I know you guys will understand...

[Hekate]

I just unsubscribed to 47 -- yes, almost four dozen! -- activist and candidate email lists. The only relationship this has to the BOG is that I am hanging on to the ones from OFA, Obama, and the White House. Every organization that had a space to say why, I put this in:

Loveya, but the problem is that I am receiving too many emails from EVERYONE since this last campaign season -- it literally comes to as much as 50 to 100 emails a day, and I have GOT to clean out my inbox so I can at least find the letters from my own sister. Every petition I signed, every donation I made, has come back to haunt me in the form of incessant email notices. I'll be in touch -- later.

It's driving me nuts, and I think I am not the only one because several had a check-off box to say if I would just consent to receiving fewer rather than none. No, no, no. I need to start over. I went through my Trash section for these, and even as I did so, more came in.

I am way past feeling guilty -- I just feel relieved at my Autumn Equinox cleaning.

[Cha]

1. Oh yeah, I can relate to that.. good idea!

[grantcart]

2. i just unsubscribed to a dozen today.

[IrishAyes]

3. There must be an internet virus going around

I've been doing the same thing. Won't say which progressive sites, but I told off a couple in no uncertain terms for their most recent hard push, which included inexcusable attempts at embarrassment if not downright shaming. My explanations to them were far less gentle than Hekate's. I told them I didn't appreciate emails headed "Your Name - NOT A DONOR" and even one in bright red letters declaring "last notice" like they were bill collectors and I a deadbeat debtor! I also wrote President Obama about some of the terrible things being done in our party's name, since I'm sure he never sic'd the fundraisers on widows, orphans, and little old ladies on SS. I don't mind and do expect normal fundraiser emails at certain seasons, but damned if I'll put up with something that sounds like it came from Sam(Stan?) Kennison.

Actually, the two that made me angriest also got my worse insult. I told them they sounded like REPUBLICAN VULTURES.

But I kept my favorites, especially since they offer me the greatest # of petitions to sign, and those can be powerful tools.

[Hekate]

4. I've had similar ones from Dem Party and OFA emails, just not that insulting

They want me to know that I have "an account" with them and that it is past time to donate again. Not good. I'll keep OFA for now, but I got rid of all the other Dem Party stuff (DCCC, DGA, DSSC).

Back in the day when all these appeals came in paper envelopes, I got one stamped FINAL NOTICE in red on the front of the envelope. I was so bloody furious that I can't even remember if I wrote them a blazing letter on the back of the one they sent me or if I telephoned their 800 number or did both. All I know is that I never ever got another one of those -- I think I must not have been the only one who was that mad at having my local mailman think I was on the brink of bankruptcy. What were they thinking?!

[Isoldeblue]

5. I went through the same about three weeks

ago and it was painful to do. Maybe it was liberal guilt? Anyway, it took me about four days to do.

I have a real problem with clinical depression and once in awhile I hit a wall of despair. I get to feeling so helpless and hopeless. And a cynical, pissy old lady, to boot..... Not very pretty.

I realized I had to take a sabbatical from all things political and all social injustices.

What a breadth of relief, when I go to to my email now and instead of seeing 35-50 new emails, there are usually less than six. Then I come here and get all the info I need to see without the emails. And if I see any petitions of interest posted here, I sign them. If I get emails as a result, I do unsubscribe again. But it's much easier now to do.

I wish I could donate more, but being retired and on a fixed income, it's not so easy. But I don't miss the constant solicitations for donations every day.

[Hekate]

6. Exactly my feeling, too, Isoldeblue

It was guilt and all the rest that kept me from doing it before. I've got my own issues, and often find it easier (after dragging my feet forever) to just try to get the job done in one fell swoop.

Like you, and for much the same reasons, I need a sabbatical from all the wrongs of the world, or at least most of them -- no, all.

Cheers!

[Isoldeblue]

8. I'm glad you posted this, Hekate.

We know that our hearts are in the right place, but it's nice to have some validation of that.

But we do have to take care of ourselves first, before we can be of any good to others.

BOG

[IrishAyes]

7. When you folks are feeling low,

try to remember how much you're loved and valued, especially here but doubtless elsewhere as well.

I'm sure you can understand why I celebrate Christmas by a complete withdrawal from the outside world and intruding electronics. Well, I do listen to James Earl Jones reading the Bible, but no tv or internet that day. Sometimes I receive welcome phone calls from friends far away, but basically I just roll up the sidewalk that day. I'm unwilling to spend Christmas at the home of my few local friends because if they're home, that means all their crazy relatives will be there with them, and that I can do without. It's damn near impossible to celebrate a holy day in good conscience by cussing out some slug, which I don't believe in doing in someone else's home anyway. Those cross-forum friends who also belong to the DU loners group will understand this readily.

[No Vested Interest]

9. Sorry to say, but I won't sign petitions online because of the influx

of emails as a result.
I get some from my state party, as well as whatever variety of national Dem. committees.

And, just like all of you, requests for charitable donations everyday, that seem to make up the bulk of my snail mail.

And, like many of you, I have family that has financial needs, and I feel guilty when I have to deny family, but still send occasional bits to outside of family.