What Is The Purpose of Email If You Can't Use it?

It's really frustrating how so many people still need that face to face interaction when communicating with individuals. It seems as though "meetings" would have gone extinct right after Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. But they didn't. Along the road faxes came into play, but that didn't eliminate the need to "meet" either. Now we have email, a communication method where we can look back and read the history of what is said. Yet, people still feel the need to conduct business in person.

I recently decided that the perfect job didn't exist, so instead I applied for grad school and am going to get my Masters in Education and teaching credential in secondary education. To make a long story short, financial aid informed me that I needed to meet with an advisor. So with all 3 kids, I made the long drive all the way up to the college and waited 30 minutes to meet with an advisor. It turns out all I needed was to fill out a short form. Why was it necessary to "meet" with an advisor?? I probably put 30 miles on my car, wasted a few dollars of gas, adding to the pollution in the air, and wasting taxpayer money as well as my own time. That form could have easily been emailed to me.

Another example: I emailed the program advisor with a question regarding two Pol Sci classes I have. It was a simple question that she could've been answered easily through email, yet she requested that we "meet". Basically, she would not answer any questions through email or phone. For some reason, she needs to see my face. I know its beautiful and all, but its not necessary for her to see it :o) I have to set up a meeting when she gets back from vacation on the 18th, so that she can address my questions. In the meantime, I am bugging the crap out of her because time is of the essence . I CAN'T wait until the 18th.

How does a face to face "meeting" versus a phone call or email correspondence make any difference in the outcome of a conversation? Why this need for one on one contact?

People need to get with the times and use technology to its fullest. You'd think with the high gas prices, time pressed schedules, and the negative environmental impact all this running around causes, people would be more aware and use alternative methods to conserve time and energy.