An E-card You Might Not Want to See in Your InBox
Raise your hand if you've gotten an e-card in your e-mail Inbox, only to delete it because you're worried it could contain malicious software or other virus just waiting to muck up your computer?
I don't really know of anyone who sends e-cards, do you? I don't think I've ever opened one for fear of what might be in it.
Now if those e-greeting cards aren't bad enough, I just saw this U.S. News & World Report story online about a Web-based system that allows you to electronically tell people that they may have contracted a sexually-transmitted disease.
No. I am not kidding. Yes. It's true. Read about the you've-possibly-been-exposed-to-an-STD-e-card story here.
Imagine opening up a card that says:
"No one wants to be the bearer of bad news...but I got diagnosed with STDs (You might have one, too)."
The free e-cards are part of inSPOT, a peer-to-peer, Web-based system developed by the nonprofit Internet Sexuality Information Services and the San Francisco Department of Public Health. Since its inception in 2004, more than 30,000 people have sent more than 49,500 of the cards, and more than 750 people browse the site each day, according to what the site's creators told U.S. News.
I can understand that it can be difficult to tell someone this kind of news. I can also understand that it's very, very important to tell people this kind of news so that they can go see a doctor and get medical help. But the part that really gets me is that you can do this anonymously. That's right, the recipient can get devastating news without ever knowing who sent it. Wow.
I'm just not sure how I feel about this. On the one hand, I can understand it. It avoids all that drama that could result from dropping such bad news on someone. It gets an important health message out there. On the other, it just seems like such an impersonal, cowardly move after you engaged in such an intimate act with that person. And what if someone uses this service maliciously? And what ever happened to taking personal responsibility for your actions?
Makes breaking up with someone by Post-it seem almost nicedecent by comparison.
(looloo e-card image)
Categories: Consumer protection, Consumer safety, Healthcare, Technology
Comments
I think its ridiculous that someone even though of sending an e-card to tell a person that they might want to visit a clinic in the near future. And I send e-cards all the time. Mostly to people I know on their birthday, especially when I won't see them anytime soon. And I like it better than simply saying "Happy Birthday" on there Facebook Wall.
But I also send them from reputable sites that I know won't have any adverse effects on the recipients computer. But sending a e card, anonymous or not, seems nasty.
But I guess it's better than chickening out and not telling the person at all. And I'm sure it's also easier to send out a dozen or so of these cards than make a dozen or so calls.
DD: Hi Gina, since I'm not real familiar with which sites are reputable, would you mind sharing with everyone which sites are safe if we're sending an e-card or receiving one?
Posted by: Gina | October 22, 2008 12:44 PM
The sites I know to be reputable are bluemountain.com, Care2.com, and someecards.com.
I'm sure that three are more out there, in fact I'm sure that I've used others, but I know that these are safe.
DD: Thanks Gina!
Posted by: Gina | October 22, 2008 1:22 PM
Wow--talk about "anonymous sex"!
Unless you're promiscuous as hell, shouldn't you be at least somewhat close to a person you may have caught an STD from? I mean, how many partners would one have to have, such that they couldn't reasonably identify the sender of this anonymous STD e-card???
I guess I'm old-fashioned. But on the other hand-- I do send and receive e-cards!
DD: Good point, anonymous. I'd imagine most people would have a good idea of who sent it... but geez, what if you don't? Would you be worried your current squeeze sent it to you? Or your last one? And then what? Do you confront them? eeesh.
Posted by: Anonymous | October 22, 2008 4:53 PM
Ah, the break-up by post-it. That episode of Sex and the City was just on TBS the other night. Classic.
As creepy as the STD e-mail is, it's still better to know.
DD: Agreed, AlisaBS. Although, I still would not want to see that e-mail in my Inbox.
Posted by: AlisaBS | October 23, 2008 12:31 PM
I send e-cards to anyone in my address book with an e-mail account. In addition to the sites mentioned above, there is Plaxo, an address and social networking site. I use them almost exclusively and enjoy the replies from recipients. That is is free doesn't bother me either.
DD: Thanks for the tips, Bruce. Knowing which sites are legit helps a lot.
Posted by: Bruce Robinson | October 25, 2008 12:10 PM