Duh Mail

Frogland gets a lot of mail. A lot of mail.
Many emails are redundant, obvious, or just plain laziness.
For example, I must get about 3 or 4 emails a week (it used to be per day before I made folks read a bunch of disclaimers and notices before they could find an email form) that simply stated "please give me information about frogs" or "please send me pictures of frogs" (like I have nothing better to do than email stuff to folks who are too lazy to get it for themselves from the website!)
Sometimes it's annoying to the level of some kid who simply sends me a list of questions from their homework assignment. (Of course, that misses the whole point of doing research, now, doesn't it!)
Until I started running this website, I generally believed there was no such thing as a stupid question. However, once in a while I get an email so completely off the wall, or so absolutely ridiculous, that I simply can't help chuckle over what could have been going on inside the head of someone who makes such a request. These emails end up in my duh mail files.

Note: MOST of the personal information such as names, addresses, and email addresses are removed to protect the ignorant.

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Ah yes. How to win friends and influence people. That's right, because I am here only to serve you.
It's a frog site. I don't have info on elephants, giraffes, donkeys, or kangaroos either.
oh.. and to add to the "duhness"... the reply email address bounced.

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I think this sort of qualifies for duh mail...
It's not so much "duh" as "what the heck was this guy thinking??"
For a website aimed at 8 years olds, don't you think this guy is preaching to a weird audience? (I mean, considering this weeks poll is "If frogs could dance, which dance would they like best?")

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tee hee... ok, its an understandable question, given how dumb frogs can be, but you have to admit the question is cute.

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I replied that I had no idea what the question was...

Date: Fri, 24 Sep 1999 15:25:56 CDT
Subject: Re: Frogland Feedback Form
comments= on frog or toad you know the place on your site. on the side that tells about frogs you have a pic of a frog that frog looks like mine except the color of it because yours is not in color. my question is is mine a frog or toad

It turns out the person was talking about the Frogs and Toads page in the Weird Frog Facts section, which describes the difference between a frog and a toad. He meant that his frog looks JUST LIKE the picture depicting the frog (not the toad). So, he asks, which one was it, a frog or a toad? (clear as mud, eh?)

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<<mailing address was the only other content of this email>>

Oh sure...Which one did you want? "Make Money Working From Home" or "Lose Weight Now Ask Me How"?

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ooooh...looks like somebody is having one of those "teenager" days! (Note: the page she's refering to is the page where I describe myself and why I chose to create such a silly website about frogs

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errr...

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I just love the image of a frog eating a tofu burger for lunch.

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Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus

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Place frog on rock. Shake finger at frog while saying "Sit, Frog, Sit!"

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Doctor, does he need his teeth cleaned? Has he had his yearly checkup yet?

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Sadly, I was getting this question often enough to warrant adding it to the Some Common Questions section.

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I would love to know who sold her that line!

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Alot of cool art clips which I like, however I was concerned about what or if any...frogs had to do with evolution? I would be hesitant to use any clipart or send any links.. of frogs in correspondence to others if evoltion did play a role!

I know that my neice loves frogs because they are cute little animals and she collects them! She really enjoys them and I know it brings a smile to her face!

I would appreciate your response to my concern.

THANKS,
xxx xxx xxx (name was here)

P.S. to clarify "if needed" my concern: I am sure that there are some who identify frogs with evolution (i.e., DARWIN). Does your site acknowledge evolution?

"I LOVE YOUR SITE - P.S. I MIGHT HATE IT IF YOUR SITE ACKNOWLEDGES EVOLUTION"
and I also like the opening line to the complaint
"I personally.. absolutely DO NOT believe in this concept."
If it is personal belief, then why bring it up?
Of course, keep in mind she's talking about clip art of frogs telling jokes or hanging out under mushroom umbrellas. What I wanna know is, does she ask the religious beliefs of every waiter before she sits down to eat at a restaurant too?

And, my personal favorite: (drum-roll please)

Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1998 10:15:34 -0700 (PDT)
From: SKIPPY, INC.
Subj: SKIPPY name and character

Greetings,

I note that you use Skippy as names for frog lovers to use on your website. I am daughter of Percy Crosby, the famous American artist who created "Skippy", and we are celebrating his 75th anniversary this year. For more information, see our website, www.skippy.com.

With all due respect to your fans in frog world, we would appreciate your deleting all references to SKIPPY, or similar names, from your web page. SKIPPY is a famous trademark, and such uses to name pets, etc. creates dilution and injury to the name and character Skippy, Inc. licenses.

It may interest you to know that my father's comic strip character included Skippy's pet frog, (I don't recall frog's name).
Sincerely,
<<name>>
President, Skippy, Inc.

If the act of giving your pet frog the name Skippy "creates dilution and injury to the name and character Skippy, Inc. licenses" ...I wonder how she feels about Skippy, the PEANUT BUTTER!!
P.S. I never DID fix the offending page... so, officially, they may still sue me. The page this letter refers to is: Froggy Names! -- Names that Frogland visitors have given their pet frogs.

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