Is BCc: Polite?

Have you found yourself the recipient of e-mail messages where there were probably recipients listed in the BCc; field, leaving you in the dark about who was or was not included in the message?

What are the E-mail Etiquette considerations for hiding recipient’s names from others on the mailing list? Isn’t this akin to having a phone conversation on a speakerphone without telling the person you’re calling?

In this situation that would depend on the reason for using BCc:. Is the Sender trying to protect the privacy of their contact’s by not exposing their addresses to others receiving the e-mail whom they may not know? Or, is the Sender quietly letting others know of a conversation with someone else? The latter could be good or bad depending on motives; while the former is the right thing to do.

If the others that were BCc’d do not know each other, putting their e-mail addresses in the BCc: field to protect the privacy of their e-mail address is the proper thing to do. Now, if you all know each other and don’t mind having the others see your e-mail addresses, the question then becomes, what was the Sender’s motive in BCc’ing folks on a correspondence?

If you are e-tattling or copying others who are not related to the conversation to share what is being exchanged purely to gossip — shame on you. E-mails are sent to you for your eyes only. To e-tattle, CYA or included other uninvolved parties will only serve to reflect negatively on you!

Motive is key…

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