I don’t mean to sound callous, but I am, so that’s how it comes out*
I’ve just received an email forward asking me to look out for a missing kid called Reachelle Marie Smith. As with 99% of these things, the email’s a load of nonsense: while it is indeed based on a real case, the girl didn’t go missing from Woking (as claimed; another version says it happened in Australia); she went missing from North Dakota. She isn’t three; if she’s still alive – which, quite frankly, is really bloody unlikely – she’ll be seven. Etc etc etc.
This Washington Post story might be useful if you’ve received the version of the mail telling you to look out for Leigh Cowen who “may be en route to Kansas”. He’s not en route to Kansas any more, and hasn’t been since 2006.
Leigh Cowen, 22, was found Tuesday inside a van on a gravel road at the Upper Souris National Wildlife Refuge, authorities said. Cowen appeared to have killed himself by carbon monoxide poisoning.
If you really, really must forward every tear-jerking email demanding people check their sheds for missing kids (and here’s a hint: you really, really shouldn’t), at least forward the right bloody information.
* When I’m in a bad mood I tend to channel Bill Hicks.
6 Responses to “I don’t mean to sound callous, but I am, so that’s how it comes out*”
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Heather on March 10th, 2010
I have been getting cutesy email forwards about the joys of menopause from an aunt since I was 17 years old.
Gary on March 10th, 2010
Heh.
I feel really bad about this, but whenever somebody otherwise normal sends me a really dumb email forward I lose loads of respect for them. I suspect that makes me a bit of a tit.
Capri on March 11th, 2010
Uh, Gary, you can’t be a “tit” if you’re a guy. And I’ll bet I’m just as sharp-tongued as you when it comes to these stupid chain letters.
mupwangle on March 11th, 2010
>>Uh, Gary, you can’t be a “tit” if you’re a guy.
Tit, as a perjorative, is not gender specific.
Gary on March 11th, 2010
Particularly in Scotland, where “fanny” (and worse) is a gender-neutral term of abuse.
Squander Two on March 11th, 2010
I like the implication there that you can be a tit if you’re female. How?
I believe the pejoritive sense of “tit” is more related to “small bird” than “breast” anyway.