Just looked up what an NHS letter is. I’m sorry they are written the way they are. I can relate. It’s like being a number, a statistic, but not a person. A human.
Thank you for sharing this and educating me on NHS letter. I think it’s bs and there should be at least a shred of connection in the letter.
I essentially lead the editorial board of a think tank on tech & how it affects society -- your central point that the AI debate is a writer-facing conversation when the more urgent one is reader-facing, is so incredibly astute; i love it. Like, we keep asking "did a human write this" when the question with actual stakes is "did anyone think about who would open it." -- that's such a powerful shift; it changes where the responsibility sits. & i fear we don't think of it enough. So it brings me some relief to see that someone else has been thinking about this too (& someone who doesn't work in tech? do you?)
anyways, really enjoyed this && i love love "leaving the light on" as a description of what writing should do; I too, hope that my writing does this for other people, much in the same that this piece of yours definitely did for me (:
Thank you so so SO much for your comment. 😊 That's so nice of you to say. Now, I need to be careful about what I am going to say here as I don't want to get into trouble but I do work in tech, yes but I am the only softie and "let's leave our ego at the side" and "let's think about how it might land" girlie in the department, hence why I have been itching to write about this. Your think tank is lucky to have you and we are lucky to have you in our substack. 🍊🤍
Damn. Well then, I'm very glad you were finally able to scratch that itch & have this space where you can write about it; it's definitely a worthwhile thing for others (not in tech like us, even though lol, more people in tech should ponder as well) to read about -- & aww, thank you for saying that 🥹🫂🙈
Ahhhhh I love this. To do this requires empathy - and while we can’t know - and those feelings run the entire gambit from apathy to empathy - we can ask the question - how would it sit with me - that’s a solid start. ✨💗
this was such a thoughtful piece; as someone who works in admin within the nhs i see so many letters sent to colleagues every day that were clearly just a template and no thought went in - we need to think about that reader so much more!
This is accurate in so many levels. Also, In Australia they’re training AI for disability assessments for the NDIS (our insurance policy that allocates funding for disability therapies and supports). They say it’s for accuracy and efficiency but I think it’s because empathy is expensive: sometimes people with bend to get another person more funding, or they’ll work around the boundaries when they know it’s necessary to meet a need. AI won’t. Compassion is a bug they’re trying to get rid of.
"Empathy is expensive" <-- ouch. Yes! I know where I'd rather spend my money. Nobody ever said I wish this company cared less. And "compassion is a bug they're trying to get rid of" might be the most tragic and eye-opening thing I've read all week.
You don't. And I think that's the honest answer. You can't know who is opening it, or what Wednesday they're having. It's less about tailoring and more about not forgetting that someone is there at all.
It's not personal. The companies that were still sending my husband mail a year after he died weren't doing that to be mean. It was still on me to know this and not be upset by it. Where does the recipient factor into emotional intelligence? At all?
Cookie, I'm so sorry. :( This is so gracious of you to frame it this way and to say that it was on you. I don't think it was. A company whose business IS people has a responsibility to remember that people die. The consideration failed. Not you. You shouldn't have had to absorb that.x
I think that difference in question (who is writing this vs. who is reading this) guides who lives and breathes in peace and who hustles to hustle. Focusing on who wrote a piece begs the concern that the person guessing “be right” and focusing on who will be reading can bring joy. Thanks so much for sharing.
Tsunimee!! This post is riveting oh my God! It was beautifully written. You are sooo soo right! And yes this landed incredibly well!! I absolutely love it!
Beautiful!! Absolutely fuckin beautiful!! I tried to recommend you but I think because you’re limited, or whatever, it isn’t letting me
I swear. Substack hates me. Like jail time is not hard enough. I even cleaned my microwave today.
Shut up. I cleaned my microwave today. First time in like ever
No way!
Omg, thank you so much, señor Castillo 🥹
No, thank you for standing out amongst the noise. Good for you!
This was worded so beautifully you truly have an art with writing loved reading this ❤️
This means a lot coming from you ❤️ Thank you x
Just looked up what an NHS letter is. I’m sorry they are written the way they are. I can relate. It’s like being a number, a statistic, but not a person. A human.
Thank you for sharing this and educating me on NHS letter. I think it’s bs and there should be at least a shred of connection in the letter.
✨✨✨
You are the sweetest. Thank you so much x
:)
I essentially lead the editorial board of a think tank on tech & how it affects society -- your central point that the AI debate is a writer-facing conversation when the more urgent one is reader-facing, is so incredibly astute; i love it. Like, we keep asking "did a human write this" when the question with actual stakes is "did anyone think about who would open it." -- that's such a powerful shift; it changes where the responsibility sits. & i fear we don't think of it enough. So it brings me some relief to see that someone else has been thinking about this too (& someone who doesn't work in tech? do you?)
anyways, really enjoyed this && i love love "leaving the light on" as a description of what writing should do; I too, hope that my writing does this for other people, much in the same that this piece of yours definitely did for me (:
Thank you so so SO much for your comment. 😊 That's so nice of you to say. Now, I need to be careful about what I am going to say here as I don't want to get into trouble but I do work in tech, yes but I am the only softie and "let's leave our ego at the side" and "let's think about how it might land" girlie in the department, hence why I have been itching to write about this. Your think tank is lucky to have you and we are lucky to have you in our substack. 🍊🤍
Damn. Well then, I'm very glad you were finally able to scratch that itch & have this space where you can write about it; it's definitely a worthwhile thing for others (not in tech like us, even though lol, more people in tech should ponder as well) to read about -- & aww, thank you for saying that 🥹🫂🙈
Ahhhhh I love this. To do this requires empathy - and while we can’t know - and those feelings run the entire gambit from apathy to empathy - we can ask the question - how would it sit with me - that’s a solid start. ✨💗
Thank you. We need to at least try x
this was such a thoughtful piece; as someone who works in admin within the nhs i see so many letters sent to colleagues every day that were clearly just a template and no thought went in - we need to think about that reader so much more!
This is beautiful and such a wonderful piece of commentary in this AI saturated world we are currently living in.
Thank you, Cammie x
Well written. You considered us when you wrote this. I didn't know you were emoi.
Émoi c’est moi. 😊 Thank you x
You really understand your craft, chapeu!
Stop it. Argh. But thank you though ☺️
This is accurate in so many levels. Also, In Australia they’re training AI for disability assessments for the NDIS (our insurance policy that allocates funding for disability therapies and supports). They say it’s for accuracy and efficiency but I think it’s because empathy is expensive: sometimes people with bend to get another person more funding, or they’ll work around the boundaries when they know it’s necessary to meet a need. AI won’t. Compassion is a bug they’re trying to get rid of.
"Empathy is expensive" <-- ouch. Yes! I know where I'd rather spend my money. Nobody ever said I wish this company cared less. And "compassion is a bug they're trying to get rid of" might be the most tragic and eye-opening thing I've read all week.
How do you control who sees your writing to tailor it to their specific needs, to know their state of mind reading it, or how they'll feel after?
You don't. And I think that's the honest answer. You can't know who is opening it, or what Wednesday they're having. It's less about tailoring and more about not forgetting that someone is there at all.
It's not personal. The companies that were still sending my husband mail a year after he died weren't doing that to be mean. It was still on me to know this and not be upset by it. Where does the recipient factor into emotional intelligence? At all?
Cookie, I'm so sorry. :( This is so gracious of you to frame it this way and to say that it was on you. I don't think it was. A company whose business IS people has a responsibility to remember that people die. The consideration failed. Not you. You shouldn't have had to absorb that.x
Emotional regulation is on us to figure out, it's not anyone else's responsibility. How we respond to life is the game.
I didn't know the etymology of the expression of "tough cookie" before, until you came along 💪🏻😊
<3
Aaaaw I've missed your musings and your wonderful prose! May your week be littered with moments of sheer joy 😘
I think that difference in question (who is writing this vs. who is reading this) guides who lives and breathes in peace and who hustles to hustle. Focusing on who wrote a piece begs the concern that the person guessing “be right” and focusing on who will be reading can bring joy. Thanks so much for sharing.
This is so beautiful. Everyone in this damn platform and beyond needs to read this. CONSIDER THE READER!
Tsunimee!! This post is riveting oh my God! It was beautifully written. You are sooo soo right! And yes this landed incredibly well!! I absolutely love it!