Man’s lengthy email ‘blasts’ annoying his friends
Dear Annie: I have a friend who sends email “blasts” to a long list of recipients on a daily basis. He has been doing this for years, ever since emails became as common as phone calls. Sometimes, he sends several in a day. The contents are usually links to articles that he finds interesting or opinions with which he agrees. He must spend several hours every day browsing his personal interests and concerns, and then impulsively “blasting” his finds to friends and acquaintances.
I have politely asked him more than once to take me off his mailing list and to send me personal messages only. He laughed off my requests, and his annoying email blasts persist. He is one of my closest friends, and I don’t want this issue to ruin our friendship. Mutual friends have complained about his cyberbehavior as well. Your advice? — Annoyed in the Poconos
Dear Annoyed in the Poconos: It’s time to shield yourself from these email blasts. Most email providers now allow you to create spam filters with very specific parameters, so you can block your friend’s mass mailings without blocking all of his messages. On Gmail, for instance, one way to do this would be to choose another person that your friend usually includes on these email blasts: e.g.,
Then set up a filter that deletes or “archives” all emails that include “janedoe@email.com” in the “To” line. It’s a bit of a workaround, but it’s worth it if it restores some serenity to your inbox.
Dear Annie: This is in response to “Drowning,” whose older sibling “has difficulty walking, talking, falls a lot and cannot control his bodily functions” yet refuses a walker or wheelchair. I have been an occupational therapist for more than 25 years, and I can tell you that this is not a unique situation.
Frequent falls can cause brain trauma even without hitting the head. My advice is that if (or rather, when) her brother falls again and gets injured, she call 911 so he can be safely transported to a hospital for admission.
It would then be appropriate for his medical doctor to recommend a stay at a rehabilitation and retirement center (skilled nursing facility/nursing home). After some rehab, they can help her make a decision and recommend the best solution that ensures his safety and hers, too. — Occupational Therapist
Dear Occupational Therapist: I appreciate your writing in with your expertise. Thank you.
Dear Annie: You provided reasonable and sound advice to “Stuck at a Crossroads.” I particularly liked your closing comment. It is an example of what is so needed in contemporary culture: “By the way, if neither of you has raised the question of marriage, it’s worth asking why.”
Just my opinion, but so often, because of relaxed moral considerations, many simply settle for whatever is easy. This couple appears to be committed because of the longevity of their relationship; they seem to have merely settled into a convenient relationship that is now a comfortable habit. Too bad for them to miss the deep joy of an abiding love that manifests in total commitment and deep devotion. — Rob R., Jacksonville Beach, Fla.
Dear Rob: I, too, have noticed an apparent trend of younger people entering relationships of convenience. I think another contributing factor is that people don’t date around as they used to; most people now go straight to the phase that used to be designated as “going steady.” This is too bad, as they miss out on an opportunity to step back and weigh their compatibility with different individuals. Thanks for writing.