Welcome to a new feature in which we ask you to help us name a modern phenomenon. We have loyal reader Cybele Parsignault to thank; she wrote in
requesting EE's assistance in brainstorming a term for unwanted e-mail blasts from someone you know. She defines the sender as "a friend you hardly talk to but who insists on including you in their e-mail forwards/blasts, as in 'Don't let this happen to you. Protect yourself when you walk to your car late at night,' or 'Support my brother, who is riding his bike for XXX charity.' It's really irritating to only hear from people this way. Is there a name for this? I'd like to use it in a
sentence directed at these dummies but don't have a word. Help!"
Not to worry, Cybele — we're on the case. While unsolicited messages from total strangers (male enhancement, anyone?) are called spam, what should we call these unbidden missives from people in our own circle? After some cogitation we came up with "fruitcake." Like spam, it's a foodstuff; it's usually
generic-tasting and is sent out en masse to friends and family (the moist, liqueur-infused, cheesecloth-swaddled holiday fruitcake annually made from scratch by Julia's sister Meg is exempt from this description). Store-bought fruitcake is sent out with the best intentions, but the recipient may well not want it. What say you, readers? Do you have a better term for the in-box-padding nuisance described by Cybele? Unlike those forwarded hoaxes, jokes and entreaties, your e-mail is most welcome. Send suggestions to
Welcome to a new feature in which we ask you to help us name a modern phenomenon. We have loyal reader Cybele Parsignault to thank; she wrote in
requesting EE's assistance in brainstorming a term for unwanted e-mail blasts from someone you know. She defines the sender as "a friend you hardly talk to but who insists on including you in their e-mail forwards/blasts, as in 'Don't let this happen to you. Protect yourself when you walk to your car late at night,' or 'Support my brother, who is riding his bike for XXX charity.' It's really irritating to only hear from people this way. Is there a name for this? I'd like to use it in a
sentence directed at these dummies but don't have a word. Help!"