So I have this relative...

[TNDemo]

who keeps sending me all these scare tactic Republican emails or just generally obnoxious ones. (What is it with the right wing and email? I never get left wing jokes and the like. I guess we don't like being told what to think or laugh at.) Tonight she sent me this very racist one with a picture of some African men doing a tribal dance with the caption that it will be Obama's inauguration and another one that is a youtube video with this hick and his wife talking about going out to the barn to see what is natural after they saw a gay wedding on TV. Up to this point I have just tried to take the high road and ignored them and never replied. I am somewhat tempted to send her some scathing cartoons or emails about Bush but I really don't have any. I have no idea whether to say anything or dignify all this stuff with a response. Thoughts?

[PDJane]

1. Send the emails into cyber land......

set your email to "refuse" and just let them drift off. It will save your sanity.

[eleny]

2. Recently, someone here gave another DUer this advice

They suggested telling the sender to "stop dumping your trash in my email".

I've kept that tucked away in my memory in case I receive such garbage in my own email.

Good luck!

[Tangerine LaBamba]

3. PDJane is right

Just refuse (can you do that?) or block them.

If this relative takes offense, it's time for you to step up to the challenge, just as Barack Obama would, and call him/her out on it: "I'm not a racist and I don't find your cartoons and videos even slightly entertaining. If you want to hate, that's your choice. But I don't, and as long as you feel the need to pass this stupid smut around, I'd be grateful if you'd remember that I do not share your beliefs or your biases."

Remember: "If they bring a knife, we'll bring a gun."

There's a time to turn the other cheek, and then that shit just goes out the window and you have to let them have it. If you don't, they think they have you.

[NewEnglandGirl]

4. If she knows your feelings

and still does this to you she is being very disrespectful. I would tell her please not to send that type of thing anymore.

[polichick]

5. I would probably email back with my honest point of view...

For me the truth is almost always worth the risk ~ that doesn't work for everyone.

[Warpy]

6. Ignoring silently is giving tacit approval

She thinks you approve of this garbage because you've never spoken up.

Now I know about keeping peace in the family, so the first time, make it a personal reply that you really don't appreciate this racist garbage and would she please take you off the list for it. If she continues to send it, then a "reply to all" with references to Snopes and a hearty "SHAME ON THE LOT OF YOU!" at the end is appropriate. Then if it happens again, use mail block. If she really needs to get in touch with you, she can dial a phone or use a stamp.

Emailing us is a privilege, not a right. When people abuse it--and us--they need to have that privilege revoked.

People can abuse us only with our permission. You've given this person your permission for a long time. It's time to take it back.

[TNDemo]

7. The reason I have trod carefully

is that she is my mother's biological family, whom she located in the late 1980s (mother is gone now). I have only met her and the handful of others a couple of times but have had a sporadic email relationship. I keep wondering if it is possible to maintain this relationship and if I want to.

[Warpy]

15. Then definitely tell her you don't want this stuff

Her reaction will tell you whether or not you actually have much of a relationship with these people.

[pt22]

8. What's wrong with an African Tribal dance? I've seen some and I think they show

Africans in their cultural matrix that is absolutely genuine, sincere, and is clearly older and far more established than anything white North Americans have to show...

[Trajan]

9. You have some sick relatives ...

I do too: But I made it VERY clear to them: DO NOT SEND ME ANYTHING REMOTELY POLITICAL ....

Elsewise: I will block you .....

[scarletwoman]

10. How about simply telling her to stop sending this garbage?

Is there some reason you feel like you have to pussyfoot around with this person?

Be direct, be honest; tell her to stop sending this shit or you'll block all emails from her.

When confronted with offensive shit, it's totally appropriate to BE offended -- AND to say so in no uncertain terms. Turn the tables, put HER in the position of wondering how to deal with YOU.

Honesty is ALWAYS best.

sw

[Mz Pip]

11. I'd send them this.

Two can play the game and a rational reasoned response will not work. They need to get hit upside the head with a 2x4 (metaphorically speaking).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Euu_DMhsXQo

[Bozita]

12. The perfect email gift to freepers, especially the female senders of stuff already refuted on Snopes

[orleans]

13. good one. that will probably keep them away. n/t

[Tinksrival]

14. OH, That " I am voting Republican, because" youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiQJ9Xp0xxU

[SheilaT]

16. And sometimes the Reply All

option is effective. Especially when sent some totally false piece of shit. I have used enough that I haven't gotten a piece of right-wing or otherwise unverifiable crap in quite some time now.

[DCKit]

17. Yeah, that "reply to all" option is poison.

I've done it only twice in my life and the racist/political junk has nearly disappeared from my inbox. You'd be surprised how many people you can reach with "reply to all", and a link to Scopes can only encourage those who think to also question the bullshit they're receiving every day.

[riderinthestorm]

18. I'm a farmer with a barn

and I can tell you from first hand experience that there are gay "relationships" in the barnyard. I always find it interesting that homophobes won't deign to acknowledge the diverse sexuality of animals which can be as interesting as humanity's. In my experience the ratio of gay/straight relationships in the animal kingdom mirrors the human world.

As for the Obama vid comparison, I can only say that clearly they've never seen nor experienced African tribal dancing first hand. It's powerful, dignified and from the heart. We can only hope our inauguration ceremony is as meaningful.

Beyond animal biology and tribal vids however, let me suggest it's time you confronted your relative and told them to quit sending you this shit.

[PerfectSage]

19. Dignify your response with oozing c-o-n-t-e-m-p-t..

as per post 11 , maybe McCunt would spell it c-u-n-t-e-m-p-t.