Mail chain

A "mail chain" is a colloquialism that refers to a series of emails that are sent back and forth between multiple people, often in a circular or repetitive manner. This can happen when a group of people are discussing a topic or issue, and each person responds to the previous email, adding their own thoughts or opinions, without necessarily addressing the original topic or question.

Here's an example of how a mail chain might unfold:

Email 1: John sends an email to a group of colleagues asking for their input on a new project.

Email 2: Sarah responds to John's email, asking for more information about the project.

Email 3: John responds to Sarah's email, providing more details about the project.

Email 4: Tom responds to John's email, asking a question about the project's timeline.

Email 5: John responds to Tom's email, providing an update on the project's timeline.

Email 6: Sarah responds to John's email, asking another question about the project's scope.

And so on. As you can see, the conversation can quickly become circular, with each person responding to the previous email without necessarily addressing the original topic or question.

Mail chains can be frustrating for several reasons:

  1. They can be time-consuming: With multiple people responding to each other, the conversation can quickly become lengthy and unwieldy.
  2. They can be confusing: With multiple threads and responses, it can be difficult to keep track of what's being discussed and what's been decided.
  3. They can be inefficient: Mail chains can lead to duplicated efforts, as people may respond to the same question or issue multiple times.

To avoid getting caught in a mail chain, it's a good idea to:

  1. Keep your responses concise and focused on the original topic.
  2. Use clear and specific subject lines to help others quickly understand the purpose of the email.
  3. Try to address the original question or issue in your response, rather than introducing new topics or tangents.
  4. Use email management tools, such as filters or labels, to help you keep track of your emails and avoid getting bogged down in a mail chain.