Google Goggles – Test Before Sending Email When, Err, Tired

In our February newsletter, I wrote about an incorrect use of email, where a co-worker used it to convey potentially inflammatory content. Not wise.

Seth Godin’s great email list includes this tip:
#13. Am I angry? (If so, save as draft and come back to the note in one hour).
I would amend this to wait a fully day to calm down, and with the perspective of a good night’s sleep, decide if the email should be sent or needs rewording.

What happens if, despite these careful habits of practice, you want to set up a self-block if your restraint is weak, particularly late at night when you are, err, tired? If you use Gmail, Google announced a new feature yesterday, called Google Goggles.

It’s a bit silly, but could prove useful for those moments of lapsed judgment. Check it out on the Gmail blog.

Hopefully Mail Goggles will prevent many of you out there from sending messages you wish you hadn’t. Like that late night memo — I mean mission statement — to the entire firm.