I thought if someone sends me an email forward it was ok for me to respond back. I mean, all is well if I respond back with a hearty AMEN but if I ask questions that challenge either the validity of the forward or worse challenge the viewpoint of the sender why am I seen as the troublemaker?
Obviously I’m not talking about the jokes and such, heck I like a good joke as much as the next guy but I’m talking about the political/religious ones that are often narrow minded, slanderous, and false that are sent under the guise of christianity.
You know, Obama is the anti-christ or God is a capitalist…that sort of thing
I have no problem with someone sharing their political or religious viewpoint with me but if they do why am I deemed the critical one if I ask questions that simply challenge their beliefs? I’ve even had some sent to me that say at the bottom, “if you don’t agree, don’t respond just delete.” So if I don’t agree I’m just supposed to shut-up?! Isn’t that kind like bullying?
I’ve had responses to my responses that range from
silence,
how come you just like to push people’s buttons?
to my favorite, this is not the kind of thing we can talk about via email but will have to wait until we are face to face.
But you sent it via email, annnd I haven’t seen your face in 3 years?!
I for one happen to think email can be a solid way to have a discussion.
And I’m not talking about wanting to have a conversation where I am trying to prove that my view is right and yours is wrong but I am always open to having a discussion where we try to humbly seek truth in our equally limited vision. Isn’t that one of the ways in which we grow?
Is this really how anemic relationships have become in our society that they can’t even handle a response to an email forward?
Or does proper email etiquette state that one is to send email forwards that express ones thoughts but no actual dialogue is to take place?
If that’s the case then can someone tell me what the heck the reply button is for?
