Insurance Companies Were Born in Kenya!!1111ONEONEONE

September 3, 2009 6:48 AM

I want to write a chain e-mail that makes health insurance companies sound like Satan, making the case for healthcare reform. What elements are most important in making something that both (1) travels far and (2) is convincing?

Is it the capital letters? The use of outmoded colored and bolded text? The intensity of the claims?

posted by Franklin76 to Law & Government (9 answers total)

I think that depends on who you want to use as vectors for the information.

You can appeal to fear or intelligence, slant your villains and heroes to reach people on the right or the left. You could probably include kitten pictures or one panel comics if you want to get the Grandma market.

Who are you trying to reach?
posted by JeremiahBritt at 6:53 AM on September 3, 2009

How about just forwarding around The Daily Dish's View from the Sickbed series? Don't make anything up; there are enough lies floating around.

AND DON'T MAKE YOUR EMAIL LOOK LIKE SPAM. DO YOU PARTICULARLY WANT TO PAY ATTENTION TO TEXT THAT LOOKS LIKE THIS?
posted by oinopaponton at 6:55 AM on September 3, 2009

Please don't do this. Chain emails are not a solution; they're a problem.
posted by DWRoelands at 6:58 AM on September 3, 2009 [4 favorites]

My parents and grandparents forward anything with American flags and/or references to 9/11, firefighters, cops, and military personnel. Especially if it contains animated gifs! You need to convey that YOU ARE A BAD AMERICAN IF YOU DON'T FORWARD THIS.
posted by desjardins at 7:02 AM on September 3, 2009

Instead of adding fuel to the fire, why not write thoughtful and compelling reasons to support health care reform, simply written, and documented with links that are likely to stay accurate for at least 6 months. And with links to sites where people can find contact info for their legislators. Respectfully suggest that readers research the issues, and make thoughtful and compassionate decisions, which they will then communicate to their elected officials. Link to Obama's activism site, encouraging like-minded people to get out and demonstrate their support in their hometowns.

Calmly suggest that recipients of the email send it to anyone who might find it useful. Don't use graphics that clog inboxes. At then end, put a note that says: This information expires no later than February 15, 2010. Please don't forward it after that date.

I really, really dislike chain mail, and delete it promptly. But I would consider forwarding a personal appeal that's well-written, informative and well-linked.
posted by theora55 at 7:03 AM on September 3, 2009

So you are saying you want to spam people? What a really bad idea. I would delete your e-mail immediately, of course, whether I agreed with it or not.
posted by Guy_Inamonkeysuit at 7:24 AM on September 3, 2009

In addition to (1) travels far and (2) is convincing, it might also help if it was (3) accurate and factual.

I'm not saying you shouldn't be persuasive, just that being honest is also important. And I don't think bringing honesty into the picture would make it any more difficult, since they often go out of their way to sound like Satan.
posted by tomwheeler at 7:25 AM on September 3, 2009 [1 favorite]

Great. More spam.
posted by dfriedman at 7:31 AM on September 3, 2009

This question is disturbing on several levels. First, wanting to create a chain email regardless of subject is simply wrong. Second, believing that a chain email will be convincing implies a level of understanding that is severely deficient. But, the question deserves an answer so I will try. The best way to look at this is to get into the mind of someone who would be convinced. Since you think these things can be convincing, what would sway you? Bold letters? Pictures of grossly sick people? Whatever it is that would change your mind, put in the letter. I suspect that the key is to go after people's fears such as running out of money in old age because of medical bills and/or being left to die an ugly death because of their current insurance or lack thereof. Maybe a link to how well health care is in Canada or Britain or other countries with similar plans to the one for which you are advocating.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:34 AM on September 3, 2009