How would you handle this?

[Scooby4]

I have the same issue. It took me awhile to adjust but I have learned to hit the delete button on much of it. I have some friends that send me emails that do NOT display on my computer. The images or jokes just do NOT come up at all. I have tried to tell them this or even tried to change my setup. It just hasn't worked. I get very frustrated at it.
My excuse to my friends that ask me about an email is "my computer couldn't download it properly and it wouldn't open". If I have seen the email before, I will tell "I've seen it before and it is funny!" I don't need to tell them that I had deleted it. If they try to send it to me again, I may reply to their email saying "thank you" but not opening the images. You can always say you "forgot about that picture".
Another thing you can do is setup another free email account somewhere. Send those emails to that account to save them. That way your normal email account doesn't get overloaded and you can recall that email at a later point when you have time to open it. You can then delete the original copy. I have about 3 free emails sites I use just for identity protection purposes alone.
By the way... ALWAYS MAKE SURE THEY DON'T HAVE THE FEATURE ACTIVATED TO TELL THEM IF AND WHEN YOU OPENED THEIR EMAIL! There are some "receipt of email" some people attach to their emails to see if the receiver opened the email. This is handy for work purposes but NOT personal. If they are someone who monitors their mail like this, then open the email with one click and then delete it from there. This will let them get a receipt you opened the email BUT NOT let them know you deleted it.

[RedHedd]

If you have the option with your ISP to access your e-mail on the web go there before downloading your e-mail to your Outlook. I have a friend who consistently sends me large files that I've already seen. If I see my download indicator bogging down (and I'm on a slow-ish DSL), I quickly cancel the download, go to my webmail box and delete the offending file. That way it never makes it to my desktop inbox; it's deleted at the ISP's server.

[Karen]

I have this issue with some people I do not even know! Some people, once they have asked a question, or nominated a pet, add me to their "friends" list, and I get every email they forward to anyone. It's kinda sad, but I use the email program "Eudora" which has a "junk" filter, and I have just ended up adding a couple of these people to by junk list. It's usually children who do this, I think, but like I said, I don't even know these people, so I don;t know for sure!

[Oggyflute]

Try using a program called "Mail Washer". You can actrually delete e-mail straight from the server without having to download. You can also bounce e-mail back to the senders, which will end up them taking you off the mailing list. Best thing, it's free!

[Laura's Babies]

I hit reply on the last "already seen (years ago) jokes" she sent and asked her if she didn't mind, I wanted to know how long she has been on computers and online since she sends me stuff that I have seen ages and ages ago. Just a short and sweet question.. She has been online since 99, so she should have seen most of this stuff herself.

The good news is NO email from her since that, so far........ Did not get the 5 to 10 of them today..... yet....

Oggy, I am getting that mailwasher!

[gini]

Your post must be prophetic. I get a lot of emails from a woman who is in her 80's. I have known her for years and she lost her husband a year or so ago. All of her emails have forwards, but I never say anything because I think the computer has been a God-send for her now that she is alone.

Because of that, I will send her jokes etc. She forwards them and never cleans up the forward so my email address goes along too.

Yesterday I received an email from someone on her mailing list. They claim to know me - wanted to say hi and did I remember them? Well, no, I don't remember them.

Then came this steady string of emails - all with gobs of forwards.........takes you forever to open them up.

I had to laugh - because now I have to practice what I preached. Delete, delete, delete.

[VTJess03]

See if you can set up a 'filter' in your e-mail program. The way I understand these to work, they send stuff immediately to your trash without going through the rest of your e-mail. If not, blocking your friend's address, as previously suggested, should keep them from making it off the server and onto your PC, right? Obviously, you have talked to her and been polite, but she doesn't care about your computer situation, and I, personally, would find it very rude that she would continue sending unwanted e-mails that are so huge after having that conversation.

[Laura's Babies]

VT, I have been to upset about it to go talk to her, I replied on one of her emails FORWARDS to ask how long she had been online. I have to wait until I am over the anger of her tying me up for that junk before I go actually talk to her but I DO think she has got the message... I am only got ONE email from her since then... Titled " Excellent Info on sending e-mails - safely"
(If anyone is interested in seeing that I would be glad to forward it to you!)

Gini, you really cracked me up with,

now I have to practice what I preached. Delete, delete, dele

I am so glad to see I am not the odd one in the bunch that hates forwards. I really thought I was odd, different or something.

[gini]

Oh no, you are not odd.............to add to the story - the person who thought they knew me (or I don't remember them) forwarded an email to everyone and it has now come back to me from complete strangers FOUR TIMES TODAY!!
It was one of those "if you don't send this in six seconds all of you are going to hell"................"

Sometimes on the internet, I feel as though I am in HELL.

[Laura's Babies]

That also is what makes me mad.... to get the SAME forward mulitple times, especially in the same DAY! GRRrrrr! ANY of those that say "if you don't forward this to "X" number of people, I delete immediately. I very, very seldom send out impersonal emails. (And those that say if I don't get this back......) GET A LIFE!

[slick]

I have two neighbours that send me FW's. Guaranteed that if Betty sends me one, John will send me the same one the next day as we are both on Betty's email list.

I have not said anything to either of them about the amount of email sent my way for certain reasons. Instead I will just delete them because they are simply not funny. I won't set up a rule to delete their emails because sometimes they will email me with a computer problem; in which case, I just go over there and fix it.

On the flip side, I try not to send too many FW's either.

[VTJess03]

It's amazing to me that of all the junk e-mails that I should have forwarded in the first 10 seconds (or whatever) that calamity hasn't struck yet. I hit the 'delete' button and nothing happened. OH MY!

[gini]

It's amazing to me that of all the junk e-mails that I should have forwarded in the first 10 seconds (or whatever) that calamity hasn't struck yet. I hit the 'delete' button and nothing happened. OH MY!

But, but, they say that lightening will strike - or your car will die - or your pet will throw up - or you will spill something all over the computer keyboard.

Hmmmm, you must have some secret that you aren't sharing with us.

[mike001]

Looks like we all have the problem to some degree. I have a friend who does this to me although I've repeatedly said I wasn't interested so I just delete anything I receive now. I open serious mail only or important messages, I can't be bothered with junk mail.