Forwared Love

Six years ago, i came up with my first email address which was severely infected with a perky disease. What i mean by this is that, it had a rather dodgy and immature user name. You know how it is when you first start something you tend to overdo it with the 'creativity' section. But as time goes by, and seeing more of something, you know which appearance or impression is more appropriate. Some would regard it as "learning". I suppose the exposure gives you a little bit of an insight of the real deal.

Take, for instance, web building. You can tell it's the debut masterpiece with fonts THIS BIG and text tYpEd likE tHiS in bright yellow font in a neon green background. Graphix too comprises of those obtained from Google or Yahoo! search engines. And you'd normally see those fluttery doves with envelopes in their beaks floating above a mailbox, usually gif files, to act as the 'mail me' link.

Then, as one does a little research and sight-seeing, he then upgrades to flash and use standard-sized fonts, typically less than or equal to three types of font sytles. Colours too tend to be more friendlier to the eyesight, thus projecting a more professional look.

That is one long and detailed metaphor, no?

So anyway, back to my email issue. As i was a newbie and green to all this emailing scene, i get extremely psyched when i get 2-for-1 deals of collagen supplements, thinking that these firms are actually personally concerned about my well-being and how i am going to start wrinkling at thirty-four. Then there were other sorts of promotions that never fail to excite me whenever i access my account thinking, "Aww... Nestle is too kind."

Yes, i admit. Sakai. I was naive and gullible and whatnots.

Also, back then, i respond to every single forwarded messages sent; particularly chain letters and oh-so-touching forwards. Can you believe that i, the ever sensible noble sinner, did such a thing? Of course you do.

Nowadays i still get those forwards. Especially from those who can't be bothered to drop even a single line to say hi and let me know that they're doing (un)well. Apparently the reason being is because of the numerous workload they're constantly bombarded with. Yet the irony is that, an average of ten forwards a week at the length of an essay has been read and sent. Oh i'm sure that the time required to do all those would be less than typing out a two-lettered greeting and click send. No doubt there.

OK so let's say that forwards indicate that i am still in his mailing list and that i have not been forgotten. Not yet anyway. But how do you explain those whom i barely know, and deliver out those 'you are special to me & i love you' messages and saying the same to the other twenty-six in his mailing list? I can't be that charismatic and influential that i am able to get on his buddies list after two minutes worth of virtual chat.

Odd. One actually told me to protect his ego. That he wanted his mailing list to look good and that he had a lot of friends. Maybe that's where the 'If you send to 1-5 you're liked. If you send this to 6-10 then you're loved' comes into effect. Or is it the other way around. Either way is just sad. Then there are those who believe whole-heartedly on the threats from chain letters that their happiness depended on forwarding emails. How pathetic can you get?

This day, whenever i receive a forwarded mail, especially from a respectable person, i begin to doubt whether what was said in the email is sincere or is it just out of pure boredom and ignorance. In other words, it's pitiful matters like these that make the meanings of the messages less meaningful than it should be. Forwards, it seems to me, are just that - forwards.