R2OK!

R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

Just a quick question : at what point after someone dies do you remove them from your e-mail address book?

Straight away seems a bit cold.... oh well, he/she is gone.... click: delete... that's that.

I've two dead people in my address book, one died over three years ago, the other last year. Each time I've thought about deleting them, I've had second thoughts... well maybe not just yet.... is where I end up...... so over to you guys/girls. When is a good time?

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

A dilemma I have not yet had, thankfully.

Your e-mail is quite a personal thing (unless it's a business). Pressing the delete button seems such a final, even callous thing to do, but then again, why not? For anyone who is in the habit of forwarding stuff to all their contacts there's always the danger that something in questionable taste will end up in the dead person's inbox, although the chances are that their email address will have been closed by their next-of-kin anyway.

I do delete and amend names promptly (re deaths and divorces) in the address book we use for Christmas cards etc, to cover the remote chance that one year my wife will do them and forget who's with whom and who's no longer with anybody.
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Ron

littlepieces · Joined: 10 Jan 2010 Posts: 1098 Location: Lowestoft

Delete straight away not going to need it anymore.The only exception is very close loved ones
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I found out how you can hurt an insect.It's the bees knees

R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

Perhaps I’m sub-consciously hoping they’ll write somehow. Seems unlikely now. They’ve had a good while to settle-in wherever they’ve gone, if they could have, they would have written by now- maybe it’s time.

RockitRon · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 7646

John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

I read an article somewhere, forget where, which estimated how long your 'digital-soul' lives after your body has died. Sometimes it is years.

I'll probably be in that category. I've had websites for over 15 years, and one of my e-mail addresses for just as long. Possibly hundreds of music sites link to me. When I die many of those links will stay for years and years, but I know my family will have no interest in maintaining any websites I have.

I suppose when I die my family will use my e-mail addresses to inform friends, business colleagues and forums that I've passed away. I've seen such a thing happening on other forums. Over at R3ok they've had a couple of members die and a thread has been started by a wife or son who found the login details, and used the thread as a memorial site for members to remember.

I suppose my family may keep my e-mail addresses active until non-spam postings end.

Hmmm maybe I need a section in my will with all my logins! Otherwise Mrs W won't have a clue what to do. You've got me thinking R2Icon !!!
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John W

R2Icon · Joined: 10 Sep 2009 Posts: 1444

Tis done. Had a quick chat with Hubby, he said don't be silly, just delete them:

I rarely use my real name on line ( other than my first name and for shopping cos you have to) , when I pop, there'll be no trace other than my e-mail address.

It would be useful to have all log-ins etc in your Will but I think it's against the "rules" to write down your password anywhere... well for many things it is.