Internet forwards are the instrument for stupid men/women jokes.

RONAN YOU MIGHTY WHITE BUCK...COME STRANGLY UNTO MY AROMALAND

One of my friends has a penchant for forwarding the stupidest stuff to EVERYONE he's ever e-mailed (high school alum, family, co-workers, neighbors, state representatives, movie stars). Once, one of the folks took excessive umbrage @ being included in his e-mail chain letter from Hell and flamed him (CCing the recipient list from the chain letter). A flame was returned (again, CCed). This continued until someone suggested removing us from their little meeting of the minds, since such an exchange constituted spam.

My friend responded by e-mailing everyone w/ the definition of spam, which set off another round of flaming. Woo doggie.

There should be an e-mail competency test given to folks w/ web access. Do you know how to blind CC? Do you know how to delete extemporaneous text from a forwarded e-mail? Do you know the difference between "important information" and "stupid New Age advice"? Do you know how to send e-mail to JUST ONE PERSON?

Serial spammers should have their "friends" retaliate by spamming their telephone answering machines w/ similar stupidities.

One more thing - NO MORE SURVEYS! That is, unless there's a question included, like: "Who's the most likely to read you the riot act for forwarding them a dumb shit survey they've no time to answer, you stupid hippie?"

I was thinking about posting a thread on this today. For some terrible reason, my (happily married) brother seems to find these things hilarious, despite his having a really good sense of humour in all other respects.