I use a Gmail address with my name, margaret dot marks, but not followed by the usual number like 261 or 53, because seemingly I am the first of the many Margaret Markses to get a Gmail address. And so I often receive email not meant for me. I usually get invited to some kind of children’s parties in the USA, but sometimes it is a report from Australia.
My latest one came from another MM but contained little information or evidence. It just said ‘Tom’s new clock’ with this image, which I’m fond of. I hope it doesn’t give too much away.
I wish I were as lucky to just get a photo. I have the same problem (using a period in my name instead of numbers). I get CC:ed on vacation plans (yes, I responded and told them to let the real person know), but most vexingly I get all of someone’s Microsoft gaming purchases and newsletters. I can’t contact Microsoft and can’t contact this person. I’ve directed it to spam. I wish Gmail could get it together.
No, I do get all that other stuff too. It really is irritating when you get something fairly important from a no-reply address. Is it Gmail’s fault? I have had senders apologize, but I never know if they typed the address wrong.
I love this photo. I think Martin Parr might have taken it, but he would have had Tom sitting there.
No, it’s not Gmail’s fault, it’s the fault of people who don’t know their own e-mail addresses. I have a “sentimental value” gmail address and lots of people think it’s theirs. Usually asking the sender to “please tell your friend this is not her e-mail address” works but I once had an exchange with a lady who got her sister-in-law on the phone who kept insisting it really was her e-mail address. When I asked “how come I get the messages then?”, neither lady had an answer …
A good way of dealing with companies is to tweet at them. Something like “Hey @AmericanAirlines, do you realize you’re sending confidential customer info to a complete stranger on the other side of the pond?” gets people to act real fast.:) Why these companies don’t send out e-mails with verification links like they used to is beyond me.
Yes, that makes more sense to me, but I did at first think it was Gmail – this was ages ago. I couldn’t believe so many people could be stupid. But they were in fact more stupid than Gmail.