Last night I got one of those emails that reminds me that even with all the great information on the Internet, you still need a brain to navigate it.
The lady who wrote me a flaming email and threatened legal action was complaining because the rental division of the company where I am a Realtor® has been sending her marketing emails which she considered spam. Apparently she had a not so nice experience this summer, and no one was able to make her feel better so the emails were the straw that broke the camel's back.
The problem is that I have nothing to do with the company's rental division. She obviously found me through an Internet search, and the email she sent was not even to my company email address.
I did a Google search, the rentals page was the top hit, and at the bottom of the page there were several links including one that would generate an email to the rentals folks. The page could have a better design, but there is a link labeled as an email address for rentals.
My guess is the irrate client clicked on the real estate homepage and randomly picked my name and sent me the nasty-gram. In my opinion that is a brain disconnect.
This is just one of many incidents that have convinced me over the years that some people are going to be clueless even if you give them the best tools. The Internet is no magic bullet for these folks. In fact it just gives them lots more opportunity to demonstrate that they are really do not understand the basics of modern life.
I have gotten so many weird requests from my review of the Depot at Cody Creek, that I specifically posted that the restaurant has its own website.
I have had a couple of requests for weddings there, and then a note asking why we aren't answering the phone at Cody Creek. I have only eaten there a couple of times in my life.
Then there is Newport Pig Cookoff. I get at least a call or two each spring from people wanting to enter the contest. All I have ever done is put up a website with some photos of the event.
Google search can add some clever intelligence for many of you who actually understand know how to use it, but for many folks it is a sledge hammer when they actually need a pair of tweezers.
Those folks who don't know what they are doing with Google, probably live their lives in a self induced fog. The Internet isn't a tool for them, its a place full of booby traps.
