Don't just forward bogus emails

I'm always getting jokes in my email box and most of the time - my friends knowing my sense of humor - I really can get a good chuckle. Sure lots of the stuff is recycled humor I've seen before, but for a really good joke, that doesn't matter since a good laugh is always welcome.

Lately though, with all the campaign brouhahas, I've been receiving lots of email relating to politics and the presidential candidates. I just hate it when I'm sent messages that purport some information about someone that I know is false. I've been tempted to reply to the sender (along with everyone else he/she sent the message to) clarifying the bogus misrepresentation. The problem is, I'd have no time left for anything else!

While I'd (probably) never send out a blanket email to everyone on someone else's send list, I have been known to email just the sender with a correction for his or her information - let them do with it what they see fit. I doubt they've rectified their faux pas with a correction email, but at least I get it off my chest that they haven't sold me some BS. I've been thanked for opening some eyes, but usually I get no response to my response. I chalk it up to them just being embarrassed. Not that I know it all, but you can bet I don't just hit the forward button because I like the sound of an email - especially not when it comes to maligning someone's character.

So far, I've just simply gone to snopes.com and then sent on the clarifying link. I know that it's usually a good idea to say nothing at all if you can't say anything nice, but I'm not always able to just keep my mouth shut (so to speak) when I know someone is perpetuating misinformation - especially if they're unaware of it.