Dependability of email

When you KNOW you emailed someone, and you KNOW the address was right, and then you don't get an answer, it can seem like you're being ignored. A few years ago, that would almost certainly have been true.

These days, it's more likely that the mail got dropped somewhere. Between clogged servers, misconfigured anti-relaying rules, spam filters, and all manner of other problems, a lot of direct one-to one email is getting lost.

This doesn't even consider the amount of mail that gets deleted with the spam, by the recipient.

My first four years online, I don't recall even one email getting lost. Now I rarely see a week go by without at least one or two.

With the shortage of qualified systems administrators, it's likely to get a little worse before it gets better.

This is something to bear in mind when you don't get answers right away. It's not always (or even mostly) lost email, but it's worth considering.

Oh! One more thing!! When you give your email address to someone, or sign up for a newsletter, take time to make sure that your email address is correct! I have any number of invalid email addresses given to receive my newsletter ... and I have no way of contacting those people to ask them what their correct email address is!!! And they will be wondering why I am so rude as to ignore their request for the newsletter!!!



     Listing # 9380