I have a friend that loves to bomb mass emails around.  And not lolcatz forwards or this article is totally awesome everyone should read it messages.  Emails that require that I, the recipient, actually do something in response to the email.  Mass emails suggesting that I support certain causes.  Mass emails asking for donations or asking me to volunteer time in some way.

And I love that friend.  He's trying to do great things for the world while working an intense job that eats up all his time.  I want to help him.

But usually I don't.

I get the mass emails, scan them quickly, let them sit in my inbox for a while, and then eventually realize that I'm just not going to get around to them and throw them away.

I just got one of his blasts, and I think I might have had a little realization (a realization that, quite possibly, everyone else has already had):

The reason I don't feel compelled to act on these well intentioned notices is that, if I get a notice in mass email form, it just simply couldn't be THAT important.  If my friend REALLY needed my help or REALLY thought I could save the world by giving some time or money, he would call me or send me a one on one note.  That's what I'd do if I really thought someone should pay attention and act.  I'd get in touch directly.  I'd demonstrate to my friends that I found the cause so important that I'd donate my time to spreading the word, one important person at a time.