What is it with people who send dire warnings through email?

My dad's SO has a habit of sending me (and everyone else on her distribution list) these dire warnings about all different kinds of stuff. A while back she sent me this warning about diseased bark mulch and I sent her the Snopes link debunking it. She thanked me and said, well it really sounded true.

Now she has sent me an email about hotel room cards, again debunked on Snopes. I haven't responded to her email.

I really like her but I don't get why she would send these emails out without even checking to see if they're true. Do I have a duty to send the debunking so she doesn't worry about this or is she just going to think I'm a smart ass?

I just don't understand the motivation for getting people all worked about something that is either a.) not a problem at all OR b.) so remote a problem it isn't worth the time/effort to worry about it.

until I started responding (to the entire distribution list) with references to Snopes and comments to the effect that it would be nice if people would take a few minutes to do a little research before forwarding unsubstantiated rumors to the whole damn universe. After awhile I stopped getting them.

I'd suggest doing the same. Maybe she'll get the hint.

to see if she's really worried about it and give her the Snopes and Pasadena police info.

Maybe I'm weird but I think if you pass a story along you are vouching for that story's credibility at least to the best of your knowledge.

and like you, I sent the Snopes rebuttal to the entire distribution list. She now sends these emails out but uses the BCC line for addresses so "reply all" doesn't get the word out that her stores, unsually anti-Clinton, are bullshit.

On the other hand, my nephew learned about Snopes. He loves it and debunks his mom's stuff on his own so at least he isn't duped.

And is kind of fun too! :D

my father did too. He sent me something several pages long, telling me I was at risk of being raped and how to avoid it. :wtf: As crazy as it was, I was touched because my father is not one to express affection or concern for me, and I think that's what he was trying to do with his email!

It doesn't occur to them that if these things were happening with the frequency claimed in the emails, it would be legitimate news, and no one would have to be "warned" through an email.

I remember distinctly the first warning I received. I was about to travel to Orlando on business, and I received a well-meaning warning about the black market ring of kidney thieves.

my mother also sends a lot of crap emails that I either ignore or look up and chuckle that it's fake. I had never told her about snopes because I didn't want to hurt her feelings. but when she just sent one along that was true, I wrote to her and said something like "do you know about snopes? most of the email tales going around are crap but this one is actually true." that way I didn't hurt her feelings.

now if I could only work up the nerve to do the same to my MIL...

been forwarded a million times from people I don't know.

I finally told her I don't open attachments unless I trust the original sender. I think she was insulted. :crazy: