If not “dead,” it’s certainly in extremis. That’s a medical term meaning “at point of death,” but gist of phrase will work. Email is in trouble, perhaps extreme, but we do not know.

What will be future? Of course no one knows. I’m not alarmed. If you follow course of sp***ing, first it appears, then there’s a s*** filter, then someone gets around that, then …

The same circus goes on with viruses, and we can only manage our emotions as it happens, and remain responsive, not reactionary.

You need not trouble your mind with predicting … unless it’s your job. There’s a pertinent Zen proverb here: “If you understand, things are just as they are; if you do not understand, things are just as they are.” Emotional Intelligence would recommend coping with it as it is, right in front of you and remaining flexible to changes in future.

I think we need email and it will evolve as other things on Internet have. In meantime is this your life? More emails everyday that are of no use to you? Minutes to hours spent trying to go through them all? Increasing your skills to learn what to immediately reject that your s*** filter hasn’t already? Learning to scan for names and subjects you know? Setting up folder after folder? Trying to keep ahead of it all?

In order to make life simpler for one another, and for those who are looking for your emails and want to receive them, here are some tips:

1.Use a descriptive subject line.

The person you’re emailing may be receiving hundreds of emails a day. You may also be in a relationship-building or project-relationship with person, where it would help them to know what you’re writing about ahead of time. A good subject line helps, i.e., “Notice of meeting March 22.”

2.Take your time.

Though it seems opposite of what you should do, more time you take composing your email, more helpful it will be to recipient. It will save time in long run. If you’re sloppy they’ll have questions and will have to write you back and that means … another email in your box.

3.Set date and time on your computer.

It’s confusing if this isn’t set right. Check your computer and check company’s server.

4.Stick with King’s English – a term for proper sort of writing we learn in school, whatever our native language is.

We all learned in school to write a sentence this way: “I am sending you first draft of proposal to Mr. Smith.”

In our professions we learned other phrases specific to our trade which help us communicate such as, “Pursuant to email of March 22,” or “Collaterals for brochure have been printed and are being collated. Probable delivery date – March 22.”

When you stray from this, using a format such as this, “ BTW i sent photos … got em yet? j.k. they’re in mail. look for them,” you will slow your reader down, and this is not object of business communication.