The Death of BCC 366
An anonymous reader writes "An interesting op-ed at NeoSmart discusses the demise of BCC in emails at the hands of Facebook and the like. It discusses how certain technologies that are slowly being supplanted by 'cooler' yet less effective alternatives have actually been spoiled for all, since they rely on a basic community-wide awareness regarding these technologies for them to work."
Re:BCC still existed? (Score:5, Funny)
The crux of his point isn't that people don't know how to use BCC, although that's part of the problem. His point is that even for those who do know how to use BCC, recipients don't know what BCC means.
Here's a typical example of things I've had happen. Someone sends me a misguided nastygram at work over something that I have no control over. I reply to them basically saying, "I can't do anything about this, you need to contact x." Also, because I know they've been dog-cussing me over it to their boss, who is good buddies with my boss, I BCC his boss so that I can 1) let him know that the stuff he's hearing is unjustified, while simultaneously 2) trying not to agitate someone who's already bothered by looking like I'm needlessly escalating something to his boss.
Unfortunately, his boss is also a dipweed, and next thing I know, he's done a "Reply All" and said something like, "Hey, make sure you call x today, because we need this up and working for close of business."
Now, not only does the person know I sent the e-mail to his boss, but he knows that I did it surreptitiously, and he's even more pissed off than if I'd just CCed his boss on it so that he would know.
Having said that, I do wish that people would learn how to use BCC. Here's another typical scenario we have happen now and then:
Someone sends out some dumb little, "Hey everyone, we're having a party in the marketing group tomorrow, so bring in some food!" Unfortunately, they make two mistakes: 1) They accidentally send it to the entire company, including offices in Europe, Asia, Africa, etc., and 2) they address it in the To: or Cc: field instead of Bcc:. Next thing I know, I'm being inundated with, "PLEASE TAKE ME OFF YOUR DISTRIBUTION LIST!!!11!11!!" e-mails. And then after that come the inevitable deluge of, "PLEASE STOP REPLYING TO ALL!!!11!11!!" e-mails. The first one isn't so bad, but then there's this global e-mail flame war that breaks out between the people saying they want to stop getting e-mails and the people who are fussing about the people who want to stop getting e-mails. Sometimes it even descends down to a third, people fussing about people fussing about people who don't want to get e-mails, level.
I never cease to be amazed by how dumb people can be.
Re:Nope (Score:0, Funny)
Re:So true (Score:2, Funny)
I usually only have to do this once with any given douche before they do what I tell them to without the stupid games
This may be part of your problem, instead of telling people to do stuff, ask them to do it. It could be you are acting like a douche without realizing it.
Re:BCC still existed? (Score:5, Funny)
BCC doesnt show other recipients, so if your boss scenario actually happened, either you don't know how to use BCC yourself, or he added everyone in by hand.
I think it's you that doesn't understand how BCC works, the parent poster's scenario is quite possible (and has happened to me)
I send:
From: Johnny Five
To: Stupid Coworker
Bcc: Big Boss
Dude, Stop sending me porn, I don't want to see it.
My Stupid Coworker doesn't know I Bcc'ed the boss since he doesn't see the Bcc list, however, if the Boss does a reply-all, then stupid Coworker gets this email from him:
From: Big Boss
To: Stupid Coworker, Johnny Five
>Johnny Five wrote:
>
>Dude, Stop sending me porn, I don't want to see it.
Don't send porn to Johnny, send it to me instead.
Now Stupid Coworker knows that it was me that reported him for sending me porn.
Re:Nope (Score:2, Funny)
I told you before, She's got a metabolic disorder!
Re:Nope (Score:4, Funny)
Re:Nope (Score:1, Funny)