We must have copies of these exchanges. Tone is hard to communicate on-line and requires extra sensitivity from writers. Moreover, rudeness, anger, and contentiousness surface more readily in e-mail exchanges than elsewhere. E-mail copies are often distributed to too many people. Replies to e-mails are unintentionally posted to an entire distribution list that are intended only as a reply to the author of the original posting.
Forwards fly around the Internet.
Some people here enjoy receiving and passing along these forwards but others resent them. Ethical issues arise. Employees surf the 'net for pleasure and exchange personal e-mails during work hours. Employers can read employees' personal e-mails and track their Internet explorations. These are areas of potential conflict and concern.