E mail is an temporary message medium
I think there may be some debate about this statement!
While it's true that email is a digital medium, and digital information is inherently ephemeral, I'd argue that email is not necessarily a temporary message medium in the classical sense. Here's why:
- Email is a stored message: Unlike spoken language or even text messages, email messages are stored on servers and can be retrieved at a later time. This means that an email sent today can still be accessed and read tomorrow, next week, or even years from now.
- Email archives: Many email providers and organizations maintain archives of email messages, which can be searched and retrieved at a later time. This allows users to access and review past emails, even if they're no longer in their inbox.
- Email is a permanent record: In many cases, email messages are considered a permanent record of communication. This is particularly true in professional or business settings, where email records may be required for compliance, auditing, or legal purposes.
- Email can be preserved: With the advent of email archiving and backup solutions, it's possible to preserve email messages for extended periods of time. This ensures that important emails are not lost or deleted, even if the original email account is no longer active.
That being said, I do agree that email is a digital medium, and digital information is inherently subject to the risks of data loss, corruption, or deletion. However, the fact that email messages can be stored, archived, and preserved means that they can be considered a more permanent form of communication than some other digital mediums.
What do you think? Do you agree or disagree that email is a temporary message medium?