Shropshire Woman

Well not strictly speaking spam, but irreverent, sometimes puerile, sometimes poignant but generally amusing titbits reflecting the mood of the day or a current issue, serious or not. Some are amazingly quick to surface, appearing within hours of news reports, and many are rather dark and some tasteless. But these are the modern equivalent of a joke doing the rounds in the pub.

Working from home, I welcome these interruptions to my sometimes lonely days, however I don’t let on to my friends – obviously there’s a pretence of being far too busy and important (what a spoilsport).

But as human beings we all like to share a joke with a mate. It’s just that now the joke does the rounds in cyberspace rather than round the campfire or pub. Luckily for me, people believe that I have a semblance of a sense of humour left and I get to see some real gems – particularly from my husbands ‘e-mail circuit’ showing he still has something of the schoolboy humour about him.

that’s what it’s all about – passing funny notes in class, sharing the joke, making people smile.

Because that’s what it’s all about – passing funny notes in class, sharing the joke, making people smile. There are those of us who read and enjoy these missives and, if they are worth it, share them with others of a similar disposition.
And then there are those who ignore them, or worse, reply saying they are far too busy to reply. Just as at school some would pass cruel but witty notes around and some wanted nothing to do with it.

So which type are you? The passer-on regardless – to the entire address list on your computer – or the careful passer-on, after rigorous vetting and to only “appropriate” friends? Or do you just hit the delete button? No judgements being made here – it’s just a relatively new social etiquette which nobody told me about when the wonders of email were first unveiled.

And consider this. Where do these modern equivalents of “did Spam, Spam, Wonderful Spam… you hear the one about...” originate? Some are highly complex and will have taken time. I received one this week from a GP friend that spoofs song titles onto corporate style visual charts (% of things Meatloaf would do for love). Now I know she’s too busy to have put that bevy of brilliant graphics together.

Is there a whole industry “Work boredom busters Inc” or “Distractions R us” dedicated to disrupting but enlightening our lives? I read recently that roughly 40% of all emails are unsolicited and the cost for US and European businesses (mainly in lost time) is £13.4 billion a year.
Now many of these are unwelcome advertising, but some of these are funny, provide a great barometer of the spirit of the moment and can prove to be a highly entertaining
modern folklore.

So next time a funny plops into your in tray that makes you laugh, go on – pass it on - make someone smile today.

Sally Themans