# something weird with Hotmail?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-weird-with-hotmail/87007>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [October 12, 2001, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-weird-with-hotmail/87007 "2001-10-12T09:34:12Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![meyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@meyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meyer)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 9:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-weird-with-hotmail/87007/1 "2001-10-12T09:34:12Z")

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I don’t know if MPSIMS is the right place for this,but here we go:  
Am I the only one who has gotten a forwarded e-mail recently in their Hotmail inbox threatening that if I didn’t forward **My Account is Active** to 15 people, my account would be closed? I am inclined to view this as an urban legend, but I have recieved it from three sources around the world. It seems like an odd sort of thing to make up. I mean, what’s in it for the creator? Kicks? Ya-yas? Shits and giggles? I think not! WTF?  
Anyone with some insight would be greatly appreciated.

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**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 9:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-weird-with-hotmail/87007/2 "2001-10-12T09:36:06Z")

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Why does anyone write chain letters?

Yes, it’s a hoax. It’s poorly spelled and doesn’t make sense (why would Hotmail ask you to forward a mail? They send ad bulletins monthly to everyone anyway!).

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**Author:** ![meyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@meyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meyer)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-weird-with-hotmail/87007/3 "2001-10-12T21:03:35Z")

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Thanks, **Crusoe** , this makes me feel better about deleting this message the three times I got it. I pretty much figured it was harmless after the first time I deleted it and nothing happened.

But I guess htis gets me to another question:

_Why DO people write chain letters?_

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**Author:** ![meyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@meyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meyer)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-weird-with-hotmail/87007/4 "2001-10-12T21:03:35Z")

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Thanks, **Crusoe** , this makes me feel better about deleting this message the three times I got it. I pretty much figured it was harmless after the first time I deleted it and nothing happened.

But I guess this gets me to another question:

_Why DO people write chain letters?_

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**Author:** ![Arwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7c8e57/32.png) [@Arwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arwen)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-weird-with-hotmail/87007/5 "2001-10-12T21:53:10Z")

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Maybe for the same reason people post twice?  
NO NO just kidding!  
Maybe just because they’re bored junior high school kids who want to see how many times their gullible friends will pass something on.

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**Author:** ![meyer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ccd318/32.png) [@meyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meyer)\
**Post date:** [October 12, 2001, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/something-weird-with-hotmail/87007/6 "2001-10-12T22:02:59Z")

</div>

Thanks, **Crusoe** , this makes me feel better about deleting this message the three times I got it. I pretty much figured it was harmless after the first time I deleted it and nothing happened.

But I guess this gets me to another question:

_Why DO people write chain letters?_