BCC Me

I got one of those giant group emails recently.  It was a story I heard in the past many times over.  I think it might be in one of the Chicken Soup books. 

When I received it I was told that it was ‘National Friendship Week,’ and that the writer believes “God puts people in our lives for many reasons but especially for friendship.” And “Friends are angels bluh bluh bluh… tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift,” and so forth and so on. 

Sentiment appreciated.

Then the last line just made me laugh: “Blind copying for privacy reasons.”

I replied, “this gave me a laugh re: blind copying… how far we have strayed!!” I went on to say that the irony of having sugar sweet commands ordering that we shoot out the same email to ten people, and at the same time babysitting mistrust was laughable in a sad way.

The sender was defensive about my reply and explained that within this sticky message there was, above and beyond the need to Blind Copy in order to protect people’s super important (my words) email addresses.  She made the point that people are appreciative when their emails are cloaked.

“THIS WAS NOT MISTRUST!” (thinking that means yelling?).  It is a courtesy to friends who have asked or thanked me for writing a BCC list”

OK so I totally get this point.  But I was not allowed to laugh?  It was not personal, more just in line with how ridiculous a species we are overall.  You want to give out good stuff for no other reason, than you are the exception, a Mother Theresa incarnate.  It is likely I am now off that group email list for making an observation.

We are supposed to accept a sweet offering in spite of any suspicions just to be nice, proper, correct or to fit in with the largest group.  Maybe we just want what is being offered too.  The majority of us offer things in order to get something in return even if the gift comes in the form of encouragement.  Once the desired outcome is not reached, 9 times out of 10 the gift-giver high tails it.

Read about the Milgram obedience experiments and you will see to what lengths we might go just to fit in with the tribe.  It makes sense.  This way you won’t become ostracized from the pack and you can blend into a nice BCC life.

Comments

[Shirley]

This cracks me up. I've never done the BCC thing first off......and I agree it's odd when these things come thru with all the "mystery" about who sent it and where it's going to. Good intentions...........I know.....but usually with "conditions" like "Send this on to 10 people or you will have bad luck"...what's up with that?? Pretty sparkly angels, hearts and the like....really pretty, but I'd prefer something more personal myself. To start out with all the well wishes and end it with an "or else". I receive them, appreciate the gesture, but then DELETE it.....most people I correspond with don't care for them. Each to their own!

[Chris]

I agree with you Shirley. I delete most of them, but on occasion may forward one on. Not because I'm afraid of bad luck, but rather because I like the photo(s) or message. I don't think I even know how to BCC!!

[JB]

i delete, too.. no loss Luc, how ridiculous to lock caps for that. i am sure you laughed it off, as you should! ; )

[El]

Wouldn't Milgram somehow cross into Pavlov? Arf, arf ! ! !