Was I too harsh? How do you respond to chain mail?

[Bryophyte]

So we got this chain mail (the one with "READ ALONE.....ESPECIALLY THE POEM" for a subject) from my husband's cousin (she is one of those women that define "dumb blonde") that, after you get beyond all the forwarding headers and struggle through the endless >>> and bad formatting, basically tells the reader that you'll either die or cause your dearly beloved to die if you don't forward it to everyone in your address book. This same cousin is prone to sending hoax type emails, and I thought I'd broken her of this crap, but she's started in again with chain letters (those harmless but irritating friendship ones where you send it back, etc and now this threatening one.)

So I replied, in part with this:

"Please don't ever send us chain letters that contain threats --whether direct or implied-- again. I do not forward crap like this. People do not die because they do not forward chain mail. This kind of thing really pisses me off. Those "friendship" chains are bad enough, but at least they don't resort to violence. If you want affirmation of a friendship, don't just blindly pass on these chain letters, actually sit down and compose a personalized letter all by yourself. It's much more meaningful and doesn't waste anyone's time or clog up their inbox with meaningless drivel."

So, do you think I was too harsh? How do you deal with that one person you know that forwards everything he/she gets to everyone? She is one of the few relatives on that side of the family that I can actually stand to be around at reunions, but damn, is she dense.

 

Woah, I think you came down too hard! Just set up a filter in your inbox for that kind of stuff!

 

[Queasy]

Hehe. I don't think she'll be hanging around with you at reunions anymore.

 

[Kaervak]

I politely tell people not to send me any chain letters again, I give them another couple of chances and I politely tell them not to do it again. After that I let them know I'm annoyed with them.. If they can't understand the basic concept of no I don't want this crap sent to me ever again and they keep sending it, I'm not going to be civil with them.

 

[dighn]

i ignore them. fortunately i dont get them anymore.

 

[BillGates]

I hope you hit reply to all when you sent that. Some people are morons and need something like that to make them realize that they're pissing everybody off.

 

[Bryophyte]

But why is it ok for her to act like an ass, and I have to sit back and take it, and not ok for me to respond honestly?

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: BillGates
I hope you hit reply to all when you sent that. Some people are morons and need something like that to make them realize that they're pissing everybody off.

I did that once. This minister who got our email address from a relatives' address book started spamming us with religious drivel. I asked once nicely to remove us from his address book and never contact us again. I asked a second time more forcefully, then on the third instance, I replied to all, and also included abuse@hisisp.xxx and got him kicked off his isp.

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: Kaervak
I politely tell people not to send me any chain letters again, I give them another couple of chances and I politely tell them not to do it again. After that I let them know I'm annoyed with them.. If they can't understand the basic concept of no I don't want this crap sent to me ever again and they keep sending it, I'm not going to be civil with them.

Thing is, we have dealt with this politely with her already. I guess I just lost my temper this time. I don't really regret sending it, but I dread our next meeting, whenever it might be.

 

[olds]

I just block them. They never send anything of importance anyway.

 

[y2kc]

Couldn't have said it better myself. I say it was an appropriate response considering the tone of the letter.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I use a bodkin, but blunt weapons are also effective.

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
I use a bodkin, but blunt weapons are also effective.

:Q

 

[DaveSimmons]

"How do you respond to chain mail?"

Chain mail

arrowhead - bodkin point

a needlepoint / stilleto dagger was also called a bodkin, their points would slip between the links of chain mail, unlike a wider bladed dagger.

 

[Hammer]

pee on her

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
"How do you respond to chain mail?"

Chain mail

arrowhead - bodkin point

a needlepoint / stilleto dagger was also called a bodkin, their points would slip between the links of chain mail, unlike a wider bladed dagger.

Sorry, I'm slow today. That's really funny.

 

[StageLeft]

Probably not too hard. I hate those things and seemingly intelligent people often send them. People should fvcking stop.

 

[Nitemare]

I think you went too easy on her.

A correct response would be to show up at her place with a sledge hammer and destroy the offending computer

 

[alkemyst]

I just break out the mac10, plastic wrap, shovel, find a pool under construction.....go back and clean up the mess.

Wait until the milk carton comes out, and add it to my shelf.

 

[Bryophyte]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Probably not too hard. I hate those things and seemingly intelligent people often send them. People should fvcking stop.

Well, in this case, nobody is going to mistake her for an intelligent person. Hehe

 

[Bryophyte]

I don't think she'll be sending me any more chain mail. She actually responded:

"sorry I wasn't trying to hurt any one.
Andrea"

 

[BurnItDwn]

I personally punch people in the throat. You are too nice.

 

[FoBoT]

"crap like this"
"really pisses me off."


those parts were a bit harsh, i guess it depends on your relationship with her

 

[Yossarian]

For me at least when someone sends a lot of those chain emails it really lowers my opinion of them. I think, wow, have they really been this much of an idiot all along?

 

[xSauronx]

Originally posted by: jumpr
Woah, I think you came down too hard! Just set up a filter in your inbox for that kind of stuff!

filter? hah! block the address
i dont give my address to family members because they all do that sort of thing, except my dad, who has alot of trouble figuring out email for some reason.