[dmitryminkovsky]

Hey thanks a lot.

Network effects will definitely be the #1 challenge. I considered integrations—I first tried Pony as an email service, actually. I wanted it to be as accessible as possible. This led to a lot of problems, specifically you get this asymmetry and confusion of some people being on Pony and others being in instant real-time. All of our existing platforms come with norms and expectations, and using a non-instant integration was often perceived as anti-social, which was really unfortunate because I was trying to build something pro-social. You also lose this effect of it being a special place.

Anyway, it is hard to get people on, but fortunately the idea seems to be unique enough and resonate enough with that there's already a seemingly dedicated (albeit small) userbase. It suggests that maybe network effects will be possible to overcome. Everything has to start somewhere!

[webwanderings]

It's a novel idea, and you're correct to keep it out of integration.

Assume, for a moment, that your idea takes off and becomes the next WhatsApp. People, you know, will find ways to return to their normal selves. They'll cram a ton of links and messages into their allotted time slots.

What you're attempting to address is a fundamental flaw in human nature. Many people are aware of the issue and are taking precautions in their daily communication. Many, however, do not.

[dmitryminkovsky]

> and you're correct to keep it out of integration.

Thank you for your support in this. It's a constant exercise in discipline to keep focused in this direction.

> They'll cram a ton of links and messages into their allotted time slots.

I'm not sure people will be inclined to put links and ephemera in here. At least not most people. I do, to some extent, especially when I want to avoid starting a text back-and-forth, but I think instant messaging is a good place for that kind of thing and I suspect it'll stay that way.

[ISL]

Even if the link/message-cramming takes place, it provides a useful impediment to the sender and a bulwark for the recipient.

A wall of text/messages from a relative is more-readily handled in a healthy fashion when it doesn't arrive piecemeal.

[airstrike]

Now I feel like building a small device powered by raspberry pi or something similar that lets one send and receive ponymail thrice a day so that I have a separate device / activity that is markedly different from simply checking my phone

[grenoire]

Wouldn't that be solvable by assigning a Pony-managed reply-to address? That way Pony can still manage how it sends back the replies to you.

I really like email as a comms platform and think that it could greatly benefit Pony.

[OJFord]

I think the point is you'd get a barrage of ill-thought-out/ephemeral/chatty messages all at once in the day, which is maybe worse than being spread out, and certainly not the 'mindful correspondence' goal.