# URGENT!TIME SENSITIVE! DO NOT DISREGARD (yeah, right) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 6, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-time-sensitive-do-not-disregard-yeah-right/662804 "2013-07-06T19:08:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chockfullofheadygoodness/32/511_2.png) [@ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ChockFullOfHeadyGoodness)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2013, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-time-sensitive-do-not-disregard-yeah-right/662804/1 "2013-07-06T19:08:36Z")
Just got 2 indentical pieces of mail marked in huge letters "TIME SENSITIVE MATERIAL. DO NOT DISCARD. On the back “TIME SENSITIVE. OPEN IMMEDIATELY.” Just how time-sensitive were these urgent missives? Well, they were both addressed to my father. Who died in 2006. I’m somewhat skeptical about the urgency of this mail. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2013, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-time-sensitive-do-not-disregard-yeah-right/662804/2 "2013-07-06T22:45:22Z")
Generally, any mail that says something like that, or “Important Document Inside”, or similar can be immediately discarded. It’s like drunks in a bar: if they feel the need to proclaim that they are important … they aren’t. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-time-sensitive-do-not-disregard-yeah-right/662804/3 "2013-07-08T02:43:22Z")
I got something in the mail a while back from our health insurance company. The envelope said IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED! When I opened it, it was just a confirmation letter for some form we had already submitted, and the letter said “You do not need to do anything at this time.” So I was a little confused… ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-time-sensitive-do-not-disregard-yeah-right/662804/4 "2013-07-08T02:49:11Z")
When ever I get something that looks like what the OP said, usually in bright bold RED and YELLOW, it usually turns out to be some offer to reduce my mortgage from some no name mortgage company. I remember hearing (here) once that the more important a letter looks, the less important in usually is. I try to keep that in mind and when they look like that, I just toss them out without even opening them. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-time-sensitive-do-not-disregard-yeah-right/662804/5 "2013-07-08T03:33:05Z")
Yup. This is a classic example of the ‘if you have to _tell_ people that you’re sexy, you’re not sexy’ principle. ---
**Author:** ![Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@Freddy\_the\_Pig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freddy_the_Pig)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-time-sensitive-do-not-disregard-yeah-right/662804/6 "2013-07-08T14:01:40Z")
My favorite is: “Post master: Please deliver on or before xx/xx/xx”, as if the post office delivers mail faster if you just ask them. ---
**Author:** ![Engineer\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9fc29f/32.png) [@Engineer\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engineer_Dude)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-time-sensitive-do-not-disregard-yeah-right/662804/7 "2013-07-08T14:15:24Z")
Just recently, I got something addressed to me in a Hallmark envelope in what looked like silver, cursive handwriting. It looked like something you could have sworn your Grandma put together. Inside: an offer for DirecTV. My wife was not amused. I thought it was hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-time-sensitive-do-not-disregard-yeah-right/662804/8 "2013-07-08T14:18:11Z")
I routinely get “URGENT” notifications asking me to call to see if I qualify for a lower insurance rate. Meanwhile, I nearly threw away what was apparently the second notification from Ohio BMV informing me that I was randomly selected to prove that I had auto insurance, and that if I didn’t comply by x date, they’d suspend my driver’s license. :eek: At first glance, I thought that the return address said “BMW.” We sold that car years ago, but still occasionally get junkmail re it. Thank goodness I looked closer. It would have helped if they put “WE’LL SUSPEND YOUR DRIVER’S LICENSE IF YOU DON’T OPEN THIS. SERIOUSLY!” on the envelope. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-time-sensitive-do-not-disregard-yeah-right/662804/9 "2013-07-08T15:12:10Z")
Got one recently. Just like the OP: TIME SENSITIVE MATERIAL. DO NOT DISCARD. " OPEN IMMEDIATELY." In red: **TO BE OPENED BY RECIPIENT ONLY!** Attn Postmaster-CRITICAL DOCUMENTS ENCLOSED Logo on the envelope was [an eagle](http://www.google.com/imgres?client=firefox-a&hs=wUE&sa=X&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&biw=1515&bih=818&tbm=isch&tbnid=4yq_dB59tLb3lM:&imgrefurl=http://www.mopac.org/mphs_web_graphics.asp&docid=B3-6n2o7BovQUM&imgurl=http://www.mopac.org/graphics/mp_eagle_logo.jpg&w=435&h=269&ei=R9XaUbrpH4jw8QTWk4DQDQ&zoom=1&ved=1t:3588,r:46,s:0,i:236&iact=rc&page=3&tbnh=166&tbnw=270&start=45&ndsp=32&tx=145&ty=114) and the return address was from the Department of Revenue. Local car dealership was having a sale the upcoming weekend. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-time-sensitive-do-not-disregard-yeah-right/662804/10 "2013-07-08T15:23:34Z")
These letters are the ones I carefully (not so much) rip out the “urgent” language from the envelope, cram it into the return envelope and mail it back to the company. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-time-sensitive-do-not-disregard-yeah-right/662804/11 "2013-07-08T15:30:24Z")
> [@Engineer\_Dude](#): > > Just recently, I got something addressed to me in a Hallmark envelope in what looked like silver, cursive handwriting. It looked like something you could have sworn your Grandma put together. Inside: an offer for DirecTV. > > My wife was not amused. I thought it was hilarious. Sounds like the campaign where they mailed anonymous, stalker-sounding letters to women. > **[The 6 Most Baffling Marketing Disasters by Famous Companies](https://www.cracked.com/article_20438_the-6-most-baffling-marketing-disasters-by-famous-companies.html)** > > The line between roaring success and humiliating disaster is so, so thin in the world of advertising. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-time-sensitive-do-not-disregard-yeah-right/662804/12 "2013-07-08T16:35:41Z")
Between our own junk mail and the previous owners’ shit I miss important letters all the time. :mad: I’ve started throwing away all the prior occupant mail; it’s been 5 years since we bought the house. If they want to hear from you, they’ll call. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-time-sensitive-do-not-disregard-yeah-right/662804/13 "2013-07-08T18:39:27Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > I got something in the mail a while back from our health insurance company. The envelope said IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED! We get those all the time. I immediately throw it in the trash. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Antigen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/848f3c/32.png) [@Antigen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Antigen)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-time-sensitive-do-not-disregard-yeah-right/662804/14 "2013-07-08T18:54:24Z")
Every time I get one of those, it’s a very urgent notice telling me that my car warranty is about to expire and I should really sign up with these folks for my protection. I open them all anyway, because I know I’ll get burned one of these days if I don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/prof.pepperwinkle/32/13627_2.png) [@Prof.Pepperwinkle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prof.Pepperwinkle)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-time-sensitive-do-not-disregard-yeah-right/662804/15 "2013-07-08T18:56:11Z")
My wife’s father died in 1992. We still get these addressed to him. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-time-sensitive-do-not-disregard-yeah-right/662804/16 "2013-07-08T19:03:33Z")
These mailings are LYING. They are saying things with the intent to mislead or deceive the recipient. Loads of advertising does this. We learn to accept this. And yet, I can’t help but wonder if this isn’t doing us some kind of harm. We get these daily lessons that people are lying and we should not trust them, and we accept it. Isn’t this kind of weird? ---
**Author:** ![cmkeller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmkeller/32/118_2.png) [@cmkeller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmkeller)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/urgent-time-sensitive-do-not-disregard-yeah-right/662804/17 "2013-07-08T19:17:57Z")
My favorite is when they declare in big letters that it’s a federal offense for anyone but the intended recipient to open this letter. Yeah, it’s true…of ANY letter. The specific piece of junk mail in question is no more a matter of concern for the feds than anything else. But of course, they want you to think “this is so important that no one but you can read it under penalty of law.” Mass mailers, what wacky misplaced sense of urgency won’t they think of next?