Break the Chain: Don't Forward that E-Mail

Are chain e-mails clogging up your in-box like the toilet drain in a truck-stop bathroom? You can flush your troubles down the drain if you just do not hit that forward button. There is a saying that a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link - Author Unknown. Well, when it comes to those annoying chain e-mails, I am the weakest link - goodbye! I will no longer forward these messages, even if they threaten that my pantyhose will roll down to my ankles while I am walking down the wedding aisle.

I know your Mother sent you an email with inspirational sayings about strong women. You were supposed to forward it to ten of your friends and copy her back if you really cared. Just because someone guilt tripped your mother into forwarding that e-mail, doesn't mean you have to follow suit. Be a "real" strong woman and ignore it ! Then send Mom a real email with details about your life and remembering the good times you've shared together. Somewhere in the real email to Mom, tell her you do not respond to junk e-mails because you think they spread like cancer and choke the life out of your in-box. Keep it light and funny and your Mom will probably laugh with you.

If you're not sure what e-mails to delete first - start with the ones that begin with "FW" in the subject line. This means you are receiving a forwarded email. Ninety percent of the time an e-mail with "FW" from certain people will be a waste of 15 valuable seconds of your life. If you are stuck in the "guilt and fear" trap of forwarding chain e-mails, you are not alone. It is obvious that an e-mail stating you will have seven years of bad luck, is a message that exploits people who fear bad mojo if they do not follow directions.

Then there are the people who feel guilty for never communicating with you. These people will only send an occasional forwarded message as a means of staying in contact. You will notice your name is in a long list of people they are avoiding. These messages may or may not require a response, and usually an annoying waste of time.

Now get some courage and hit the delete key before you waste your precious time on chain e-mails that add no value to your life. If someone does not listen to your request to stop sending you junk mail, simply tell them you have set up an account for personal mail; then never log into that junk mail account. Mom knows how to get a hold of you if it's a real emergency.