# "Email this thread" function? **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [July 21, 2007, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687 "2007-07-21T18:15:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2007, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/1 "2007-07-21T18:15:13Z")
The last time I tried to use the “Email this thread” function, it worked, but that was probably two years ago at least. Has it been disabled in the interim, or am I just doing something wrong? When I click “Email this thread”, I get a page informing me that I don’t have enough privileges to access that function. By the way, the FAQ item about editing posts in this thread: [FAQ - Technical issues for Posting - About This Message Board - Straight Dope Message Board](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=384827) is now out of date. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/2 "2007-07-24T14:38:59Z")
Anyone? Bueller? ---
**Author:** ![milquetoast](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@milquetoast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milquetoast)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/3 "2007-07-24T19:08:16Z")
[QUOTE=MsWhatsit] Anyone? Bueller? [/QUOTE] You might get a better response if you email this thread to other dopers. 😃 I just tried it. It doesn’t work for me either. But I don’t recall ever having tried it before. So nothing informative from me. Just confirming for you that you’re not the only left on this planet (that has posted to this thread). ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2007, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/4 "2007-07-24T19:14:22Z")
No idea. I’ve never used the function. FYI you can sent a link by email with IE or Firefox. It’s in the “File” menu. Also, with IE, you can send the page itself as an attachment. ---
**Author:** ![MsWhatsit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb8c5e/32.png) [@MsWhatsit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MsWhatsit)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/5 "2007-09-29T17:35:51Z")
Bumping my own thread to thank **TubaDiva** for the recent announcement that this feature is being turned back on. Woot! ---
**Author:** ![crowmanyclouds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crowmanyclouds/32/19884_2.png) [@crowmanyclouds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crowmanyclouds)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2007, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/6 "2007-09-29T21:50:20Z")
[QUOTE=rowrrbazzle] No idea. I’ve never used the function. FYI you can sent a link by email with IE or Firefox. It’s in the “File” menu. Also, with IE, you can send the page itself as an attachment. [/QUOTE] There’s a nifty little bookmarklet for FF that will let you send a link, title, & highlighted text of the page you are viewing using GMail, Google Apps GMail, Yahoo, Hotmail and Stand-Alone Mail Clients like Outlook Express, Thunderbird, etc. [**Email This! Bookmarklet Extension**](https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/3102) This one works with IE, [**Email-Me bookmarklet**](http://www.ensiting.com/tools/email_me) and there are [many](http://www.google.com/search?num=100&complete=1&hl=en&newwindow=1&safe=off&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=email+bookmarklet&spell=1) more! CMC fnord! ---
**Author:** ![Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/4da419/32.png) [@Gala\_Matrix\_Fire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gala_Matrix_Fire)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2007, 11:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/7 "2007-09-30T11:25:10Z")
Question: If I email a thread to a friend, will there be anything to tip my friend of to my username, such as the “welcome, bluethree” in bold at the upper right corner? I don’t want my non-SDMB friends to know my SDMB username. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2007, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/8 "2007-09-30T15:44:52Z")
[QUOTE=bluethree] Question: If I email a thread to a friend, will there be anything to tip my friend of to my username, such as the “welcome, bluethree” in bold at the upper right corner? I don’t want my non-SDMB friends to know my SDMB username. [/QUOTE] I’m afraid it shows your screen name. Using the “email this page” function I sent the page to myself and here’s the message I got: > [@](#): > > This is a message from TubaDiva ( [mailto:tubadiva@aol.com](mailto:tubadiva@aol.com) ) from the Straight Dope Message Board ( [Straight Dope Message Board - Your direct line to thousands of the smartest, hippest people on the planet, plus a few total dipsticks.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/) ). > > The message is as follows: > > I thought you might be interested in reading this web page: > [http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=429754&referrerid=32](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=429754&referrerid=32) > > From, > TubaDiva I believe it automatically puts in your screen name so no, there’s nothing you can do about that. I don’t think it works for guests or non-registered people, only members, it’s another perk of registration. Sorry. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2007, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/9 "2007-09-30T17:30:58Z")
[QUOTE=TubaDiva] I’m afraid it shows your screen name. \ I believe it automatically puts in your screen name so no, there’s nothing you can do about that. I don’t think it works for guests or non-registered people, only members, it’s another perk of registration. [/QUOTE] With all due respect, that is one seriously lame perk. Way to save me a cut’n’paste - though now I have to type out my friend’s email address. Is there an abuse issue that makes you want to keep guests from using it? I ask because it seems to me that the only use of this “send a link” feature is to build membership and would probably be more effective if anyone at all who comes across an interesting thread could choose to share it. eta: though now I see it automatically attaches my SDMB registered email to the messsage. Does it check if you have chosen to make your email address public before doing that? ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2007, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/10 "2007-09-30T21:34:24Z")
You don’t have to use it. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/11 "2007-10-01T04:14:00Z")
[QUOTE=TubaDiva] You don’t have to use it. [/QUOTE] Phew, I was worried about that. Anywhistle, I think my actual points still stand. It would probably be beneficial to allow guests to use it and to not include email addresses in the auto-message. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/12 "2007-10-01T13:52:02Z")
[QUOTE=CarnalK] Phew, I was worried about that. Anywhistle, I think my actual points still stand. It would probably be beneficial to allow guests to use it and to not include email addresses in the auto-message. [/QUOTE] That you’ll have to take up with the guys at vB, that’s not an option to turn on or off in this function, it’s either functional or not in this version, that’s your choices. ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/13 "2007-10-01T17:02:17Z")
[QUOTE=TubaDiva] That you’ll have to take up with the guys at vB, that’s not an option to turn on or off in this function, it’s either functional or not in this version, that’s your choices. [/QUOTE] That’s too bad. I wonder if there is some potential for abuse we aren’t thinking of. FYI, I checked a few other vB sites, most seem to have it set to members only but at Literotica, at least, allows guests to email links to threads. Example: [http://forum.literotica.com/sendmessage.php?do=sendtofriend&t=539712](http://forum.literotica.com/sendmessage.php?do=sendtofriend&t=539712) Checking the page source, it looks like they are using version 3.0.10 compared to our 3.0.7 ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/14 "2007-10-01T17:59:38Z")
[QUOTE=CarnalK] That’s too bad. I wonder if there is some potential for abuse we aren’t thinking of. [/QUOTE] If they didn’t attach some kind of identification to the message, you’d be able to anonymously email anyone you want without them figuring out who the message came from. The potential for abuse is huge (harrassment, threats, etc). ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/15 "2007-10-01T18:24:53Z")
[QUOTE=Slacker] If they didn’t attach some kind of identification to the message, you’d be able to anonymously email anyone you want without them figuring out who the message came from. The potential for abuse is huge (harrassment, threats, etc). [/QUOTE] Well, no more than a hotmail account - the IPs would be logged when you went to the “send message” page, which is distinct for each thread to be emailed. I’m curious whether a guest who was signed in would be able to use this feature. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/16 "2007-10-01T19:08:43Z")
[QUOTE=CarnalK] Well, no more than a hotmail account - the IPs would be logged when you went to the “send message” page, which is distinct for each thread to be emailed. [/QUOTE] I tried to use Hotmal to email a harrassing note “CarnalK@tehsdmb.internets” and it didn’t work. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/17 "2007-10-01T20:00:50Z")
Heh. Well, you are basically suggesting that the function could be abused as an anonymous remailer. My counterpoints would be that the internet is already rather well stocked in remailers and those others give much better anonymity because, like I said, the SDMB would actually be logging IPs unlike real remailers specifically designed for anonymity. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/18 "2007-10-01T20:17:50Z")
But why on Earth would the SDMB provide this service? Is being able to email people anonymously a benefit people have been clamoring for? ---
**Author:** ![CarnalK](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnalk/32/486_2.png) [@CarnalK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CarnalK)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/19 "2007-10-01T20:30:08Z")
“This service” being Emailing a link? Or being a second rate remailer? The whole point, ISTM, is to widen readership by letting people easily share an interesting thread. What you are talking about is a worst case scenario usage and extremely unlikely to materialize. ---
**Author:** ![Slacker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6bbea6/32.png) [@Slacker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slacker)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2007, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687/20 "2007-10-01T20:33:04Z")
I’m all for letting people share an interesting thread. I’m only addressing the anonymous part of it. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/email-this-thread-function/412687.md?page=2)