<p>In my area, the most technologically proficient tend to be liberals. Come to think of it, the most everything in my area tends to be liberal. I do live in NYC, you know!</p>
<p>The hands-down most whacked out, freakishly dishonest, utterly paranoid email forwarder I ever dealt with was a former co-worker who sent his conspiracy theories (he was a 9/11 truther) to most people in our law firm. Eventually he was pushed out of the firm and went on to be one of the most widely-read bloggers at a very prominent national magazine. He’s still paranoid and crazy as a coot, but the luster of the magazine gives him a certain credibility that no one would grant upon meeting him. I can’t tell you how many people over the years have said “that’s HIM?” in disgust.</p>
<p>I think the point about technically adept is that most more technically proficient people don’t reflexively hit the “forward all” button. that this use of technology is actually kind of hick.</p>
<p>I guess it all depends on who you run around with, garland! Also, whether you’re willing to tell people to stop sending you objectionable material, or whether you understand that there are whack-jobs of every possible persuasion.</p>
<p>My recent resolution for myself is to politely and firmly point out to the speaker/forwarder that I don’t agree with and don’t choose to tolerate speech which violates my personal code of ethics. Last Friday, one of my closest friends said something so utterly offensive and racist that I physically put my shoulders back, took a breath and told her that I thought she should be ashamed of herself for even holding, never mind articulating, such hateful views. I then requested that she refrain from including me in such conversations in the future. It was tough to look her in the eye, but I have absolutely no problem with telling people to stop forwarding nonsense to me. But I would rather be blunt than offended. Of course, I’m sure there are people who are secretly delighted to have such dubious confirmation of their own unsavory views of a lot of the population. It then becomes fun, rather than offensive, you know? (Big dramatic sigh, “I’m so put upon being the only smart/decent person, but whatever shall I do?” while loving every word.)</p>
<p>“If they included a self stamped envelope, it was mailed back to them asking them to remove her name.”</p>
<p>I fill the postage paid envelopes with heavy stuff and send it back to them - I like the idea of people I disagree with paying postage to receive my recycling.</p>
<p>Hmmm. Apparently I am distantly related to many of you - since we share the same crazy old conservative uncle who completely disregards my Snopes rebuttals.</p>
<p>Scout, what would stop you from either asking him to not be included in the list of people to whom he forwards things, or to simply not open the forwarded emails?</p>
<p>I only wish my crazy uncle were functional enough to hold political views! His emails are barely coherent. At least the conspiracy theorists are capable of formulating a theory (or at least understanding it enough to agree with it).</p>
<p>I swear I have the craziest extended family of all. I remember a thread a while ago in which we posted some crazy relatives stories.</p>
<p>I’ve tried that to no avail. I STILL get email from him almost every day. Here’s the kicker - I’ve only met him once. Years ago he helped me with some genealogy questions I had, and apparently this is my penance.</p>
<p>When Bush was pres I got crazy political emails from one group, now I get them from the other group. I ignore them all. I also ignore angels & blessings & candles & anything that requires a forward to others. I don’t even read them.</p>
<p>My Dad & FIL both have tended to email forward junk, since they are on each others email lists, Dad would get whatever cute You Tube video, pass it on to me, my kids, FIL, etc. A few days later FIL reads his email and forwards that same video to me, my kids, Dad, etc. Sometimes a week later Dad would forward it again ;)</p>
<p>I do remember when I was brand new to email in the early 90s and being so pleased to read and forward jokes, it seemed so fun & magical. So, I try not to be too jaded in my attitude to FIL & Dad!</p>
<p>I personally don’t think FB is the place for my politics or my religion and ignore people who post that stuff, too. One of my friends & his sister are rabidly opposite in their political views and they have knock down drag out hostile political discussions…on facebook!</p>
<p>I have one relative on FB who posts incredibly fundamentalist christian tracts all the time, accompanied by pictures of sacramental candles.</p>
<p>I have another who posts communist manifestos.</p>
<p>I have one who posts rabid sports related material</p>
<p>and one who brags so consistently about his children that I’m embarrased both for him and for them.</p>
<p>the only group emails I get are of stupid jokes. All my friends know I loooooove stupid jokes. Knock-knock, whose there? Olive. Olive who? Olive you. </p>
<p>But, I don’t forward those along to anyone besides my children. I’m not sure if they find them humorous or find the fact that I find them humorous humorous. Oh well. The older we get…</p>