How to Send Smart E-mails - Just Because You Don't Write it Doesn't Mean You Are Free of Ownership

I think everyone can admit to the fact that sitting at a computer provides a person with a certain amount of anonymity. I think most people have sent or received an email that was shocking in one aspect or another. I have recently begun to receive more and more politically based email's. I think this is pretty common with the upcoming elections. What I find disturbing ,however, is the way in which the email's are written and forwarded.

I have very strong opinions; however, no matter how much I disagree with someone I always uphold another person's right to their opinions. What I do not uphold is runaway rants disguised as political fact that is then passed from person to person as if it was full of solid, reliable information. I have responded in equal tones to the email's I have received and the senders are more often than not highly offended (how are you offended that you offended me?), but usually the first response is "Well I didn't write the email". Well, I am here to tell you that if you forward an email you pretty much can consider yourself the author of it.

Here are some suggestions and recommendations for smart, successful email:

1.) Do not forward every single joke you get to everyone in your address book.
This is not only incredibly annoying to the receiver but it does not, as you may think, make them feel like you were thinking of them. Instead, you are just forcing them to click on a half dozen email's, that, most often are not even that interesting. I know I have personally begun to simply hit "delete" when I receive a slew of forwards.

2) Check your facts! Use snopes.com or www.truthorfiction.com to research email's. These sites are fantastic for correcting or discrediting bad email's. If the information does not appear on one of those sites try a news site or Wikipedia which will at least give you some basic information and other sources. Make sure you are passing on truths, not lies or mis-information. Otherwise, your not only doing your friends a disservice but you could be hurting them in some way. I have received one particular email multiple times about punching #77 into a cell phone in an emergency; but, this only works in certain states and cities so while a person could have dialed 911 they are randomly calling the wrong state.

3) Before you hit forward on a political or religious email think about who you are sending it to and why. Are you doing this to share something factual and meaningful? Do you think they will agree and enjoy this email? It is not your job to educate and change the opinions of everyone around you with a poorly written forward that contains no solid basis in it. If you really feel the need to try to persuade someone to your view point, a forward is not the way to do it. Instead try picking up the phone and calling them to engage in a discussion or buy them a book you find interesting. Remember your goal should be fact not emotion when having a political or faith centered discussion.

4) Read the email you are writing or forwarding out loud. Imagine the person you are sending it to is standing in front of you. Or if its one of those "lets get the xyz group" imagine you were in an auditorium. Would you say this out loud? If not then delete it. If you feel so strongly about the subject write a well articulated article on Associated Content! Do not just forward an email that only has a goal of stirring someone up into a frenzy. These email's are easily spotted. When the email contains generalizations such as "Written by a New Jersey House Wife" or "A girl was on her way to the prom when she did xyz and now shes dead" think for a second if you think any of these things actually happened. If the person died how do we know they did this certain thing first? Read the email carefully are the statements emotional ? Are they factual? Is the overall email one long negative rant? Why are you forwarding it?

5) Do not think that just because you hit forward and send it means you have no responsibility for the email. When you send an email you take on the subject for yourself, you are projecting those thoughts and opinions as your own and if your email says "I don't care if group XYZ dies or shuts up as long as I get my way" realize you are not helping your cause and instead are putting yourself in a bad light.

6) Finally if you must send a forward at the very least delete all the garbage that is not related to the email such as all the other addresses and line breaks. Plus in consideration of other peoples privacy use the 'bcc' option so that you are not helping to add their email address to a virus somewhere or spam machine.

These are just a few etiquette rules to follow when sending email's to your friends and family. Trust me you will make other peoples email reading much more enjoyable this way and make what you do send hold more value. Happy surfing!