December 14, 1998
Perfect Silence
Some of you were probably expecting this e-mail to be empty, since that would be perfect silence. I apologize for being hypocritical, for I will not remain quiet, but will fill it with noise.
Lately, I have felt a pounding silence about me. I grew spoiled there for a while with all of you responding to almost each and every one of my mailings. Lately, the response rate has slowed down to a trickle. I hold no one at fault for this, but the effects are worthy of noting.
Everyone knows how it feels when you make a comment in a crowded room and a hush falls over the crowd. Your mind races with a momentary pride, but then doubt slides surreptitiously in. Have you just said something of complete idiocy? was it confusing? inane? pointless? Your thoughts quickly clutter with the static noise of doubt.
Thus, as the world remains silent, there is an incredibly obnoxious level of decibels echoing among your cerebral cortexes. It makes life a bit more difficult to think through.