Comments on: Why Do People Insist On Forwarding Those Annoying Email Chain Letters?

By: A J

A J — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 08:12:01 +0000

I once had a relationship go sour because I told the lady in question I deleted the chain e-letters she sent me. We parted not long after. Was it one of the *curses* working? No. Afterward, I counted it a blessing!

By: Taylor

Taylor — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:46:56 +0000

LOL. that iz funny “the minute she hit that button her mother-in-law called and said she couldnt make it 4 dinner” hilarious i dont beive in thoes tthere retarded i didnt do one and it said a lil girl will kill u at night nd HELLO im still alive

By: Fonix

Fonix — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 01:39:53 +0000

Oh man this is too funny. I think you just made my whole Friday.
By the way I forwarded your URL and not only was I not met with good fortune, I burnt my dinner. WTF?

By: Susan Brooks

Susan Brooks — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 17:48:33 +0000

Although some of them are quite tempting, I just delete them and let the offender know I don’t forward chain letters of any nature–hard copy or email. Some of them keep sending them anyway, so I send the letter back with a “gentle” reminder.

By: Tracy Gilliam

Tracy Gilliam — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 15:53:29 +0000

Hi Jenny,
I found your article/blog posted on LinkedIn.com and chuckled! What a twist on the daily hum-drums of suburbia’s jungle.

What most of us don’t realize about email forwards is that clever marketing people are on the other end just waiting to strip your address book from the stmp lines (or is it smtp?).

I learned this long ago when the Internet was young. I purchased some stealth email software and begin sending a million emails out (addresses provided of course in the software). If you have the emails copy pasted, you can hit the send button and literally reach millions of boxes within one hour. For about 10 minutes, I was having a great time watching the software send my message to the first 10,000 people. And then of course, my server figured out the volume traffic and shut me down.

The software sellers hadn’t disclosed that spamming was illegal.
LOL! What a waste of money, but now I always forward email to friends with the blind carbon copy, so the stealth boys can’t strip their address book.

Today, these hackers are even smarter and they prey on the chain letter. It’s a guarantee to circulate through the Internet for years through our collective fear syndrome.

Look me up sometime. I am a at home mom in Arlington, TN- lots of camouflage down here- could definitely tell you a few stories!

Tracy W Gilliam

By: Anne Louise Bannon

Anne Louise Bannon — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 01:15:00 +0000

This was only too funny. I have a very dear and elderly friend who is a mass offender, most of them sick-sweet prayers that promise great wealth if I spread it and if I don’t, I’m just being selfish and un-Christian. I know Jesus said make disciples of all peoples, but I don’t think He meant annoy everyone with gooey e-mails. Sadly, I can’t really tell my friend not to e-mail me without hurting her feelings, which I’d rather not do. Thank God for the delete button.

By: Morf

Morf — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 18:47:10 +0000

Now I finally understand why the economy is such a mess – all those $10 million checks never got picked up.

I got one chain letter that ended with “The Marines want you to forward this to everyone you know”.

If they call out the Marines to enforce forwarding, you know how serious it really is…

By: Andrea

Andrea — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 01:02:08 +0000

My stepfather is always sending me those damn emails! Whenever I see his email address in my inbox DELETE DELETE DELETE!!!

By: Vonii

Vonii — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:58:18 +0000

Jenny, just have to say that I LOVED this! Really creative spin on something most people despise. Made me LOL!

By: Judith

Judith — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 00:15:25 +0000

Your poll in the right hand column is incomplete. When I get one of these things, I return it to sender with this comment:

“My email is for personal business and business use only. I never participate in forwards, but thank you for thinking of me.”

Generally they get the hint. And I NEVER participate which in itself is a deterrent.

By: Carol @SheLives

Carol @SheLives — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 15:15:18 +0000

Yeah, I love reading those forward things, checking out Snopes, then replying to the sender that it’s a hoax/urban legend/whatever.

I never read the ones with cutsey little butterflies and kittens and country gingham.

I’ve probably forwarded 3 in the past 12 months that were exceptionally good. Which probably explains why I haven’t won the lottery yet. Or bought a ticket.

The delete button is my bff.

By: Lauren

Lauren — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 00:14:13 +0000

Very funny – and spot on. My favorite is the heart-warming stories that usually come with a picture of a large-eyed kitten, or describe an encounter with a spiritually advanced homeless man with body odor and an inspiring message of hope and goodwill.