Courtesy and E-mail Attachments

Sending of arbitrary e-mail attachments without notice is inconsiderate. Why you ask?

Contrary to what popular belief seems to be, you just cannot attach anything to an e-mail and click send. Well, you can physically do so but that doesn't mean you should. I mean you could reformat your hard drive and erase all your files too, but you don't do you? Files megs in size are simply not meant to go through the pipeline.

On average most e-mail accounts are 10M in size. And since you have no view into the e-mail volume of the person you are sending to, what do you think happens when you send those 10M of pictures of little Bruno? You fill up the other person's e-mail box and cause all subsequent e-mail to bounce, that's what! Who knows what e-mail they were expecting or opportunities they may have lost due to e-mail bouncing because of a lack of consideration?

For photos, minimize or "resample" them with the graphic software on your computer to say 500-600 pixels in size. Nothing needs to be larger than that for the other side to view. And, before you send your attachments always ask who you are sending to when would be the best time to do so to ensure they are there to download them and keep their e-mail flowing. Just a little courtesy is all it takes.

This is a very important issue that everyone should be aware of and considerate about. This isn't a choice; it's proper technology use with a dash of courtesy. Minimize and ask first... That's all you have to do to be viewed as a Netizen who gets it, wants to get it and thinks of others besides themselves.