Oct. 7, 2008

"Mail Goggles" To Combat Stupid E-mails

Imbibed Too Much? New Gmail Feature Asks You Math Questions Before Allowing You To Send E-Mails You Might Later Regret

  •  (google.com)

(CNET)  Just a quick post to mention a silly (or is it?) experiment that Google has released to the public: Mail Goggles. This feature is designed to prevent you from sending stupid e-mails in the small hours, when you're most likely to be inebriated and at risk of making a complete idiot of yourself.

When enabled, Mail Goggles kicks in at the time you specify (default is between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. on Friday and Saturday), and throws five math problems up on the screen when you press "send." You have a limited period of time to solve them. If you can answer the questions, presumably you're of mind sound enough to tell off your boss, or pour your heart out to your ex-lover.

If you can solve simple math problems even when under the table, there's an option to ramp up the difficulty of the questions, but sadly they remain in the arithmetic realm and don't drift into interesting algebra or calculus.

To activate Mail Goggles, go into Gmail's settings, and turn on Mail Goggles in the "Labs" tab. Then adjust how and when it works in the "General" tab.

Seriously? I'm hoping this feature shows up on blogging products.


By Rafe Needleman
Copyright © 2008 CNET Networks, Inc., a CBS Company. All rights reserved.
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by barbaram99 October 14, 2008 7:36 PM EDT
I can''t do math so now this. The read it before post yer say,
Reply to this comment
by 5errr October 9, 2008 9:51 PM EDT
could come in handy for some
Reply to this comment
by j_flood October 8, 2008 8:24 AM EDT
Stupid emails? As if....
Reply to this comment
by rational_1 October 8, 2008 2:27 AM EDT
Well, I like the idea at the end proposed for a filter on bloggers. If you had to solve simple math problems to be able to post on this site, the number of posts would drop by about 90%.
Posted by random_radar at 09:49 PM : Oct 07, 2008

Don''t say that - I like reading your posts! LOL
Reply to this comment
by random_radar October 8, 2008 12:49 AM EDT
It''''s funny how nobody discusses the article...

Posted by bonquishta35 at 08:48 PM : Oct 07, 2008

Well, I like the idea at the end proposed for a filter on bloggers. If you had to solve simple math problems to be able to post on this site, the number of posts would drop by about 90%.
Reply to this comment
by bonquishta35 October 7, 2008 11:48 PM EDT
It''s funny how nobody discusses the article...
Reply to this comment
by spiritwalk October 7, 2008 11:36 PM EDT
You don''''t need one. A simple way to stop moronic and vicious bloging is to have everyone use their real name. When it requires courage to speak up most blogers will shut up.

Posted by spiritwalk at 05:34 PM : Oct 07, 2008

Except that moronic and vicious readers will use your real name for nefarious purposes, so if you do not have the money for high-end lawyers and a security system to augment whatever other protective measures you have taken...
Posted by ibsteve2u

------------------------------------------------------
Which just goes to show the total failure of the internet to be the great benefit to mankind it was touted to be 20 years ago.

People are always wringing their hands about how mankind has not evolved enough to deal with nuclear power. What a joke! The internet has become a haven for malajusted perverts and sociopaths, idiots are driving like maniacs through traffic texting on their phones, morons are in the unemployment line with bluetooths in their ears as if the actually have anything important that needs instant communicating, when kids play after school its in front of a video screen raping and killing SIM prostitutes with their thumbs.

No need to worry about mankind destroying itself with one blast of the bomb. All our handy gadget technology will take care of that.

Reply to this comment
by easeup-2009 October 7, 2008 11:19 PM EDT
Was that on your Commodore 64?

Posted by easeup at 02:30 PM : Oct 07, 2008

A Tandy 1000, actually.

Posted by ibsteve2u at 07:48 PM : Oct 07, 2008

I may disagree with your opinions, but you are definitely old school.

Cheers to you, Steve!
Reply to this comment
by missingamerica October 7, 2008 10:48 PM EDT
Was that on your Commodore 64?

Posted by easeup at 02:30 PM : Oct 07, 2008

A Tandy 1000, actually.
Reply to this comment
by missingamerica October 7, 2008 10:47 PM EDT
You don''t need one. A simple way to stop moronic and vicious bloging is to have everyone use their real name. When it requires courage to speak up most blogers will shut up.

Posted by spiritwalk at 05:34 PM : Oct 07, 2008

Except that moronic and vicious readers will use your real name for nefarious purposes, so if you do not have the money for high-end lawyers and a security system to augment whatever other protective measures you have taken...
Reply to this comment
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