Are
YOU an Email DORK?
Have you ever.......
-
Sent a message
to mailing lists you keep
on your computer?
-
Sent photos
or movie clips to friends
over the internet?
-
Sent attachments
(enclosures) with your email
messages?
-
Used your
computer on the internet
without an up to date virus
checking program?
If so, you
COULD be an email DORK
and may have caused lots
of problems for people to whom
you have sent email.
If you use Microsoft
Outlook, you've probably caused
some grief to all the people
in your address book, as discussed
below.
Enclosures
can be a HUGE problem
Files attached
to email messages can be a huge
problem if they aren't used
properly.
Document or
graphic files can easily be
5 or 10 megabytes in size.
Most people
aren't even aware of the size
of the files that they are sending.
All they know is that it's taking
an AWFUL long time to send that
message - maybe an hour or two.
And they curse their computers,
their ISP, and everyone else
they can think of because it
is taking so long.
And it's even
worse for the people that receive
their messages.
Unless they
know what to do about it, their
incoming mail is clogged up
for maybe an hour or two until
that huge attachment is downloaded.
They can't receive anything
else until your message has
been downloaded.
The email system
was intended to transmit short
text messages, not for transferring
huge amounts of data. Use it
sensibly - keep messages short,
and only send large enclosures
if you have pre arranged it
with the recipient.
Many companies
and ISP's reject messages over
a certain size, and your huge
message won't even be delivered.
Do you have
a current Virus Checker?
If you use the
internet and don't have a current
virus checker, it's highly likely
that that your computer is running
one or more programs that can
harm your computer, and the
computers of everyone in your
address book.
If you have
a virus or worm on your computer
and use Microsoft Outlook or
Outlook Express as your email
program, then it's almost certain
that that you have unknowingly
sent messages to your contacts
and friends without your knowledge.
These messages
have probably infected THEIR
computers, and caused them to
send out messages to people
on THEIR mailing lists. This
is how viruses and worms spread
so rapidly. Almost all destructive
programs spread by email are
specifically written for Outlook,
and do not affect users of other
email programs.
Have
a look at the software we use for suggestions
about virus checking and alternative
email programs.
6 Steps To
Using Email Effectively
Here's 6 simple
things you can do to use email
more effectively, and reduce
frustration levels for yourself
and the people to whom you send
messages.
- 1.
Use the BCC field
when sending messages to your
mailing lists. You could
be breaking privacy laws if
you don't. (...more)
- 2. DO
use plain text email to send
out information about meetings
or events. Sending out huge
attachments is inconsiderate
and just plain bad manners.
- 3. DO
be aware of what you are doing
when you send pictures as
attachments. If you send pictures
from CD's that have been made
from your photos, be aware
of the file sizes involved.
Sending and email with 5 megabytes
of attachments can take an
hour or so, and the person
receiving the email will probably
have to wait a similar time
to collect your mail message.
- 4. DO
set your email program to
collect only the messages
under a size you specify -
say 100K. Messages below this
size will be downloaded quickly,
and you'll be given the option
of whether to download or
delete any larger ones. This
is a good way to prevent your
mailbox from being clogged
up by large files that you
may not even want.
- 5. DO
get a good antivirus program
that scans your incoming email
attachments for viruses.
- 6. DON'T
send attachments to anyone
without their knowledge. It
has become normal internet
practice for people to delete
emails with unexpected attachments,
because of the risk of installing
harmful programs on their
computers.
|
