Coalition Against Forwarded Emails

Tips to Remember When Forwarding

Kiara — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 13:30:05 +0000

Here are a few tips to remember so you can avoid being “that guy” who’s emails always get deleted unread.

Please, please, please think twice before forwarding anything. Ever.
When you’re done with that, think it through a third time.
Is it funny? Maybe, but chances are someone on your contact list won’t share your opinion. Are you prepared for that reaction?
Is it political? Are you 100% positive that the people you’re forwarding to agree with you on this subject? You’re still better off not forwarding it. Trust me.
Ditto #4 on religion.
Is it a warning about something, coupon or offer for something free, or is it offering money or good luck if you forward to X number of people? Use some key words from the email and check out Snopes. Most likely, it will be listed there and will save you from the heaps of embarrassment that is (justly) earned when you forward a hoax.

If it’s not listed on Snopes – remember these two rules:

#1 – You get what you pay for. Microsoft is not going to send you money for forwarding an email (even if there was a technological way to track that, which there is not). So don’t do it!

#2 – If you’re not sure whether you should forward something, it’s best to err on the side of caution. DON’T FORWARD IT! Email may be free in the pocketbook sense, but that doesn’t mean your friends’ and acquaintances’ opinions of you won’t suffer if the only communication they’re receiving from you is a bunch of worthless crap.

Which brings us to bonus rule #3 – It’s okay to forward something occasionally. Most people can find the ‘delete’ button in their email pretty quickly if they don’t want to read it. Just remember to please forward in moderation, and balance your forwards with a real live* email once in a while.

*You know, one of those emails without all the >> at the beginning of each line. One that asks how a person is doing and tells them about how your life’s been.**

** Oh, and one that doesn’t carbon copy every person in your address book for the entire world to see. OK?

NOT an Amber Alert

Kiara — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 22:10:55 +0000

I’ve seen this being passed today on both Twitter and via text messaging.

The message says:

Amber alert 3 yr old boy Isaiah Gomez taken by a man driving a 06 mits eclips CS plate S 98B351 KEEP IT GOING 2 HELP HIm HE IS IN OHIO!

The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s website does not have any current Amber Alerts listed.
The NCMEC’s missing children search (for those alerts that are older than 10 days) also does not list any child by this name.
A Google search does not turn up a single news article with this name.

Please remember to check the information you’ve received before you forward it to your entire contact list. You may think there’s no harm in forwarding everything just in case it isn’t a hoax or mistake; but what if there was a real Amber Alert and someone missed those clues because they were concentrating on a fake one?

This alert could be a hoax, a rumor, or a real situation that has since been resolved. Remember – just because you’re receiving it today does not mean it is current!

Hello Inter Webz

Kiara — Sun, 27 Sep 2009 21:53:02 +0000

Hello, World!

I’m finally going to start this group up.

Tired of hoax Amber Alerts, pointless forwards with promises of cash or free stuff, or those offensive political essays (from either direction!)? Would you like to get the word out that these forwards are spam, hoaxes, or just plain annoying? This site is for you!

I’ll be posting the forwards I receive here for your enjoyment/perusal/knowledge/mockery.