Legally Insane From Email Sending?
How many emails does one have to send in a day to qualify for insanity? If we're going by the three-nights-of-not-sleeping-makes-you-legally-insane model? 300? 3000? I probably sent somewhere between those two numbers today...I'm talking my pointer finger aches. But I also type funny (which reminds me hel-LO we need a typing teacher and ASAP). I never took typing because I never went to schools that taught me practical skills (I'm still convinced a little home ec might have made a real difference in my current homemaking abilities) but I type incredibly quickly (strangers in cafes/on airplanes comment) but with just two fingers on each hand. Anyway, it still takes a lot to make the pointer finger hurt and it does.
Oh, also: I did a guest post over at this really wonderful writers blog called Editor Unleashed. Any ADA student who comments over there gets a bathroom pass and one get-out-of-jail-free card for avoiding detention when they get into trouble (arguably only applicable for Alison Rosen School of Wayward Boys co-students).
where is mavis beacon when we need her? i can state without reservation that i’ve learned more skills at ada than i ever did at those lesser schools i attended. could i learn how to type without caps in high school? i think not. would any school without the academic requirements of ada teach mike how to type in the third person? not a chance. and show me one school other than ada that could help me reach a professorship in hashtagging for fun and profit? it doesn’t exist i tell you. of course, the people that read what i just posted at editor unleashed are going to look at my post and wonder where i got those mad skills. i should have added a link.
lastly principal david, get some sleep and that’s an order(that’s cop talk). you, and all your minions at ada have lots of work to do as may 19 approaches. we need our leader well rested and ready to kick some serious ass.
mike
#lullabyeandgoodnightmyfavoriteprincipalwhowroteboughtduemay19
You really should get one of those new fangled auto email thingy devices and then you could reply whenever you like..If the Government can use them why cant Anna?
Hello Emailer,
Thank you for submitting your Email (Name)
I am automated Anna, virtual assistant to the lovely and desirable Author/Love Guru and Television/Radio personality Anna David.Anna is currently working towards replying to the email you sent. However,responses are only written between the hours of 9am and 10am on the 5th Tuesday of every month. please do not get discouraged as current email load is above normal capacity and Anna will reply as soon as possible. I am automated to be certain Anna looks forward to emailing with you in the very near future.
Virtual Anna
*************************************************************
Quote for Tue:
Each small act of kindness reverberates across great distances and spans of time, affecting lives unknown to the one whose generous spirit was the source of the good echo, because kindness is passed on and grows each time it is passed, until simple courtesy becomes an act of selfless courage years later and far away.
-Dean Koontz-
I saw an article not to long ago about how many of the youths of today do not know how to type. They can use a keyboard with amazing skill and can text a bajillion texts a minute, but wouldn’t know home position on the keyboard if you put a gun to their heads. Not that you can do that in this country any more, Damn ACLU!
I read the article you mentioned earlier today after catching your tweet on it, but I didn’t comment on it over there for fear of seeming a tad to sucking upish. As if I was shooting for teacher’s pet or something, as i know how competative my fellow classmates are for that title. I do not need the hazing. Of course I did enjoy it and can commiserate with your need to keep going over the writing again and again. This is why none of my novels have ever been finished.
Sidenote: what us up w/ our pics still not showing up? It says “being sent for approval” who’s approval? And who do I need to bribe?
It is possible to go insane from e-mail
I left a perfectly peaceful spot in the Park on Friday afternoon to go to a Kinkos and check e-mails
What is wrong with me
Speaking of email, doesn’t it seem like there’s a lot less spam these days? I used to get spammed a lot and now most days I don’t get any. I think ISPs have really cracked down. I know Comcast has a no-spam policy. If it looks like you’re spamming, they’ll shut you down pretty fast.
Christian, you’re right about kids these days being phenomenal at texting. All they do is send text messages to each other. I saw a news report about texting a while ago and the reporter was watching 4 or 5 high school girls all sitting together on a bench, but instead of talking they were texting each other. Every so often one of them would start laughing. What’s up with that? Would they rather text each another than talk?
I know I’m not the ADA quotemeister, but here’s a contribution:
Where does the violet tint end and the orange tint begin? Distinctly we see the difference of the colors, but where exactly does the one first blending enter into the other? So with sanity and insanity. – Herman Melville
I have never formally been trained to type, but I type close to 50-60 words per minute (with errors; thank god for speleycheckers).
I would say 400 emails IS the magic insanity number. I sent 4 emails last night and I was questioning reality by then.
Ok, so, I commented on your article yesterday without knowing about the incentives. Do I still get them?
What did I tweet about this? In the insane world, the sane man (or in this case, woman) must appear insane. If you’ve taught yourself to type with just two fingers on each hand, then I say, why change a good thing? Continued practice will increase your speed, no matter how you type. Why do you think I tweet a lot?
However, if you feel that you need to acquire the skills taught in my eighth grade typing class, like, the rocking chair drill, and that when it comes to speed the average word has five characters, then I’m sure there is a suitable adult education class in your area. I type 52/2 when I don’t have to think about what I’m typing, and for whatever reason, that’s still too slow to get me an assistant’s job in this town, so, I wouldn’t worry about trivial things….
I was supposed to devote the entire past weekend to learning the shift characters of the number keys. Hitting shift and then working my way up the row is a large waste of time and somewhat frustrating when the character I want is shift 8 or 9. I played tennis and went to a White Sox game instead. I can’t imagine trying to type with just two fingers. Like carpal tunnel waiting to happen. The fact you’ve written two books this way is even more impressive.
Typing isn’t really something that lends itself to teaching. The keyboard sort of slants and the slants make up rows that work for every finger except for the pinkies. Middle two fingers have four keys. The two you have been using get eight, and would probably be grateful for the break. The pinkies have lots of stuff to do; their regular four keys plus returns, shifts, tabs, and backspaces. The thumbs get the space bar so they don’t feel left out.
Ten-keys are easier. It’s just an upside down phone pad and only takes one hand, but still requires more than one finger.
Good luck and nice article on the rewrites. Never thought about trying that, but did realize its possibly one of the reasons few people can understand what I’m trying to say. I’m going to look into it.
I commented a day late on your guest post. Do I still get the get-out-of-jail-free card even though I’m not a member of the Alison Rosen school? I did check it out a few days ago and one of the first things I saw was a bit having to do with tantric sex with kangaroos. Made me wonder what kind of schoolin’ they got going on over there.
Reminded me of a time in Korea when a female teacher received white, partially lace panties as a gift for teachers day. “What’s she teaching in that class?” I only got socks, lots and lots of socks.
As for emails, it’s only insanity if for each of those 300 (or 3000) you spent time creating a unique and tailored mailing taking pains to touch on items personal to the individual recipient (to show that you care) and expect likewise in response within 48 hours of the verified timestamp of the recipient’s opening of said email. I think you’re getting down to the wire here though so hopefully the days of 300 to 3000 emails will soon be at an end.
I’ll volunteer for typing instructor. The last time I was tested (when I was in high school…which was a very long time ago) my typing rate was about 85 wpm. The basic key to learning how to type is to stop looking at your fingers. You can’t get anywhere if you are constantly looking down.
As for instructional typing software, they are usually so boring that people give up before they get anywhere. I recommend Typing of the Dead. At least you can kill zombies while improving on your skills. It’s not the best way to learn, because it doesn’t require you to type any spaces, but it should improve your skills.
I don’t give a shit about what anyone has written above me….but since I posted a comment on that writer’s blog ….I need that “Get out of Jail Free” card…especially since Mike is on here!
that’s right, and don’t think for one second i don’t have my eye on you. i’ve heard all about you accountant types.
mike
#keepinganeyeontedwhiletouringthecountryspreadingthewordaboutbought