Chain Letter Emails – Even for Recipes – Just Not Ok

The Internet Patrol default featured image
Share the knowledge

Sure, there may be some cool email chain letters, but the reality is that they are still email chain letters, and that’s just not ok. The most recent of the chain emails making the rounds is a Recipe Chain Email Letter. Seems innocent, seems fun, even seems useful. But it’s still chain mail, and it’s still not ok. In fact, it’s spam. Chain mail is illegal in the postal mail system, and it’s just as unwelcome in the Internet email system.

Here is the current recipe chain email:

Recipe Exchange

You are invited to be a part of a recipe exchange.
Please send a recipe to the person whose name is
listed in the number 1 position above (even if you
don’t know them) and it should preferably be something
quick, easy and without rare ingredients. Actually,
the best one is one you know in your head and can type
out and send right now.

Then, copy this letter into a new e-mail, move my name
to the number 1 position and put your name in the
number 2 position. Only my and your name should show
when you send your e-mail. Send to 20 friends. If you
cannot do this within 5 days, let me know so it will
be fair to those participating.

The Internet Patrol is completely free, and reader-supported. Your tips via CashApp, Venmo, or Paypal are appreciated! Receipts will come from ISIPP.

CashApp us Square Cash app link

Venmo us Venmo link

Paypal us Paypal link

You should receive 36 recipes. It’s fun to see where
they come from!!(indicate where you are from – just
for fun)

Seldom does anyone drop out because we can all use new
recipes.

The turn around is fast because only 2 names are on
the list.

Amazingly, people continue to send us chain email, so it’s pretty clear that many people have no idea just how taboo – how unwelcome, it is. The current recipe chain email has found its way to us several times.

So, here’s our recipe to share:

Take one email. Add 20 friends. Annoy the heck out of them. Repeat thousands of times. Waste countless computer cycles, untold bandwidth and hundreds of man hours.

Serve cold, to a lukewarm reception.

Get New Internet Patrol Articles by Email!

The Internet Patrol is completely free, and reader-supported. Your tips via CashApp, Venmo, or Paypal are appreciated! Receipts will come from ISIPP.

CashApp us Square Cash app link

Venmo us Venmo link

Paypal us Paypal link

 


Share the knowledge

4 thoughts on “Chain Letter Emails – Even for Recipes – Just Not Ok

  1. It is comforting to find this site. I have always avoided chain letters since I was a little girl and my mother told me it was illegal. I have always tried to tell people that it is subversive. If everyone really didn’t break the chain the system(internet in this case) would grind to a halt.
    But I find it is often the nice people I know who send me these. I just end up ignoring them because I cannot figure out a nice way to say ‘go to hell’ to them. I want to be nice but when I get into a negative tirade it often runs out of control. In the past I have ended up intimidating people by telling them the ‘way it is’ bluntly about things on the Internet(like chain letters are evil), forgetting they are just ‘regular folks’ and need to be taught how things are supposed to work. They don’t mean harm but they are doing it….. I think I need assertiveness training. But has anyone found a nice way to inform the sender of stuff like this that you don’t want it? TIA

  2. I echo what others have said, and add this.
    Chaim email ranks right up there with religious and political “assumption” email. Some, otherwise intelligent people, assume I believe what they do. This annoys me no end.

  3. well said “indy”, i have a couple of friends who persist in sending those “don’t break the chain” e-mails. i do not reply or forward them, ever, and if i spot them in time they get deleted unopened. whatever the sender’s intent they qualify as spam.
    “gunner”

  4. Well said! I wish more people understood what is wrong with chain letters. They are spam, and they are manipulative. And what really continues to confound me is how it is that people who normally won’t allow themselves to be pushed around and manipulated by any other means, submit to the demands of chain letters. Even when they’re told they are being sucked in, they still insist on participating in chain letters. Your article is so true, and good for a laugh at the same time.

    P.S. A huge kudos for providing the audio option for people who can’t see the captcha image code to make comments.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.