So, I had this conversation a few times whilst talking about comments.

[conuly]

I opted not to get comment emails because I hate checking my email. Such a pain. To me, it's easier to use the comments page than to check my email. For conversations in other journals, I figure that if I can't even remember where I'm holding a conversation, the conversation simply isn't that important to me. (This saves me so much stress in the long run, it is not to be believed).

That said, a few people commented that I should use a program that automatically informs me when I have new mail.

That's not a bad idea, except for the "automatically informs me when I have new mail" part. I sometimes go weeks, or even months without checking my email because I'm avoiding one particular person (or mail). I don't generally go on AIM because too many people found out about my AIM name (for most of the world, I tried to pretend I didn't have one), and because even when it was limited to a few people I personally picked, it was too stressful. I don't like getting a message and feeling like I have to answer it. With email, at least I don't know when I got it, so I can pretend I didn't see it if I saw it. Same with the recent comments page, even when I do know that I got it.

So, thanks, but I think I'll pass and use my method. I don't use it entirely to be haughty about it when problems happen. Mostly I use it because it's better than the alternatives, at least for me.

Comments

[panda-cookie.livejournal.com]

I feel the same way about comment emails. I do use Thunderbird, which lets me know when I get email (I have it set to check every minute for email), but I don't like getting hit with a billion emails telling me someone commented. I did have comment emails enabled when I first started using Gmail, but it got to be too big of a pain in the ass to deal with.

I also feel the same way about AIM. So many people have made me feel like there's something wrong with me because I don't use AIM. Even with a select group of people, it drives me nuts knowing someone is wanting me to reply, like, NOW. It may not stress out some people, but it makes me crazy!

[moggymania.livejournal.com]

Yep... I can't handle AIM or other online-chats either. I do a little with my family to avoid having to deal with speech (which is more of a PITA than writing) and one friend I've had since we were kids, but that's about it.

I'm also a Thunderbird user, mail-check set to 3 minutes because my ISP got a little annoyed with me for anything faster. *g* I always have email programs set up to first filter everything into folders by person/community, then so incoming messages from individuals I'm not handling well at the moment is also automatically marked as read without my being aware it even arrived. In which case I can (and sometimes do) say "hmmm, no, I never saw that email" if I am asked. ;)

Since I do all of my socializing online, and can't handle chatting with most people I didn't meet before I turned 20 (long story), my options are a little limited. If I cut email out, well, then people start calling my house, visiting unnanounced, or doing other things that stress me out even more. (If I'm not in control of when it happens, how it happens, how long it happens, or even what "it" is, I tend to stress out -- both when it happens, as that messes with my autistic-fanatic routine, but also at all other times as then I start fearing it might happen!)

[moggymania.livejournal.com]

Wow, oops, horrible use of singular/plural in that comment! :-p Eh, I'm too tired to rewrite the comment so it's fixed, so there it stays!

[panda-cookie.livejournal.com]

I don't like talking on the phone, either, unless it's my fiance calling me!

But anyway, I'm relieved to see that I'm not the only one that dislikes using messenger programs. I've had to deal with people being weirded out or losing intrest in my friendship because I won't go on AIM. I have an ICQ number listed on my userinfo, but I never use it. I just have it there so I'll never lose it if I need it. :)

[neurotica0.livejournal.com]

I know this isn't addressed at only me, but to be clear:
1) I wasn't referring to a program. (I use Gmail and that's just how Gmail is on its own.)
2) I wasn't suggesting you use the same system for your email (either through a program or getting Gmail). I was just explaining why keeping up with my email isn't a problem for me.
3) I didn't even mean to say that you should find this helpful. I happen to like it, but that's just me.

[conuly]

I hope I didn't offend. I wasn't upset by the comments that I read that way, I just thought I should say this at some point in my life.

[neurotica0.livejournal.com]

I wasn't offended. Just wanted to make sure you weren't misreading me--that is, that I didn't offend you.

[l33tminion]

Man, I couldn't manage without comment emails. I'd always be worried that I'd miss something...

[panda-cookie.livejournal.com]

I feel the same way about comment emails. I do use Thunderbird, which lets me know when I get email (I have it set to check every minute for email), but I don't like getting hit with a billion emails telling me someone commented. I did have comment emails enabled when I first started using Gmail, but it got to be too big of a pain in the ass to deal with.

I also feel the same way about AIM. So many people have made me feel like there's something wrong with me because I don't use AIM. Even with a select group of people, it drives me nuts knowing someone is wanting me to reply, like, NOW. It may not stress out some people, but it makes me crazy!

[moggymania.livejournal.com]

Yep... I can't handle AIM or other online-chats either. I do a little with my family to avoid having to deal with speech (which is more of a PITA than writing) and one friend I've had since we were kids, but that's about it.

I'm also a Thunderbird user, mail-check set to 3 minutes because my ISP got a little annoyed with me for anything faster. *g* I always have email programs set up to first filter everything into folders by person/community, then so incoming messages from individuals I'm not handling well at the moment is also automatically marked as read without my being aware it even arrived. In which case I can (and sometimes do) say "hmmm, no, I never saw that email" if I am asked. ;)

Since I do all of my socializing online, and can't handle chatting with most people I didn't meet before I turned 20 (long story), my options are a little limited. If I cut email out, well, then people start calling my house, visiting unnanounced, or doing other things that stress me out even more. (If I'm not in control of when it happens, how it happens, how long it happens, or even what "it" is, I tend to stress out -- both when it happens, as that messes with my autistic-fanatic routine, but also at all other times as then I start fearing it might happen!)

[moggymania.livejournal.com]

Wow, oops, horrible use of singular/plural in that comment! :-p Eh, I'm too tired to rewrite the comment so it's fixed, so there it stays!

[panda-cookie.livejournal.com]

I don't like talking on the phone, either, unless it's my fiance calling me!

But anyway, I'm relieved to see that I'm not the only one that dislikes using messenger programs. I've had to deal with people being weirded out or losing intrest in my friendship because I won't go on AIM. I have an ICQ number listed on my userinfo, but I never use it. I just have it there so I'll never lose it if I need it. :)

[neurotica0.livejournal.com]

I know this isn't addressed at only me, but to be clear:
1) I wasn't referring to a program. (I use Gmail and that's just how Gmail is on its own.)
2) I wasn't suggesting you use the same system for your email (either through a program or getting Gmail). I was just explaining why keeping up with my email isn't a problem for me.
3) I didn't even mean to say that you should find this helpful. I happen to like it, but that's just me.

[conuly]

I hope I didn't offend. I wasn't upset by the comments that I read that way, I just thought I should say this at some point in my life.

[neurotica0.livejournal.com]

I wasn't offended. Just wanted to make sure you weren't misreading me--that is, that I didn't offend you.

[l33tminion]

Man, I couldn't manage without comment emails. I'd always be worried that I'd miss something...