It's official: bcc: has no point.

Ok, so you're sending an email to someone. It's an excellent, scathing email (or, alternatively, super flirty and filled with lots of innuendo) that had input from more authors than a Norton Anthology. You want to send it to the intended recipient, but you want your contributors to see it, too. Sure, you could just send it off and then fwd the copy from your sent mail. But that would be too easy. And safe. So you think, "Hey, I'll bcc: everyone...that way, they can see it and [insert recipient's name here] will never know." Until, of course, one of your bcc: folks decides to hit "reply all."

Say, for instance, (and disregarding your hard fast rule that you never ever put anything in writing) the email is one that seeps hatred and anger and just screams out "EFF YOU" in your oh so eloquent and passive aggressive way. You are so proud of this email that you don't want the jerk to be the only one who has the pleasure of reading your masterpiece. So you blind copy several of your BFFs. Jerkface can't see that you sent it to others, and your buds know that they have been blind copied (because they are in tune with technology and the intricacies of email). Everyone wins!

Until one of these friends, out of habit, decides to reply all. "Awesome email," she writes, "That effer deserves everything that's coming to him. I hate that kid so bad." She does not think he will also get the response because, logically, why would he?? Oh, but soon his email doorbell will ring. In his inbox: BFF's message. Oops.

Please tell me why--when the seeming point of bcc: is to keep other recipients secret FROM THE MAIN RECIPIENT--a "reply all" WOULD GO TO THE PERSON IN THE TO: LINE. Seriously, it surpasses all logic. It is a blind copy. Not a copy with glasses. BLIND. There is no reason for it to go to anyone but the original sender. Bcc: should protect you from snafus like this. But it doesn't. And I hate that.

If you don't believe me, do a test. You can trust me, though. I did a test today and, lo and behold, everyone including the original recipient received the response. Unfortunately for you, it was an innocent experiment and provided no drama...also to the dismay of my creative juices (who often need life altering inspiration).