From wikipedia:
“Conversation is a form of interactive, spontaneous communication between two or more people. Typically it occurs in spoken communication, as written exchanges are usually not referred to as conversations. The development of conversational skills and etiquette is an important part of socialization.”
When an email topic exceeds two messages – the original message and a response, it in effect becomes a conversation. The main problem with trying to have a conversation using e-mail is the typical conversation skills and etiquette is lost.
Conversation, by definition, does not occur in written form, however, when an e-mail trail runs to ten or more messages (which is very common in an institutional environment) it seems to me it should have been a conversation. What I mean is, while technically this is not defined as a conversation the type of communication needed is interactive and two-way; e-mail is not the place for that.
With dozens of people copied on e-mail messages I always think to myself, ” Get a room, please”. Often when I am copied or forwarded these horrendous e-mail trails I feel like an eavesdropper, albeit not secretly, as they know I am there.
Most Important Reason not to hold e-mail conversations
Conversations, e-mails, blogs, social networks, and so on, are all ways we communicate with others. The basic objective of communication is to either tell someone something or for them to tell you. The communication method depends on what is being communicated. Email is best for capturing agreements or documenting facts – this allows for one response – I agree or I do not agree (which can be followed by a conversation).
As soon as the topic requires ongoing interaction – that is beyond one reply/response – almost as a rule e-mail is the wrong vehicle. A key reason for this is discussions, debates and arguments all need to have standard conversation etiquette applied to them if they are going to remain civil and also succeed in achieving the ultimate goal – a meeting of the minds.
A simple suggestion
I recommend you always go voice to voice or face to face if you get an e-mail reply you want to respond to. That is, one message -one reply – end of trail. At that point is more discuss is needed have a conversation in person or by phone. After that conversation, if a point of agreement needs to be captured in writing send a new email documenting the agreement, at this point the old e-mail trail is over and should be left alone.