Merlin’s right on the money here with commentary on the recent WSJ article covering what your inbox says about you.

I like whacky pop psychology conjecture as much as the next guy, but I’ve learned not to draw too many conclusions…

I especially enjoy the proposed connection between our inbox and parental guidance. I wonder which part of parenting had the effect:

Mom and dad:

• were neat freaks so I am too?
• were neat freaks so I rebelled and I’m not?
• never paid attention to me so I wait anxiously for every arrival?
• doted on me constantly so I ignore others (email)?

Email management is more about who’s sending you email and how it fits into your life than it will ever be about family values and upbringing.

For example, my inbox says the following:

• Too many strangers know my email address
• Too many spammers guess my email address
• I enter my email address at too many websites
• Email isn’t my primary method of communication (phone)
• Email isn’t an urgent method of communication (regardless of what others think)