The process of opting out

I’m trying to take control of my inbox before it takes control of me.

I came to realize that I’m getting way too much email from senders who aren’t relevant to my life right now.

I guess at one time they were relevant, otherwise I wouldn’t have signed up for their emailed newsletters, updates and promotions.

But, while they may need me and my business, I don’t need them.

Here’s a sample of the folks I don’t want to hear from anymore: Mansion House, Fender Guitars, Boston Red Sox, Major League Baseball, SiriusXM, Marketing Profs, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, Southwest Airlines, Marriott hotels, Telecharge, 1-800-CONTACTS, Swing By Swing Golf and the Times Union Center in Albany, NY.

I’ve asked each of them -- and others besides -- to remove me from their mailing lists using that “unsubscribe” option that is normally in the teeniest and tiniest of print at the bottom of their emails.

At one time I opted in, now I’m opting out.

It’s not that I don’t love some of these folks -- I love Fender guitars and I love the Boston Red Sox, for example. I just don’t want or need to constantly hear from them.

Do I really care that Spooky World is going to be at Fenway Park for Halloween?

I know that I signed up to get the Fender newsletter and promotions at some point, though I can’t remember why. Perhaps it was some drawing for a free guitar.

Well, I didn’t get the guitar, but I certainly got more emails than I cared about or cared to read.

A lot of the promos come as a result of making a reservation for an airplane ticket or a hotel room.

I provided my email address so I could get my flight or room reservation confirmations emailed to me. They want my email so that they can bombard me with promos. It’s really not a fair trade.

Take the Mansion House, for instance. My wife and I had a lovely stay at the Mansion House on Martha’s Vineyard for her birthday last April.

When and if I want to go there again, I’ll seek you out. You don’t need to find me; I know where to find you.

I’m not an email hoarder. If it doesn’t matter, I don’t want it hanging around.

Some have listened better than others to my unsubscribe requests.

MLB.com has a difficult time getting the message. I unsubscribe and I still get emails.

A recent offer from Major League Baseball was for a rental car through Budget. No thank you … go away.

I’m looking for less clutter, more relevance. A lot of these come-ons are from the yesterdays in my life. I’m trying to focus more on the todays and the tomorrows.