I received an e-mail recently about how I am always “harping” about using BCc: to shield your contact’s e-mail addresses from strangers.  They then literally scolded me for not mentioning how to find the BCc: feature.   How dare I tell anyone to do something without telling them how!  Wow…. now I am responsible for those who have made no effort to learn how to use their e-mail software?

Actually I do discuss this in an article on NetManners.com (see below) and I will cover the basics here as well for those who make no effort to learn how to properly use their e-mail programs.

Where is the BCc:? How do you find it?

Part of the problem is that most programs do not make the BCc: intuitively findable or visible. I use Eudora which has a BCc: field right under the Cc: field and above the Attachment: field — you can’t miss it.

For all the other programs many insist on using, the BCc: isn’t easy to find and you have to search for this option. For other software and Web based sites, here is what you do:

First, start a new message, then:

• In Outlook, if BCc: isn’t showing, create a message, and from the View menu, click BCc: Field.
• In Outlook Express, click View >All Headers.
• In Netscape, click the TO: button, then double-click Bcc:.
• In AOL, put the BCc: addresses in the “Copy To” box, using parentheses and separating each address with a comma.
• In Yahoo!, click Add BCc:.
• BCc: on Mac mail: Open a new email. In the bottom left of the title block is the Customize button. a menu opens, click on “BCc Address Field”. This will appear on all future e-mails.
• Seamonkey: Click on the “To:” button and highlight “BCc”.

The BCc: feature should be used when e-mailing a bunch of contacts who don’t know each other because you don’t want to publish their e-mail addresses without their permission or expose them to strangers.

If anyone wants to contribute to “How to Find the BCc:” on software or platforms I’ve not mentioned above, please do comment here and add your tips and suggestions and I will be pleased to add your information to my article “Don’t Brush Off Privacy!”.

The bottom line here is it is your responsibility to learn to use all the features of your e-mail software program. It is also each user’s responsibility to understand the technology in which they are participating in so that they may engage in an informed and courteous manner.