a) I do not know
b) I have never heard of
c) I have no idea how she obtained my email address
Anyway, after receiving yet another irrelevant email this morning, I decided that it was time to request to be unsubscribed from a mailing list that I didn't even know existed.
Within a few minutes, the lady replies, copying someone that I know of but don't even work with in the email, saying
Dear Melody
I would like you to reconsider your request....I was the one who put Adventist on the list for involvement re the Olympics...great things have come from that.
The email below is to find people for sports ministry to become chaplains.
Would you please supply the best contact for your denomination to alert you all re the great opportunities re sports ministry. Australians love our sports and its a very relvenat way to fulfil the GREAT COMMISSION...over to you. Many thanks.
A few questions:
a) Why did you feel the need to copy someone else in the email, who has nothing to do with anything?
b) Can't you respect my decision to unsubscribe from something I don't want to be on?
c) I run mailing lists too. If someone unsubscribes, I don't hound them and try to make them feel guilty about unsubscribing.
So, I suppose I'm forced to remain on your mailing list. But that doesn't mean I will read any emails that you send me.
Now, has that achieved anything?
This incident just made me think about our dealings with people about other things. One of the major things that we need to do is to truly respect their decision to choose what they want to do.
We can give them advice, we can give them our opinions, but we really cannot force our thoughts and actions on them.
The only thing we'll achieve is a sour relationship.
No wonder non-Christians think we're pushy about the Gospel. We can't seem to take no for an answer.
It's true that we shouldn't just give up, particularly when it comes to someone's salvation. But perhaps forcing them into a corner where they have no choice is not the way to go?
3 comments:
She's certainly done nothing to further her cause. If you feel you need to keep receiving the emails to avoid further issues with her, just set your inbox rules to treat anything from her email address as spam.
guilt is not the best motivator
unfortuntately christians can be the worst spammers because their belief in a worthy cause makes them blind to little things such as their legal responsibilities in handling an email list
[and other things such as email ettiquette, security and privacy actions such as using bcc]
again, I agree with Rodney
he's such a wise man :)
obviously she wants you on her mailing list so that she knows the PR person is aware of what is going on. I would suggest writing back and suggesting that she should instead be sending these emails to your boss. The likely hood of one of her stories ending up on InFocus increases...sorta.
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