The FOSS Force Readers’ Poll
How do you receive and send your email? Inquiring minds want to know.
Last week’s article about Mozilla thinking of kicking Thunderbird out of the house to stay with friends started us thinking. For some reason, probably because our thoughts were on other things, such as the difference between the java in our cup (Chock full o’ Nuts, which has no nuts, by the way) and the Java on our machines (which has no Chock full o’ Nuts — go figure), it never occurred to us that the mobile revolution might’ve changed the way folks use email more than we’d realized.
Until now, we’ve figured that most people still basically relied on the trusty ol’ desktop to meet most of their email needs, with only occasional mobile use, given the iffiness of mobile security. As FOSSers, we basically rely on desktop clients such as Thunderbird connected to domain based servers and only use free web based services like Gmail in special circumstances, like when signing up for something on some site that’s sure to start sending a barrage of spam. And some of us get really weird when it comes to email on mobile — but more on that later.
When someone on an email list (we were reading it on our desktop using Thunderbird, BTW) said Thunderbird is dying because it’s a desktop client and that no one is using them anymore, the office was engulfed in silence. We looked at one another like tots who’d just discovered the truth about Santa Claus and said in unison, “They’re not?”
Yup. It was a magical moment. You should’ve been there.
Anyway, we’ve decided to get to the bottom of this. We want to know how people actually use their email. Not just any people, mind you, as we already know that most people, not being overly interested in privacy, security or free tech, use email any way that suits their fancy. We want to know how FOSSers, folks who read FOSS Force and who are presumably informed and knowledgeable about these issues, use email.
So, we’re running a poll.
| [yop_poll id=”48″] |
Are you like our crazy editor (please don’t tell her we called her that, because she gets insane, even worse than Mr. Torvalds, when she’s angry) who uses email almost exclusively on the desktop and never on her phone unless she’s out-of-town, and then by way of an anonymous Gmail account on a disposable Tracfone burner? Do you use one of the high security services that does everything possible, short of running your email through TOR, to keep your emails out of the prying eyes of the NSA? Or do you figure it doesn’t matter, use Microsoft’s email since they’re so trustworthy and all, and have all of your emails auto-forwarded to appear on your Facebook wall? Again, inquiring minds want to know.
Hey, maybe you’re so paranoid that you don’t use email at all, like one of our writers, who insists on sending us his articles via snail mail. But we suspect he has other problems…
As you probably notice, we’ve got plenty of answers — ten of them, as a matter of fact. As Roseanne Roseannadanna used to say, we ask a lot of questions for folks from New Jersey, and not a one of us is from the Garden State. Feel free to select all that apply to you, but remember to get them all on the first try, as you won’t be allowed to return to the ballot box after you cast your vote. Oh, and if you use a solution that didn’t occur to us, which is entirely possible as a few of us are at that stage where we have “senior moments,” go ahead and list it under the “other” option.
On Wednesday, well be back and let you know what we gleaned from this poll. We’ll try to be a little more serious about it, but we make no promises.
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