To R&S regulars: Do you cringe when you open you inbox and see you have mail from other users?

Question

How much hate mail do you get?

Grendel: I am an atheist...I never attack anyone for their beliefs. I only give them a piece of their mind if they personally attack me, or say something which inhumane or perverted.

Rachel VT: Ah...aren't you the VT Queen of R&S? Good on ya!!

I'm not turning off my email...I have a number of contacts who I chat to regularly through email. I just find it ridiculous that some people waste their time abusing and harrassing others through email.
I enjoy a good debate or defending my beliefs but I hate unsolicited filth etc

Answer 1

Last week pretty much all the mail I received was really negative, from a guy who thought I was the "Whore of Babylon." Seriously.

He's leaving me alone now thankfully, and all the messages I've been getting lately have been friendly.

EDIT: Wow, I have a reputation as the Queen of the Vile Temptresses. I'm flattered!

Answer 2

I used to cringe--but I've grown used to hate mail, conversion attempts, and random Bible qoutes. I'm actually pretty indifferent about it now. It does, however, make for a more pleasant experience when I get an email from one of the cooler users--I'll be expecting some Christian love, but instead recieve something truly nice.

I've done a few things that have slowed my hatemail to a crawl, and you can certainly try these too.

The first is the blocking feature. When you notice a troll, block them. When you notice an answer that's full of bigotry or ignorance, block them. If someone clones someone else, block them (this is easy if you have the real person in your contacts, since your contact will have that little blue "person" symbol--the clone won't.)

The second is to edit your profile's public view. Make all of your contacts private, along with your Q&As. Your contacts will still be able to see everything, but those on the outside will only see messages that say "private."

I don't permit IM, and don't even use it outside of this site. If I want to talk to someone in real-time, I call them--but if I want to use a computer, I use a computer. IM is just plain annoying to me. Most of the people who I communicate with via the internet know that my perfered method is email. This hasn't really been a problem thus far!

Anyhow, give the above a try, and see how it works for you. It's a shame when you ponder turning off your profile's email entirely when there are so many wonderful people on here. Don't let a few flies spoil the barbeque.

Answer 3

I'm actually amazed, but -- so far -- all but one of my messages from Y!A users have been friendly, helpful, and even downright supportive (when I was going through a bit of a tough spot). This has included the whole spectrum, from fellow Catholics to Evangelicals to a wiccan to atheists/agnostics. Nice folks all.

The one negative, which wasn't quite "hate mail" but not very pleasant, was from a Christian who took strong exception to a statement someone else had made, thought I had made it, and berated me up one side and down the other. Sigh. I blocked him rather than enter into a futile argument.

No problems since then. Nevertheless, when I open a Y!A e-mail I always scroll down very slowly to see who it's from, first, just in case ...

Answer 4

Being a devout coward, I have never posted my e-mail address for the very reason that I would definitely cringe if I should receive hate mail. I am agnostic and my answers very likely might offend everyone! I'm just afraid to allow contact because I do not need the hassles.

Answer 5

Yes I must admit my heart skips a couple of beats, as mostly the other user mail I get is abuse from Christians...
Some of it is absolutely over the top and one of my regular e-mail Christian abusers, I just found out is a female...
I do not report these people, nor will I make my e-mail private, I am man enough to live with it...
Blessed Be... )O(

Answer 6

I get very little hate mail. I did have a J.W. who just wouldn't leave me alone for a while there but he finally got the hint. Close down the email option on your Profile Page so that no one can contact you that should help.

Answer 7

I often send email to others, and I welcome receiving it. I am always prepared to rigorously defend my position, and I enjoy any opportunity to enlighten those less informed than me.

I've had a few rip-roaring debates, and I've encountered my share of immature idiots. I get one or two piece of venom each week. It all comes with the territory.

Truthfully, I wouldn't participate in Y!A if I wasn't prepared to back up what I say on the forums one on one in a private email.

Answer 8

I do cringe, but it's also great when I get nice stuff. I shrug off the nutjobs. I used to reply, but now I won't give them the satisfaction. For a long time I took my email address off...but I missed getting the good emails.

atheist

Answer 9

I get relatively little hate mail.. most mail from other users come from people I like and stay in contact with fairly frequently so I've no reason to cringe.

Answer 10

I have a couple friends on here and I love it when they write to me. I've gotten about two distasteful letters but, for the most part I really enjoy getting letters from people in YA.
)o( Blessed Be!