ELI5: Is it rude to use CC or BCC in certain situations?

Yes, using CC or BCC can be rude depending on the situation, like not sharing a secret fairly.

Imagine you're telling your friend Sarah a story about your trip to the zoo.

• CC (Carbon Copy) is like telling Sarah the story, but also letting your other friend Tom listen in. Tom now knows everything Sarah knows. It's okay if you want Tom to know and if Sarah doesn't mind. For example, if you’re planning a surprise party for your mom and want both Sarah and Tom to help, CC'ing them is fine because everyone is working together and knows who is involved.

• But what if you were telling Sarah a secret about Tom? Suddenly, it's not okay to CC Tom! He wasn't supposed to know. This is rude because you're sharing something private without permission.

• BCC (Blind Carbon Copy) is like telling Sarah the story, but secretly letting Tom listen without Sarah knowing. Sarah thinks she's the only one hearing the story, but Tom is actually listening too.

• For example, if you’re sending an email to a group of parents about a school event, BCC'ing them protects their email addresses from being shared with everyone else. This is usually polite.

• However, if you're BCC'ing your boss on an email to a coworker without the coworker's knowledge, it can be seen as sneaky and untrustworthy. It's like eavesdropping!