Friday, December 05, 2008

The Question: Delete or Not Delete?

The issue of hate ignorant mail discussed below raises the question of whether or not to delete obvious hate-mongering when it arrives in our Inbox.

I'm torn about this. On the one hand, my instinct for self-preservation urges me to delete. Deleting would keep my blood pressure on an even keel. I could probably say the same for my blood sugar, cholesterol, triglycerides, and thyroid hormones. Out of sight is out of mind. If I don't see their revolting diatribes, they're not sending them.

On the other other hand, my instinct for self-preservation urges me to read them. Even a quick skim through the lies and sickening illustrations may skew the results of my blood tests, but if I don't know about these things, how can I counter them? And if no one counters them, they will proliferate unchecked. If we never think about them, don't we become part of the problem?

So I read. And then I try to breathe.

5 comments:

Indigo Bunting said...

This is truly a dilemma.

Adam Byrn "Adamus" Tritt said...

I inevitably read and counter them, though it is bad for me. I think it is better for the world if I do than if I do not. Matyrdom, perhaps, but i cannot let them go.

crystal said...

I guess I delete, as those people usually seem beyond a change of mind. But maybe I'm just being pessimistic.

Jean Campbell said...

I have yet to receive a truly offensive email that was originated by the person who sent it to me.

There are usually 4 or 5 little stripes down the left side indicating that it has been forwarded by at least 4 mindless people.

Just delete. At least you've stopped a bit of its nasty progress.

Remain ever hopeful that somebody will one day sit and type something fun, original and sensible and send it your way because they really care about you.

Susan said...

Yeah, I'm leaning toward deleting. We can hope that all the igniting those people are trying to do will result in them getting burned out eventually. Hopefully (but not likely) in our lifetime.

Nice to see you, Jean. You're a happy reminder that the gardening season will return. It's hard to envision it today, with snow covering everything.