Just received this and was moved so decided to share with you all

Almost all the premises on which that email is based would be very hard to prove. How on earth does the original writer know that the strongest people are the most sensitive, for example?

I don't like getting these things either, and like you, Jane, I won't forward anything like this on to my friends. Too soppy and sweet for my liking

Are these not the sort of aphorisms you get on calendars accompanying cute little kittens/puppies/ chicks/apple blossom? I have nothing agains any of the above, but a little saccharine goes a long way. I think, movedalot that your friends on GN, judging by the many posts and threads I have followed, need little in the way of exhortation to show compassion where it is needed.

Almost all the premises on which that email is based would be very hard to prove. How on earth does the original writer know that the strongest people are the most sensitive, for example?

How did I manage to duplicate that? No - don't try to answer.

I think these things can be very soppy, but as for please forward to all your friends it always makes me suspicious there might be a computer virus or such attached. I tend to delete these automatically.

They even used to get passed around at work which was practically a disciplinary offence because of the danger of introducing malware into a large interactive corporate computer system.

As*gracesmum * says there is a lot of kindness and support on GN when someone is in a difficult situation or upset or has disclosed sad histories. Although it is only "virtual" support and hugs it still means a lot to know that someone has listened and is sending you good wishes.

Here you are then ((((hugs)))) all round, but only if you want them. and

Unfortunately, the trusting disclosure of sadness can, in some cases, be used against you. I would counsel caution in telling too much about yourself on any forum.

I agree.

Especially as whatever you write can be accessed in the www.

I see a lot of kindness and support on GN but have also observed ( and been the receipient) of some ( at best) thoughtless and (at worst) deliberately unkind posts. I think the OP is far from innocent in all this - a recent post from her accused me of deliberately enjoying hurting people. Bit of dissonance between that and the twaddle in the email

Movedalot were you being tongue in cheek?

I read this as soon as it was posted and refrained from posting jingle's two fingers down the throat emoticon. Walk away, Bags! I said. Walk away!

It's a chain letter.

The sentiments may be fine, but they are expressed in that chain letter in a completely nauseating way. Yuck.

Exactly, Bags If a chain letter tells us to send £10 to the first person on the list, cross that name off and add your own, and pass it on, otherwise we will get seven years of bad luck - we throw it in the bin. They are blackmail.

What these emails of manufactured aphorisms are telling us to do is to send a copy to everyone you know or you will make everyone believe you are a hard unfeeling bitch - so they should be binned too.

If you want to communicate a good thought about life, do it in your own words, and voluntarily. That will have ten times the value.

I am not saying the sentiments in this chain email are all bad. They are not, but they are like plastic flowers compared to real ones. Would you take a friend a plastic daffodil?

Yes, if it was a good one!

I have a plastic chicken that's really nice. Made out of recycled plastic bags.

Purple ones.

But I do understand really, elegran (as you know).

Anything that asks you to 'send this to all your friends' is suspect... always to be found in scam emails... if nothing else, such mass forwarding merely wastes bandwidth and clogs up the system.

I have broken so many chains in the last thirty years... and I'm still here to write about it!

And if you don't believe what feetlebaum says about the danger of chain emails here is one of many on-line warnings.

That's a handy link, anno

I have been accused of virtually everything apart from the genocide of native Americans by people who profess to be very kind and compassionate. I find it quite amusing.

I just logged on to some very kind messages from Gns so had to take a quick look at this thread to see what they were talking about before I rush out again.

A couple of comments:

Totally agree about chain mails, I always ignore that bit but do send back to others when requested so they don't get hurt feelings.

There is an excellent book by a well known psychiatrist entitled "Depression the Curse of the Strong" which explains that comment if any of you would like to read it. His name is Dr Tim Cantopher.

Perhaps it is difficult to understand the sentiments in the message unless you have suffered in the way the person who sent it to me has. It certainly moved me because I have suffered and know what she is going through. Clearly all those who have messaged me must have such experience too. I can see that it would be difficult to understand if you don't have that experience.

I do understand.

I don't like the way what I understand perfectly well has been expressed.

Simple distinction.

The reason I don't like the manner of the expression is because it has a holier than thou, chain-mail blackmailing feel to it.

Some of it is rubbish as well – such as the three hardest things to say example. Assumptions about others, much?

You have often objected to the way something has been expressed on GN, moved. That's all people are doing here.