Now I am actually wondering how to create the email macros you describe. In so many cases, it’s a matter of turning the incoming email around into something actionable. Like, I need a canned response that asks people to redirect their questions to the blog, explaining that it is difficult to fetch an answer and respond.

How would one do email templates in Mail.app?

I’m not dismissing their work. I’m dismissing the need to spend my time on their work.

There are people that I’ve spoken with, who I’ve enjoyed the conversation. One student even sent me a coffee shop gift card as a thank you. An indication that she’ll go far. I don’t expect that all students can afford such things, but even the hand written note, that was meaningful. Actually, I didn’t notice the gift card until months after I got the note. I thought the note was pretty impressive. She was very aware of the imposition. She also asked very interesting questions, so the interview was entertaining.

“Sorry, I have a non-profit to run,” is where I’m headed. I’m blogging about it, because, like Bart, I’m inclined to always say yes. Actually, what occurs to me as I type this out, Ryan, is that before when I was teaching the workshops, there was a place where I was supposed to be, and be available twice a week, and meeting with people before or after was natural. These workshops will be resuming soon, so it makes sense to say, sure, you can meet me in one of four time slots.

The visibility is good. And your message reminds me that I do admonish people to pay attention to other cities if we want people to pay attention to our own. That economy of attention thing.

Another way to look at it might be that some interviews are an opportunity to practice speaking about the issues. We could all use a little practice.

For social research, which I’m guessing much of your email is geared towards, the “business” angle is even harder to read. But, just because you might not get an immediate reward doesn’t negate the value of the research. There is a point where New Orleans can help others as well; Katrina will not be the last, major disaster in this country (or abroad). The population of New Orleans certainly holds some enticing knowledge and experiences. Is that coldly academic? Sure, it can be. That doesn’t lessen the collective value of the research.

That said, your email has different purposes (or at least your post says so). Perhaps contriving some resources for the connection-seeking researcher and a polite “Sorry, I have a non-profit to run” gets them further than the black hole of your inbox and you can continue with the actionable items. Build a macro that reads keywords or codes in replies that auto-populates canned text (which can be flowery and approachable) so you can churn out replies.

Or trash them; at the end of the day, you’ve set yourself up as a point of contact for more than what you’re focused on. What you choose to do with that visibility is up to you.