Can One Click an Ink?

Plugging in...

What is the difference between INK and LINK? Yes, smarty pants, the answer is the letter L. And doesn't that seem like such and easy answer? It wasn't to a user who wasn't carefully reading a message on their AOL email screen.

Good old AOL has a safety/security feature that turns OFF all clickable links in received emails so the reader won't get tricked into going to malicious websites (referred to as phishing). AOL does this on purpose, but doesn't broadcast it in letters larger than 8 points (tiny, tiny). So a recent Tutoree received an email with a clickable link to some mouth-watering recipes, except the link wouldn't go anywhere. BUT, the click resulted in a message in the middle of the screen...

After many frustrating attempts, a Tutor call was made but the Tutor had difficulty understanding the nature of the error: images and ink have been deactivated for your safety, blah, blah, blah. Since the Tutor couldn't make heads or tales of why an INK message would appear when clicking a link in an email, she made a visit.

As with many visits, the problem was apparent as soon as the Tutor witnessed the user in action. The message read LINK, not INK. And the fog lifted. The AOL message also stated: click above to activate clickable images and links. Clicking above meant hunting for the miniscule type in the right corner, admist other textual messages. If one clicked "above", the links would have been activated, which just means they would work, darn it all! The lesson? Slow down and read. Reading is fundamental. You've heard it, read it in this blog before, and now you're reading it again.

The Tutor got proactive and changed the AOL settings to always allow images and links to be active within emails. Phew. Those mouth-watering recipes sure worked up the Tutor's appetite.

ALWAYS REMEMBER: before calling for help - is it plugged in, is it activated, and is it turned on?

Unplugged