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"Never write if you can speak; never speak if you can nod; never nod if you can wink."

Not sure of the origin, possibly Martin Lomasney.

The version I remember is "Never email what you can say on the phone, never say on the phone what you can say in person".

Martin Lomasney lived from 1859-1933, so I suppose it was around the time (1876) that Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, but he certainly predates email!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Lomasney

https://thewestendmuseum.org/news/the-life-legend-and-lesson...

It is absolutely mind boggling to find out what I heard is a bastardizion of a century old quote. Wow.

Usenet was on fire when it came out.

UUCP style address exchanges were banging.

Talk was like a WPM contest.

Is HN like a DX contest?

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