There goes that idea

[i_ate_my_crusts]

I used to like the asynchronicity of email. I could compose the perfect missive at 2am, or 4am, safe in the knowledge that the intended recipient would receive it at their leisure

Comments

[hawkida]

Um, that would suggest a daft recipient to me, rather than broken technology. If your phone is set to notify you upon receipt of emails at a level that's going to wake you, surely it makes more sense to turn off that function or leave it outside the room? Especially if you factor time zones into the whole thing...

[andrewducker]

Absolutely. I get email instantly on my phone.

Which is why I turn off my email program when I go to bed. Because otherwise I'd be woken about 8 times per night...

[i_ate_my_crusts]

I know that's true. And that was my reaction. but I guess I feel like it's a syymptom of a shift from email being asynchronous to being synchronous, and considering the etiquette and social implications of that. We don't phone/text at 3am unless it's an emergency, even though we could, these days, assume most people will switch their phone to silent to avoid email waking them -- there's a mismatch of styles/needs.

[andrewducker]

I text people at 1am - assuming that if they aren't up then they'll get it in the morning.

[smofbabe]

IMHO, it's not on your head if someone has decided to be reachable at all hours. Email is not a communications medium where the sender should reasonably have to assume that its arrival will wake the recipient. If the recipient has chosen to change the rules, not your concern!

[purpletigress]

Agreed with the other commenters. Since I only work for companies across the other side of the world, I get most of my e-mails overnight. It's just the way it works.

[purplecthulhu]

Agreed with all others. If your email wakes you up, change your email receiver!

I have made this mistake myself and had my iMac (in the room next door) wake me with the usual Ping! at the wrong time of night as email has come in. Being part of transcontinental work and social groups has its hazards...

[thomasyan]

Agreed with others. That said, in a similar situation, I wish when I called that I could ask to go directly to voicemail without worrying about waking someone up.