This morning when I logged onto my computer to check my new mail I had to sigh just a little.

My very dear friend who moved far away finds it necessary to forward any joke or cute pictures she gets from other people.

That's not so bad, but it's the stuff that says I must forward it or I'll be struck by lightning or considered unfriendly, unholy, un-whatever, you can fill it in. It makes me feel guilty deleting the ones that say to forward it back to the sender and six other people to show them how much they are loved. I DO love them I just don't want to forward this stuff that has ten- thousand other names from e-mails with it.

Any comments?

Sure, I'll commment. They drive me nuts!!

I'd rather have two lines from a friend that say, 'Hi, it's raining. I miss you.' Than all the cyber ya ya in the world.

Delete, delete, delete.

{I guess that's why I'm perennially poor; I never forward those things so the million bucks doesn't know where to land. }

Ladybug, I'm glad you brought this up...I was going to ask the same question a few days ago and then forgot. I passionately dislike these "cyber chain letters", especially the ones that tell you to forward it to 10 other people and return to the sender or else...

What's worse is that when I mention to these people that I LOVE to hear from them, but not via these chain letters, they get "huffy" and offended and leave. I've tried to word it kindly, gently, nicely and from the "me" perspective so as not to accuse or make them feel defensive, but it's no use. I've lost two "friendships" over these things.

I know it's simple to delete, but when the chain letter tells me that if I delete it, it proves that I don't love the person who sent it, well, doesn't that make me feel wonderful!

I give up and just delete them now. But if anyone sends them to me, I will continue to ask them not to send this junk, but to please write me and tell me how they really are.

I don't respond to them either - I hate the thought of a friend feeling "unloved" becuz I didn't return the email to them....my angle is...
"oh, gee, all that stuff automatically goes into my junk mail and I don't see it".

I know this isn't the "direct" way to deal with things - but no hurt feelings this way. I just delete, delete, delete.

d.

Yep, me too. Don't even mention it to people just delete it.

With all the people they are sending these things to I really don't think they are going to notice that I didn't respond.

Gee, is that why I haven't gotten my million bucks yet either?

Gee, is that why I hsaven't won the lottery yet?

I delete those too. I didn't do chain letters with snail mail. I don't do email ones either, and I gently disuade anyone from sending them to me. I don't think I've ever lost a friend because of it. At least, not that I know about.

I never forward any of those. On the philosophical side, I believe that much of my fate is in my own hands and not in my willingness to forward an email!

I make one exception: I get a lot of the sappy cutesy stuff from my 12-year-old niece. I hit REPLY and write a short message to her.

Meredith has a soft spot for her niece and I love it. Is she making jewelry yet?

I'm with Meredith on this one. I don't believe inany of that crap! God is in control, not the little buggers running around behind the screen keeping track of who does what!

The only thing I ever forward anymore are cute pictures and/or sayings with animals or old ladies like me, but never answer or send or respond to any chain letter. Heck if i didn't have bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all.

I, too, hate all those forwarded emails. i have a cousin who must sit for hours finding and forwarding the junk. what bothers me is my email address going to so many others. i asked her once to use the BCC on her email and she did for a while but is back to the regular way. i will block her address soon if she doesn't stop.