Chain Mail
I’m getting a lot of forwarded emails lately. Like, a TON of them. It feels like a whole crop of folks in my life have suddenly discovered the Age of Angelfire.
I remember when I got a chain letter in about 1985. It seemed like a good idea. It was novel, if only to see where you might get responses back from. Turns out, nobody wanted forwarded messages in 1985 either.
In case you’re having trouble distinguishing between the vital pieces of information that friends forward to you (there is an entire discussion wrapped around whether friends even use the forward button in their mail client, but . . .another day) and those pieces of inspirational informational spiritual political satirical mail that fill your inbox, here are some things to look for, when trying to decide if its worth your time.
1. Background images. Really? Flowers?
2. 65 pt Comic Sans and other typographic atrocities
3. Enough email addresses and names in the various chains of forwards to start your own direct mail company
4. FW:(FW:FW:FW:FW:FW:)[FW:MUST READ]FWD:
5. Keywords: Bush, Obama, Lucky, Prayer, Funny, Interesting
On and on.
That forward button? The one you’re thinking about using? don’t do it.