This post originated from an RSS feed registered with Java Buzz by dion. Original Post: Email Pointers are Evil Feed Title: techno.blog(Dion) Feed URL: http://feeds.feedburner.com/dion Feed Description: blogging about life the universe and everything tech Latest Java Buzz Posts Latest Java Buzz Posts by dion Latest Posts From techno.blog(Dion)

It always drives me nuts when an application sends you an email with a link that points you back to the application and the link is info that could have just been placed in the original darn email.

Facebook does this with its messages. Just put my silly wall message IN the email. Please.

Michael Arrington has the same complaint about Pownce:

Pownce also does something that I find highly annoying. By default, you receive an email message every time you get a new friend or receive any sort of message. My inbox quickly filled up with dozens of emails telling me I had a message. But to read the message I have to click on a link and go to the service. The only reason for that is to generate page views. It’s easy to turn the notifications off, but most new users will start to get a lot of email clogging their inbox. Not a good way to start things off.

This is a hollow set of page views, and you can do more interesting things.