I will serve no whine before its time

[pbray]

(rant on)
If you send me an e-mail asking me to respond, and I take time out of my day to craft a thoughtful response to your question, I do not expect to receive a canned message from your mailbot saying that in order to get past your spam filters I must click on a special link and fill out a form to validate my e-mail address, otherwise my message can't be delivered to your inbox.

"LISTEN UP YOU MORON. I DON'T CARE IF YOU EVER GET MY REPLY. I WAS DOING YOU A FAVOR, NOT THE OTHER WAY AROUND. FIX YOUR SPAM FILTERS OR GET A DIFFERENT EMAIL ACCOUNT."
(rant off)


Some days, it's the little things that launch me into orbit.

Also received in the inbox was an extremely belated thank you from a library director who had sent me a letter begging for copies of my books to add to the collection of his small library. The letter is nearly a year late. A simple email acknowledgment at the time would have been appreciated, but as it is, even the most flowery letter can't make up for the delay.

Comments

[quietselkie.livejournal.com]

I'd be tempted, just once, to get through the spam filter long enough to say, "I had a real reply, but you and your spambot just aggravated it right out of me. So there. Neener."

On the other hand, why piss off a fan who might not buy the next book? Tough choice.

And in the back of my head is my mother, telling me to be nice. *grits teeth*

[pbray.livejournal.com]

Well it wasn't a fan-- it was an industry professional who had written to me requesting my opinion. Crafting a reply took time and consideration on my part, and then as soon as I pressed send I received the spambot message, which is when I went over the edge.

I did fill out the "please let me send you email" begging form, but put in a comment letting the sender know that I found the form discourteous.

I understand that people need spam filters, but as a courtesy the filter should work with their email, so that if the sender has sent me a note I should be prequalified to reply.