Yesterday's article about using BCC was a good start, but there are still some things that cousin Jane is doing that are inconveniencing her email recipients. Let's move on to an important staple of today's email frustrations: the chain letter.

3. Chain mail. Maybe it's our helpful human nature, but something about the words "Forward this to everyone you know!" turns even the most reasonable person into an email-forwarding machine.

• Sometimes we helpfully forward stuff that's just not true. The website Snopes.com is an excellent resource for checking to see if you're reading fact or fiction. Like Mom 102 says, "They do the research for me so I don't say too many stupid things."
• It may have been true... several years ago. Mars passed very close to earth in August - of 2003. Cold medications with PPA were recalled - in 2000. Sending out an email alert about them now is a little silly.
• What good is signing that email petition really going to do? Who's going to collect all those names and make sure they're legitimate? Are you sure they're getting to someone who can change policy?

Solution - when in doubt, don't. "Forward this to everyone you know!" is a code phrase for "Please let this email die." Unless you're dealing with something you know to be legitimate, passing on chain letters, petitions, and urban legends really sort of misplaces what could otherwise be well-spent energy. If you want to make a change, then call your congress critter or volunteer somewhere.

Posted by Dee | tagged: chain mail, netiquette