Edward Hallowell, a Boston psychaiatrist has identified a conditon called ‘ attention deficit trait’ – or ‘online compulsive disorder’ with core symptoms of distractability, inner frenzy and impatience. It’s caused by the sort of information overload that’s commonplace today thanks to mobile phones, blackberrys wireless email and God knows what else.
A point about emails or SMS struck home. They’re used as a chance to be impersonal, quick and brief, but they they tend to work the opposite way. People don’t answer immediately, leaving you hanging around for a response, or they only give you half a reply, forcing you to email again, or even worse, they copy their reply to other people leading to more bother. Proper conversation seems to save time in the long run.
NORTHERN PLANNER 
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