[ILUG] [OT] Re: Spam et al.

[Dave Wilson]

>    a) Remove addresses usually don't exist; resistance to the spam is
> 	futile!

Everything you see in a spam shold be viewed with suspicion, including
remove addresses and usually-spurious references to usually-nonexistent
legislation. Report the spam to the ISP that sent it, and their upstream
if you receive an inadequate response.

>    b) Some poor computer-luser is making a dishonest buck or too out of
> 	sending the message, which he probably needs, as if he didn't, he
> 	wouldn't have such a crap job.

Some poor computer-abuser is stripmining shared resources for his
own ends.

> 	   "Save the trees, receive marketing by e-mail! And if you don't
> 	    like it, you can always click it away!"

Bullshit. The big problem with spam is not the annoyance, but receiver Pays.
Same problem with faxes, and the same problem that killed CB radio. There
are valid, viable and proven ways of marketing on the internet without
machine-gunning 999 users' mailboxes to reach the 1 who has an interest.
Spam as a marketing tool is damaging to the medium that carries it and
threatens to endanger it.

The threat of Email becoming as unpopular, unreliable and expensive as
Usenet is very real if 3MB attachments and 99pc-mistargeted (but damned
cheap to send) advertisements are allowed to become the norm. The person
sending the spam doesn't give a shit about trees, or the continued
usefulness of email. If they did, they'd print their marketing material
on recycled paper and spend 28p to get it to their target group. They care
about making a quick few dollars by knowlingly breaking the AUP of every
host they send their advertisement through.

Not to mention those that abuse the resources of third parties with
insecure mailservers. Spammers are scum.

Marketers are welcome to work with a large number of people (whitehat.com,
MAPS, RIPE anti-spam-wg, etc. etc.) to find a useful method of marketing
that is as effective as direct postal mail without damaging the
infrastructure that carries it. Many have, and are pleased with the
results. You may draw your own conclusions about the rest.

Dave

-- 
 dave.wilson at heanet.ie --------------------------------------- +353-1-662-3412
 It is one thing to pray; it is another to pray to entities who might not only
 be listening, but who will search you out on the road and beat you across the
 head with sticks if you say something that offends them.       -- Neil Gaiman