What About Forwarding Jokes?

Who doesn't have friends who occasionally send you e-mails with jokes in them? For the most part you don't entirely mind the jokes, but what does become a PIA is when they have been forwarded as attachments by several different people which you then have to wade through to get to the funny. Is this considered bad Netiquette?

Yepper! Just forwarding any e-mail without comment or down-editing your e-mail (removing all the other stuff besides the joke) is plain 'ole lazy. This goes for e-mails that are not humorous in nature as well. Down-editing your e-mail replies and forwards is about courtesy. If one wants to share e-mail with friends, removing unnecessary portions of the e-mail reflects consideration. This includes ensuring everyone's e-mail address is in the BCC field so it is not visible to folks they may not know.

Now, just because someone sent you an e-mail with other's e-mail addresses visible doesn't mean you just click forward and continue to expose those addresses. Even if you don't know those folks, chances are they do not want their email address broadcasted further. Would you? Do them a favor, even if their "friends" neglected to, and remove any visible e-mail addresses before you forward the joke on to those you know.

Good email habits reflect courtesy for those you are e-mailing and make communicating with you a pleasure. And that's a good thing! ;-)