Depression Understood Forums

Just passing it on in case it is 'Good Information'

The man that sent this information is a computer tech. He spends a lot of time clearing the junk off computers for people and listens to complaints about speed. All forwards are not bad, just some. Be sure you read the very last paragraph.
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He wrote:
By now, I suspect everyone is familiar with snopes.com and/or truthorfiction.com for determining whether information received via email is just that: true/false or fact/fiction. Both are excellent sites.

Advice from snopes.com VERY IMPORTANT!!
1) Any time you see an email that says "forward this on to '10' (or however many) of your friends", "sign this petition", or "you'll get bad luck" or "you'll get good luck" or "you'll see something funny on your screen after you send it" or whatever --- it almost always has an email tracker program attached that tracks the cookies and emails of those folks you forward to. The host sender is getting a copy each time it gets forwarded and then is able to get lists of 'active' email addresses to use in SPAM emails or sell to other spammers. Even when you get emails that demand you send the email on if you're not ashamed of God/Jesus --- that is email tracking, and they are playing on our conscience. These people don't care how they get your email addresses - just as long as they get them. Also, emails that talk about a missing child or a child with an incurable disease "how would you feel if that was your child" --- email tracking. Ignore them and don't participate!

2) Almost all emails that ask you to add your name and forward on to others are similar to that mass letter years ago that asked people to send business cards to the little kid in Florida who wanted to break the Guinness Book of Records for the most cards. All it was, and all any of this type of email is, is a way to get names and 'cookie' tracking information for telemarketers and spammers -- to validate active email accounts for their own profitable purposes.

You can do your Friends and Family members a GREAT favor by sending this information to them. You will be providing a service to your friends. And you will be rewarded by not getting thousands of spam emails in the future!

Do yourself a favor and STOP adding your name(s) to those types of listing regardless how inviting they might sound! Or make you feel guilty if you don't! Its all about getting email addresses and nothing more. You may think you are supporting a GREAT cause, but you are NOT! Instead, you will be getting tons of junk mail later and very possibly a virus attached! Plus, we are helping the spammers get rich! Let's not make it easy for them!

ALSO: Email petitions are NOT acceptable to Congress of any other organization - i.e. social security, etc. To be acceptable, petitions must have a "signed signature" and full address of the person signing the petition, so this is a waste of time.

Warmie

I would disagree somewhat with the statement that petitions/email action networks are a waste of time...If you join a LEGITIMATE, RESPECTED organization that has an action network, they do in fact have all your information they provide to Congress, the UN, etc. I have gotten replies back from the White House for instance, in the mail, in response to email action alert efforts...often these "petitions" are more in the form of letters you can adapt, personalize, etc. The only thing is, is contacting leaders about ANYTHING or in ANYWAY SHAPE OR FORM effective? I think sometimes so...Action alerts often have you phone your leadership, whatever, it is the volume of the outcry about a particular issue that may sway politicians or others in some cases. So, I still think from what I have witnessed some of it does make a difference. Not all, but it is one component of igniting positive change. When a politician gets bombarded with a pro- or con- sentiment of constituents, in whatever form, you know they might factor it into thoughts about re-election chances and votes and such.

((((((((((((((((((( Shattered ))))))))))))))))))

All you said is true, think they meant the emails you get just wanted you to add your name.

I don't know if all that is good information, but in case it was I wanted to share.

Warmie

((((((((((warmie)))))))))) people do have to be careful though, because sometimes "petitions" and "surveys" via e-mail or direct mail sent via postal service is really just to hook you into donating money...and if you do sign up for an action alert network (or donate by email or direct mail), you need to make sure they don't share your information or you will get tons of junk mail from every charity on earth! But some of these action networks have actually contacted me about organizing meetings with Congressional staff and such about issues, and I know for instance some have helped, been a small part of, pushing an issue forward or stopping an issue I cared about. I have gotten return emails from legislators and in my regular mail in response. Do they read each and every letter? Nope! They don't even read every letter that comes in hard copy, some intern or legislative correspondent just sees what its about and sends boilerplate language on the topic most of the time if you are average constituent. (I know this because I worked on Capitol Hill for a year). But trust me, when they get tons of messages, letters, phone calls, petitions, protests going on about an issue, they DO feel the pressure.

(((((((((((((((((( Shattered ))))))))))))))))))

Thank you

You taught me something. I honestly didn't know if this post was good information, but just wanted to share for that 'just in case'.

To stop junk mail is or would be great, that was my thoughts.

Warmie