: Yes.
Colleague: That's good. I just wanted to check.
Me: I'm kinda busy. Was there anything else?
Colleague: Have you had time to read the email? I wanted to hear your response.
Me: No, I haven't had time to read it. The subject line clearly said "No Rush" and I'm busy preparing for a class that starts in 5 minutes.
Colleague: Ok, then. Give me a call after you reply to the email.
Me: Grrrr.
Well, now it's the summer and those emails have slowed to a trickle. Which is where the problem lies. One becomes so used to the information overload during the academic year that the relative paucity of useless and semi-useless emails during the summer leaves huge chunks of time that can be spent devoted to your research and mentoring trainees.
Which is good, I suppose. And more conducive to increased productivity.
But then you discover that sometimes the faster pace is good. Because you're filling the time previously spent deleting emails frantically looking for candy in your office or bothering summer-appointment colleagues for anything loaded with sugar or fat. Like a crack whore searching for your next fix.
Or so I've been told. I would never do such a thing.
Sigh.
Sad. So very, very sad.
Mentoring Madness
4 hours ago
the facilities office alerting you to the fact that the water will be turned off in Building That You've Never Ever Set Foot In on a day you won’t actually be on campus.
ReplyDeletelol, yes, this one is my personal favourite!
So true! During the semester there are new emails in my inbox Every. Time. I. Check.
ReplyDeleteThe Monday after classes ended, I actually thought there was something wrong with the server when I came back from lunch and there were no new messages.
And I have munched my way through nearly half a bag of chocolate chips... :)
Yay summer!
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ReplyDeletethe facilities office alerting you to the fact that the water will be turned off in Building That You've Never Ever Set Foot In on a day you won’t actually be on campus.
ReplyDeleteSo true... my personal favourite too!
AB
LOL! Why *do* people call to check if you've received an email? So very annoying.
ReplyDeleteI do miss dealing with emails too - I always feel like I'm busy when I'm doing that. But, in the summer, I feel like I have to fill my time with...real work! Gasp!
I suspect that the follow-up phone call was a useful way to signal that the "no rush" part of the email was polite rather than accurate.
ReplyDeleteDoing real work in the summer does happen but the lags in communication with collaborators doesn't help, though.
I have received a disturbing number of work-related phone calls from people at all hours of the day (8am, lunchtime, 10pm) because they're all 'hey you don't have classes I can call anytime'. Um, no you cannot. I need to start screening calls better.
ReplyDeleteAt our institute, the department has started making group lists and as a student, I get stuck on the "whole department" list, the "student only" list and the "just to piss you off" list. That means my emails have tripled. Plus, I have to hear about the same seminar everyday of the week until it happens. They think more emails will bring in more people. Nope, better seminars will bring in more people (and maybe better cookies).
ReplyDeleteIt's kind of sad. Checking those emails, even if useless, felt productive. Perhaps I will sign up for a few more journal alerts so that I can read the first few lines, say "oh that's interesting", and then never read it again.
ReplyDelete(FYI I just left you a comment. I don't know if you've had time to read it. Let me know when you have.)