Of course there is spam, junkmail or whatever. But there are also requests for help, advice, speeches, thoughts....it takes a huge amount of time, it destroys early morning thinking and reflecting time, and sometimes it seems like a huge drag on the day. But do I feel better connected to friends? Yes. Does it enable me to know more about what is going on nationally, internationally, and also locally? Yes. Can I respond to need more easily?

Yes. In those ways it is good. It is only really bad if it stops us talking face to face, if we believe technologies can take the place of people engaging with other people. The answer is that it cannot do so- it is merely an instrument, and the comparison, at first thought, of it feeling like my conscience is misleading. My conscience tells me to do, or not to do, something. The E-mail just reproaches me for not having answered, but it has no view. Provided we keep a sense of proportion, and see it purely for what it is, a way of making communication easier, email is a blessing. But the real blessing is seeing, being with, and having friendships with people. If E-mail helps that, so much the better.