No, not that kind of Spam. (Although I'm not too partial to canned meat).

I'm talking about all those "Try it free," "25% Off," "Special online offer only" kind of SPAM. Unsolicited bulk messages clog my email inbox and really get on my nerves. It seems to have increased tenfold with all the retailers hoping you'll be tempted enough to click and buy for the holiday gift giving season. I must get one of those "you've reached capacity for your inbox" messages every other week! Maybe that means I have to get better at deleting or storing my emails. I just have a hard time with that. Call it the clutterbug gene I inherited from my mom. (She's gonna love me for saying that!)

Technology is wonderful, so I can't bag on it too much. I'm wired to my email and check it several times a day, even from home, which can be a real slippery slope for anyone trying to leave work at the office. What would we do without email? Sure there are the inconveniences of pop-up ads and spam, the occasional scam where someone tries to get you to respond with your checking account information so you can claim a ficticious prize or vacation, but ah, the convenience. Getting a note to someone afterhours you know they'll see first thing in the morning, getting a faster response to that family member or friend you'd take weeks to find a thoughtful card and stamp to send by way of snail mail. The list goes on.

Here's the funny downside:

My mom was just telling me the other day (and she doesn't have email or keep up with daily computer use) how so many people her age are turning to email, and forgetting common courtesies. There are some who only send invitations to events by way of email, others who get perplexed and annoyed that a lunch invitation by email was ignored, not considering it was never received. The list goes on.

I guess the good rule of thumb might be not to assume whoever you're emailing is online as frequently as you. As for that Spam- ugh! I just make it a habit to click "send to junk mail" and hope they'll stop popping up.

Email me (no spam) Ncrites@kpho.com