[header] How to respond to " clever " forwarded e mails [title] Recognize your audience. [step] When you get the first time-wasting email from someone, send them back a polite email saying, " please take me off your joke forwarding list. I don't have time right now to read jokes, inspirational messages, etc. 
, and i'm worried that i might overlook your important emails. " the person will email back in a huff saying that : [title] Be a little bit cranky right at the beginning--it can work wonders.