Part of the reason students sometimes send abusive e-mail is the ease to which they can respond to e-mail. After reading a message, they immediately react with their gut feelings. Unfortunately, a gut reaction precludes any type of thoughtful reflection. This is why I try to wait 24 hours before answering e-mail to which I have an initially unfavorable reaction.

For example, last evening I informed students that I had recorded the grades for the quizzes I had already received. One student responsed with and arbupt opening: “Unless I am unaware and missing information somewhere on the site, aren’t the first quizzes due the 25th?”

Initially, I could not believe this student’s condescending tone. Although we have never met, I could envision the sneer on his smug little face.

Yes, I knew the quiz deadline was not until May 25. Aren’t I the one who–just a few hours earlier–had extended the deadline? And didn’t he realize that I could begin recording quiz grades even before the deadline? I was tired when I read the message and would have loved to tell this student that I didn’t appreciate his attitude. Fortunately, I waited until today to answer his message.

By this afternoon, the student’s sneer had “disappeared.” It had been replaced by the confused tone of someone who—one week into class—was having difficulty understanding the process and feared that he was missing deadlines. The change, of course, had nothing to do with the student. It had to do with the fact that I did not spout my gut reaction; that I took time to get a good night’s sleep before responding to him.

Just because we can respond immediately to e-mail doesn’t mean that we should.

–Steven L. Berg, PhD