[kate42]

I finally got sick of the email forwards from the in-laws. You know, the racist, bigoted, unsubstantiated ones. The ones they know perfectly well don't fit into our family's values.<br><br>
So, I very politely asked them to stop sending these sorts of messages to us as we are not interested in reading them.<br><br>
Who has done this and how bad is the backlash? DH has tried before to steer them away from this but has not been blunt. They need blunt, which is where I come in. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[hillymum]

My MIL did stop when I asked her to remove me from her list. No backlash! I just told her I never read them and if I did I found them offensive and didn't want to feel that way about her.

 

[MariesMama]

Most people don't take offense to others asking them to stop that kind of behavior - they just ignore it and keep sending the crap.<br><br>
My dad sends me forwards that I don't care to read. I have a rule set up in my Gmail just for him. If it's from him and includes FW: in the subject, it goes right to the trash and I never see it. When he asks about them, I say I never got the messages and change the subject.<br><br>
Kind of a wussy way out, but it works for me.

 

[kate42]

If I get any backlash, I've decided to hold my ground and simply tell them if I see the FWD: FWD: FWD: in the subject line, it's getting automatically deleted.<br><br>
DH was late for work this morning because he spent so long debunking the lastest missive. He was angry as all get out when he finally left. He has tried and tried to show them how hateful and fear-mongering these things are, but they just keep sending them.<br><br>
So, he told me to see what I can do. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">

 

[philomom]

Honestly, I just hit the delete button. I can't take time from my day to read about how immigrants ruined this country or that Obama is still a Muslim.<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">

 

[kate42]

If we were smart, we would have just deleted upon receipt. Instead, we engaged and tried to educate...lots of stress and no results. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/irked.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="irked">

 

[Mummoth]

If being rational doesn't work, maybe acting like a crazy person will. You could forward them all straight back... ohh, I don't know.... 10 times? Maybe they'll find having their inbox flooded with multiple identical emails that they've already read bothersome. And if they ask you to stop you can say "Well, if I don't get them in the first place, I can't send them back. It's up to you!"

 

[EFmom]

I've found that if it's something I can find quickly on Snopes, and do a 'reply to all' the forwards stop pretty quickly because the sender looks like an idiot to a large group of people.

 

[~ Wonderful Life ~]

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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>EFmom</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15390510"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I've found that if it's something I can find quickly on Snopes, and do a 'reply to all' the forwards stop pretty quickly because the sender looks like an idiot to a large group of people.</div>
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<br>
This works *extremely* well! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin"><br><br>
Most of those emails can be very quickly debunked.

 

[kate42]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
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<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>EFmom</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15390510"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I've found that if it's something I can find quickly on Snopes, and do a 'reply to all' the forwards stop pretty quickly because the sender looks like an idiot to a large group of people.</div>
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That's what DH has been doing! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile"><br><br>
Here's a funny...I have since gotten an email from the original sender (who sent it to the ILs) saying that she doesn't appreciate our comments and to take her off of our mail list. Apparently the ILs forwarded our responses back to the whole group. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll">

 

[ChristyMarie]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>~ Wonderful Life ~</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15390722"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">This works *extremely* well! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin"><br><br>
Most of those emails can be very quickly debunked.</div>
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Very well indeed. I highly suggest it as a solution. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up"><br><br>
My husband's solution is that for every one he receives, he'll send three of an opposing view to the offender. That works too but takes more time.

 

[philomom]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>EFmom</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15390510"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I've found that if it's something I can find quickly on Snopes, and do a 'reply to all' the forwards stop pretty quickly because the sender looks like an idiot to a large group of people.</div>
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This is what my husband does to his mom's emails. It infuriates her but she still sends this crap. sigh.

 

[lynsage]

I ignore it if it's offensive but non-disprovable (like the one about the bear eating the atheist....AAAARGH), but if it's based on supposed facts or wacky allegations, I do the "reply all" with the Snopes page treatment <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngtongue.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Stick Out Tongue"><br><br>
Is "non-disprovable" a word? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/redface.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Embarrassment">

 

[kate42]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
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<div>Originally Posted by <strong>ChristyMarie</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15391356"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">My husband's solution is that for every one he receives, he'll send three of an opposing view to the offender. That works too but takes more time.</div>
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That's it! If we keep getting them, I will send back three actual links to articles refuting them. Sweet!

 

[Arianwen1174]

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<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Mummoth</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15390462"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">If being rational doesn't work, maybe acting like a crazy person will. You could forward them all straight back... ohh, I don't know.... 10 times? Maybe they'll find having their inbox flooded with multiple identical emails that they've already read bothersome. And if they ask you to stop you can say "Well, if I don't get them in the first place, I can't send them back. It's up to you!"</div>
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Brilliant!<br><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>EFmom</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15390510"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">I've found that if it's something I can find quickly on Snopes, and do a 'reply to all' the forwards stop pretty quickly because the sender looks like an idiot to a large group of people.</div>
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<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/yeahthat.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="yeah that"><br><br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>ChristyMarie</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15391356"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">My husband's solution is that for every one he receives, he'll send three of an opposing view to the offender. That works too but takes more time.</div>
</td>
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Another brilliant!<br><br>
I'm so glad I read this thread and I'm totally remembering these suggestions.

 

[accountclosed3]

i did a send to all and linked and quoted snopes on a given issue.<br><br>
essentially what the email said was "hi all!<br><br>
instead of getting hysterical and forwarding false emails, check snopes.com before you forward!<br><br>
on this issue, snopes says "quoted (link)."<br><br>
they were very embarrassed, said something to DH and i never got another forward from them.<br><br>
and apparently, DH's father decided to check snopes after a few more forwards from his friends, and realized that 100% of forwards over two weeks were all false, and yet everyone was in hysterics about it, and so he sent it forward to his friends.<br><br>
so now, they don't get crazy forwards either. except christian ones with kittens and such. which MIL stopped sending to me as well, when i told her that they give me a headache.

 

[kennedy444]

My SIL sends me this junk all the time. Even if I asked nicely to stop sending them she would take offense so I just delete all her emails and don't say anything. Ya know...just trying to keep some family peace<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">

 

[Carhootel]

I get this stuff from some "friends" all the time - I figure it's easy for me to hit the delete key so I never both reading it or saying anything. I hope your IL's stop sending them and your directness pays off <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="smile">

 

[Kidzaplenty]

When I informed my family that I no longer was interested in recieveing their "forwards, of forwards, of forwards..." most just politely stopped. With the exception of my Mom who sent me a long email telling me how she did not like "FW,FW,FW..." and how she was not sending them to me. She then proceeded to send me two more within three days! I got to where I just blocked her email for a while. Now, she does not email me hardly at all, and usually ignores when I email her.

 

[josie423]

I asked my MIL to take me off her list and she did. No backlash. She sneaks them in every now and then, I'm debating whether or not to ask her to stop again...<br><br>
I've done the Snopes reply as well! It works great! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/thumb.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="thumbs up">