For me a big deal is not just the slow delivery, but the inability to instantly send as well. The presence of a send button has this effect of making me send things that aren't ready. I don't intend Pony to encourage people to edit and edit and edit forever, but I've found in my personal usage that sometimes I write a message, put it in my outbox, and then some number of hours later I'll think of something randomly and edit it a bit. Or I'll change my mind and delete it.

The idea of email (even if it carries with it some versioning history) that is editable is really nice.

Is there a way to interface Pony with email directly, so that an app isn't required?

I can imagine giving [email protected] out to people with the clear expectation that my SLA for a reply is 24-48 hours instead of instantaneous and that my SLA for their correspondence is also similar.

I wish GMail's "delay send" feature had a much longer maximum time...

It's not really long enough for deciding, after some thought, that maybe I shouldn't have sent that. (Though I'm pretty good at self-censoring these days.

I also tweak a bit after posting, and that Pony helps with that. I don't usually edit and edit forever, but it helps me get the message how I want it.

> Is there a way to interface Pony with email directly, so that an app isn't required?

Right now there is not, and I'm not sure it makes sense to add one. The first version of Pony was actually an email service, because I wanted it to be as accessible and useful as possible. It turned out that because email comes with its own set of norms and expectations, many people perceived the email version of Pony to be anti-social if not even borderline hostile. It was pretty disappointing because I wanted to make something that was pro-social. With everyone on Pony, everyone is on board and the expectations are totally clear.

[0] https://www.postcrossing.com/

If you remember it, and used it a few years ago, but then forgot about it until some random HN post mentioned it, it's not something with persistent utility (addiction) to you.

EDIT: I see I got understood in a way I didn't intend to.

Didn't want to say anything about parent, just pointing out that mentioned platform itself lack addictiveness to be considered a good (successful) social network.

Or is this one of the "feel good, we all should be using it" kind of stuff, where people force themselves to use it, because it's "right thing to do", but it feels more like a chore than joy, something like gym.

That's... not a good definition of persistent utility.

My pantry has quite a lot of persistent utility, but I'm reasonably sure I'm not addicted to it.

Edit:

>Didn't want to say anything about parent,

I apologize for my misreading.

>just pointing out that mentioned platform itself lack addictiveness to be considered a good (successful) social network.

I think that depends on the definition of successful. I quite like the idea of calm technology. I think it's possible to have a non-addictive social network which lets you socialize without feeling compelled to use it.

It wouldn't be for everyone, but wouldn't be for no one.

>Or is this one of the "feel good, we all should be using it" kind of stuff, where people force themselves to use it, because it's "right thing to do", but it feels more like a chore than joy, something like gym.

I don't think so. And it's possible to have something that is both - exercise, writing, sometimes reading fall into that category for me. Many things worth doing are not easy but far more rewarding and worthwhile in the long run.

Is it really that bad? It's plausible, but I'm skeptical.

Regardless, it is surely suboptimal. I wonder if there are more optimal approaches than "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" (my Mom's advice)....can you think of any?

Demean was too strong a word, I need to follow my own advice better :).

> Regardless, it is surely suboptimal. I wonder if there are more optimal approaches than "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" (my Mom's advice)....can you think of any?

The three gates[0] are what I try (and admittedly fail miserably) to implement, though not in their original form.

I generally try for "Is it true", "Is it useful", "Is it kind" - in that order of precedence if they can not all be met.

[0] Is it true, is it necessary, is it kind.

I would evaluate it thusly:

a) Is it true?

I would say: overwhelmingly.

b) Is it necessary?

In an absolute sense: no.

In a relative sense (say, if one has a specific goal in mind): Certainly maybe, but I would predict: Extremely Likely.

> Is it kind.

I suspect not. But then, I think HN'ers can have thick skin when required (say, if you are trying to optimize The System that we all live within).

If going to the gym feels more like a chore than a joy, then you may be doing it wrong, or inconsistently (some good coaching may help).