22 February 2007: The Email Programme

Alcoholics have one, and so do drug abusers. Now people addicted to e-mail also have a 12-step programme designed to help them tackle their obsession.

Apparently some people cannot walk by their computer without checking for messages. Others will not take holidays anywhere they cannot connect to their e‑mail systems.

The first of the 12 steps is "admit that e-mail is controlling you."

Other steps include "establish regular times to review your e-mail" and “don’t check for e-mails not more than three or four times a day”.

I’d tell you the others but I’ve got to get off to the bank to check my emails…
[The news reader is also the Manager of the Bank of St. Helena.]