Think Before Replying to All

One of the issues I get contacted about most is using Reply to All on a mass e-mail where numerous folks are listed in the To: field. The simply answer is you don't use Reply to All -- you only reply to the Sender.

Most times problems arise when someone sends a controversial e-mail to all their contacts (and incorrectly lists all the e-mail addresses in the To: field). People react because it is an emotionally charged issue; hit Reply to All thereby letting everyone know their opinions. The Sender gets upset because their contacts were e-mailed while some of the contacts get upset because they didn't ask to hear anyone's opinion in the first place.

So here are a couple guidelines to help you avoid bad feelings and misunderstandings:

SENDERS: If you don't want someone hitting Reply to All and sending their comments about your e-mail to everyone you sent to, simply use the Bcc: field. If you do not make this effort to shield your contacts e-mail addresses, you really shouldn't complain when one of those contacts reacts by hitting Reply to All.

In addition, if you know that not everyone on your list knows each other -- please respect their privacy and do not display their e-mail addresses to strangers! Use the Bcc: field!

RECIPIENTS: Even if you know some or most of the people on the list -- only Reply to the Sender. Because the Sender displayed all those e-mail addresses in the To: field does not give you permission to e-mail anyone who didn't ask for your opinion.

At the end of the day, be very careful who you send e-mails with controversial topics or opinions to. Not everyone has the same viewpoint as you do and may not appreciate receiving your two cents when they didn't ask for it or worse yet don't even know you.