# Filtering in gmail - can I glurge-proof my account?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filtering-in-gmail-can-i-glurge-proof-my-account/438398>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 20, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filtering-in-gmail-can-i-glurge-proof-my-account/438398 "2008-02-20T18:23:16Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Engywook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bc8723/32.png) [@Engywook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engywook)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filtering-in-gmail-can-i-glurge-proof-my-account/438398/1 "2008-02-20T18:23:16Z")

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Is there a way to filter emails that are sent to more than, say, 3 recipients?

There’s a number of people who I do want to hear from regularly, but not if it’s a message going out to upwards of 25 people. If it’s something I want to see (almost never - well, maybe if a baby was born or somebody got a job), I’d know about it ahead of time.

Filtering **-to:me** is a good crap-reduction tool, but it doesn’t address the issue I’m talking about, where I’m one of dozens of people on the **To:** line.

And yes, I have tried more old fashioned approaches, like trying to talk to these folks about it. Doesn’t help, as it’s a lot to ask to maintain a separate “mailing list that’s just like the other mailing list except it doesn’t have Engywook on it.” And I’ve given up the fight against the too-common urge to glurge. But if there’s any help in keeping this stuff from piling up in my inbox, would be much appreciated.

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**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filtering-in-gmail-can-i-glurge-proof-my-account/438398/2 "2008-02-20T18:31:08Z")

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Are there any names in the **to:** list whose presence guarantees that it’s a glurge mail?

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**Author:** ![Engywook](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/bc8723/32.png) [@Engywook](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engywook)\
**Post date:** [February 20, 2008, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/filtering-in-gmail-can-i-glurge-proof-my-account/438398/3 "2008-02-20T18:33:34Z")

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Good thinking… thanks!