Timothy Moon

   A little red circle showing 99+ in the students inbox is hard to miss. Once they get a notification for another email, there is a brief moment of anxiety and unfamiliarity. The modern email is no longer just a digital mailbox, it is a field full of opportunities, rejections, and corporate greed. Full of job applications, unfortunate lay-offs, and great deals at Nike or Adidas, emails of all kinds fill people’s inboxes. Nonetheless, emails are a great way to communicate with teachers and co-workers when the normal call or text seems too informal.

   Now picture this, an email from Harvard regarding an update to the application that the student sent in. That email could be the student’s future, the student’s next four years. It could result in how that student is going to be perceived upon other applicants when applying for jobs. The idea that one digital file holds the future of the student presents itself with ambivalence. The same goes for job applications. What seemed like an awesome interview, could easily turn into a sweat inducing moment as they wait for the response. Job applicants start to rethink their answers and choices as they sit and wait at their desktop for the little ding. Another use of emails is communicating with teachers. Whether it is an overdue assignment that students need to make an excuse for or inquiring about the lesson they missed, sending a message to communicate is a fantastic way for students to express their concerns or ideas with others.

   On the complete other side of the spectrum there is the daily bombardment of marketing and consumerism. If anyone has signed up for the newsletter for Five Guys, McDonalds, Nike, or Adidas to get that five dollar discount, they would be familiar with the constant emails they may receive. It may be a new menu item, a highly awaited clothing drop, or a discount code for their favorite meal. Regardless of what it is, it creates a click in the mind that excites the recipient hoping they can get a great deal. These big corporations often do not really care if someone likes their food or clothes, or if they enjoy receiving the emails. In the end, if the user clicks on the email and orders, the corporations win. 

   Then there are the spam emails that no one wants. These include the relentless influx of junk mail from fast-fashion giants like Temu or Shein that constantly clutter up the digital space. But even worse than that, it can be dangerous  where people get scammed. For example, the main cover of this article is the exact email that someone received in their inbox asking them to click a button for a chance to receive a free YETI Beach Lounge Wagon. Anyone would initially think, “How convenient! Summer is arriving quickly and this is the exact wagon I need to show the other moms I am better than them.” Although when they click on the start survey button and fill out their information to win, they receive a notification that states that fifty-thousand dollars were withdrawn from their bank account, which  just shows how a simple click can completely ruin someone’s life.

   Because of all this clutter, we often ignore emails in general. People get so tired of looking at the mess that they stop checking it carefully, sometimes missing important job interviews or updates. But I think the saddest part of any email is the ones that are slowly going extinct. The personal ones. If anyone ever remembers getting an email from their grandparent or a long lost penpal, there is something about it that brings more excitement than any other email. This wave of joy stems from the idea that they get to hear from someone they have not heard from in a while. With things like Tiktok, Facebook, and Instagram in our everyday lives, hardly anyone ever sits down to write an email to a loved one. 

   I think the formal email is what is needed. Instead of the such informal texts and calls we have everyday, the idea of reaching out in the form of a well written letter can be much more thoughtful and meaningful. The practice can be what people wait for, hoping to receive an email from their loved ones. Maybe cut through the spam and the marketing today, open a blank message, and send an email to that close relative or loved one.