A lot has happened since I wrote my last post. I've gotten a new job, already changed positions, got a new car, and here we are just months away from another presidential election. While this blog has primarily been political in nature up to this point, there's an observation I've had for a long time that I just have to get off my chest, and I'm curious if you've had a similar experience. I have noticed that many Baby Boomers seem to share an annoying technological habit. They are obsessive, chronic email forwarders! Generally-speaking, I don't read or open an email unless it's personally hand-typed, a product or service I voluntarily opted-in to, or regarding an event or activity I'm actively involved in. A "Fw:" at the front of the subject line almost always results in an automatic delete from me.
Yet I continue to get dozens of forwarded jokes, videos or conspiracy theories forwarded to me by my boomer friends and family members. I can't really figure what explains it. For some, it may be they're not especially proficient writers or typers, and hitting "Forward" with a brief "You've got to see this!" is easier than a lengthy personal missive. But after recently getting my mother online, she's telling me her sister now wants to send her one forwarded email after another. And my aunt is a very educated woman who I know can type and write proficiently. I really don't get it. And maybe I'm unfairly picking on boomers. They're certainly not the only people I've gotten serial forwards from. But they seem to be the most consistently reliable about it. Am I alone with this? Or have you noticed this as well?
