Why Send Chain Letters?

Opening my e-mail this morning, nothing was different then any other day: the mailing lists I'm on sent me some news, some advertisements trying to entice me into joining clubs, buying clothes, and purchasing stock, a couple of comments about Citrus, notes from friends, and seven copies of the same chain letter.

Sigh. I suppose that chain letters are a part of e-mail which will always be, ,just as they are a part of snail mail, but why must we support such an idiotic practice? Does anybody actually believe the stories about Jack, who died a horrible death within five seconds of receiving a chain letter because he failed to send it to fifteen of his closest friends? Or what of Susan, who, following the included directions to the word, promptly received a check for $30 million?

Besides that, sending spam is against the service agreements of most e-mail providers. Here are some examples:
 
 

Hotmail

"By way of example, and not as a limitation, you agree not to:

Use the Service in connection with surveys, contests, pyramid schemes, chain letters, junk email, spamming or any duplicative or unsolicited messages (commercial or otherwise)."

Yahoo!

"You agree to not use the Service to . . . upload, post, email or otherwise transmit any unsolicited or unauthorised advertising,promotional materials, "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," "pyramid schemes," or any other form of solicitation, except in those areas (such as shopping rooms) that are designated for such purpose;"

My Own E-mail

"The Service makes use of the Internet to send and receive certain messages; therefore, Member's conduct is subject to Internet regulations, policies and procedures. Member will not use the Service for chain letters, junk mail, spamming or any use of distribution lists to any person who has not given specific permission to be included in such a process."

From my point of view, anyone who participates in such activities is a gullible fool. My advice: if the claims of death, poverty, and enteral damnation had been true, I would not be writing this today. On the other hand, when I was a newbie to the web, I did in fact participate for a short while, and have yet to make my first million, to get married, or to be similarly reimbursed for my time. Logically, a letter has no control over anything. Only you do. So stick it in the Trash.